lastexalted

[lastexalted]

Hands started their skillful dance upon the exquisitely crafted pottery, the dragon willing all his attention upon the fragile china he was handling. While it wasn't as though the arts of tea brewing was unfamiliar to him; on the contrary, Hotaru was extremely adept in it. A skill he had picked up over the years of training as the next exalt in line. It was the only way to distract himself from the girl who stood not far away from him, and if it was even possible, Hotaru could swear that his senses grew even more attuned to her than before in his futile effort.

Zen. Hotaru breathed in deep. Calm. Peace. The three words repeated themselves in his mind to aid in his wavering concentration. His hands continued to busy themselves, oblivious to the scalding heat of boiling water. Zen. Calm. Peace. The mantra was starting to take effect, Hotaru finally sinking into the activity before him--

"I'm cursed, Hotaru."

He felt the frost set in, colder than the coldest winters that he had ever experienced in the centuries he had survived. His whole body seemed to lock into place at the shock of the revelation, his blood freezing, paralyzing him with a variance of emotions.

As though his motor nerves had come to a complete shut down, Hotaru could neither summon any word nor action in response to the young mage. A flurry of questions flooded his mind. He had his suspicions that it wasn't going to be anything pretty -- perhaps an ugly scar, but that he could live with. He had his fair shares of them and felt they were nothing to be ashamed of. However a fatal, chronic curse.

Heart clenched to the point of suffocation at her fate, the way her voice sounded so different, so resigned, so....dead. It was as though with every word, a shard would embed itself into his chest cavity, filling him with an eternity of dread.

“A tattoo on my back tells me I am cursed, and every so often, it moves as if it was trying to consume me.”

Don't say it anymore. Fingers slowly curled, clenched into tight fists that his knuckles whitened at the force he extruded.

“I’ve had it since birth and I do not know where it came from and how I can rid of it. All I know is that this is a part of me and that it will eventually take my life." 

Don't say it anymore. Her voice sounded so faraway now, like an illusion, a mirage. Her words barely permeated through the fog that surrounded his thoughts.

"I… I would only burden those who are around me so I didn’t dare tell anyone. But because it’s you, Hotaru, that… that I wanted to.”

Don't say it anymore. Jaws grit themselves tight, the strain of his reservation evident in his distress. He hated how Sayuri sounded. Sayuri wasn't like this. This isn't the Sayuri that he knew.  

“I… I will leave once the rain lets up, so that I may not burden you further."

"Who do you think you are." Hotaru finally forced through clenched teeth at her retreating figure, a sudden feeling of possessiveness overwhelming his entire being, screaming at him. Despite his initial intention of maintaining a safe distance between the both of them until he had figured out what was the cause for the anomaly that would occur to him when he was near the mage, it was all in naught.

The dragon couldn't help himself but prowl towards her, like a predator stalking after its intended prey. "Who do you think you are," he repeated coldly, each word enunciated by every step that brought him closer to her. "Who do you think you are to crash into my life, wrecking my solitude and then leaving as you please?"

"I will not allow it," he snarled, cornering the mage against the wall, both his arms propped on either sides of her face. "Look at me," he demanded with all his arrogance of an exalt, lowering one arm to clasp her chin in a forceful grip of index and thumb, tilting the other's face up so that her own vermilion hues were locked with his own.

"Know this, Sayuri, and remember it well," his lips curled with his absoluteness. "You will not leave me. Not a single human, mage, dragon, or creature will take you away from me. Not even a curse. Not even you. They who do will face tenfold of my wrath and," eyes narrowed as they reflected the cruelty behind his words. "I will show no mercy."

He allowed the weight of his words to sink into the other, and only then did he soften his gaze, as well as his harsh tone. "I will free you from this shackles, I swear it." As though affixing the stamp of his promise to the other, Hotaru brought his face closer to Sayuri's, sealing his own lips against the other's in a dominating kiss.

Because you are mine.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

  His clipped voice startled the mage, uncertain of whether or not she really liked it, given the manner of which he spoke. But she did not want to share with him why she was hurting, of what it was that caused her such pain with the tattoo that almost seared her skin on her back. She almost… couldn’t share with him. Would he leave when he found out what it was? Would he even find her just the same like those of the Rania court, looking at her with disdain?

It was only when she glanced up to notice the barely contained rage did Sayuri try to glance away but found it difficult. She even found that she could not move when he stepped forward, uttering words to her that she had said in a state of intense nostalgia and emotion. She ignored the slight burning in her eyes at the words, especially when he repeated back to her the word that she had whispered so quietly, she had hoped that he didn’t even hear. It had been… something that rang so painfully clear in her heart, that she did not understand what the entire meaning of the word.

Forevermore.

She bit her lip and lowered her gaze to the side, his growl causing her to clasp her hands together before squeezing in front of her chest. At his words of how she refused to let him in, she glanced up with her eyes wide. It had not been her intention! It had not been anything like that! She was… she was afraid that he would leave her, the only real connection that she has had for the first time in a very long time, and she didn’t want to yet sever it so soon. He was… he was different and she wanted to find out why… Why did their hearts sync up like it did? Why did every fiber of her being wish to be held by this man when she barely even knew who he was?

“Make me not regret my decision in believing you. A dragon’s trust is not easy to earn, but if you wish for me to do so, then you must do the same for me.”

She flushed at the touch of his fingers pushing aside some strands of her hair away from her face. Her gaze lifted to watch his, ignoring the pounding of her heart at the proximity that they held with one another. She opened her mouth but stopped as Hotaru went about fixing the yukata, turning to tend to the whistling kettle. Once he had settled with pouring the tea into teacups was when she finally answered his words.

With a curtain of her bangs covering her eyes, she squeezed her hands so tightly that her knuckles turned white from the stress, “I’m cursed, Hotaru.”

She didn’t say anything else until he would turn and face her, and already, she could hear the slew of questions that he might have for her, but no matter what it was that he said, her answer would be the same, “A tattoo on my back tells me I am cursed, and every so often, it moves as if it was trying to consume me.” She didn’t even wait for him to say anything more as she continued, never once giving him the opportunity to speak, “I’ve had it since birth and I do not know where it came from and how I can rid of it. All I know is that this is a part of me and that it will eventually take my life. I… I would only burden those who are around me so I didn’t dare tell anyone. But because it’s you, Hotaru, that… that I wanted to.”

For the first time, she wanted him to be there to help her try to break the curse and to help extend her life. She didn’t want to die, she didn’t want to end this life of hers when she didn’t know when it would, and she didn’t want to leave behind any of those people she loved. She waited for him to say something, not daring to look up to see the male’s face. What would he say? Would he force her to leave? And even further still, would he still look at her with that child-like wonder and relentless gaze that he looked to her with?

Still not allowing herself to face him, she stepped back and bowed politely, murmuring quietly, “I… I will leave once the rain lets up, so that I may not burden you further." I cannot burden someone like him with the curse… it would be too much, she thought, wincing inwardly at the thought of him suffering as she had. She turned in her place, moving as she was about to head to the living room to sit.

[lastexalted]

The salty tang of her unshed tears filled the air, and for a moment there Hotaru wondered if what he had said wrong. Comforting wasn't one of his forte; rending enemies limb from limb was. However his edginess was easily hushed at her words and the way her small hands clung onto his garments in a tight fist.

They had seemed so trusting, so full of faith that it threw Hotaru off-kilter for a moment, his lips pursed tightly as he continued the gentle motions upon her back, allowing them to slowly sink in.

Safe in your arms.

When I am with you.

Forevermore.

Growing up, Hotaru had learned trust was a precious gift that should only be given to people who deserved them. What Sayuri had spoken, he should have felt repulsed by the way she carelessly threw them out, making them seem insincere, deceitful even. But it didn't. In fact, it had the opposite effect on him. The arms around her only tightened, holding the other closer to him. He believed her, believed in her words that they held the weight of her promise as he held her in his arms. In fact, they had sounded so familiar, as though it had been said to him once before.

Unbeknownst to the dragon, his blood-scarlet hues blazed with an otherworldly glow as random, fragmented voices and images flashed in behind his eyes. They came as quick as they left, and Hotaru only managed to catch a few of the pictures of what seemed like a woman, a loving smile and flaring maroon tresses. But it was the voices that haunted at him. He'd know that voice anywhere.

Sayuri's voice.

But the way she had called his name forcefully wrenched him out from the sea of his thoughts. Unlike the way she had tenderly murmured into his ear before, this time it was saturated with her distress, sounding tired, ragged and suffering.

"Sayuri," he clipped, not realizing that in his worriment he had addressed her by her given name for the first time, anxious as her grip tightened even further on the soft material of his clothes. The way she smiled at him only served to bring his anxiousness up a notch in response to the pain that was so tangible he could almost taste it on his tongue. "Talk to me. Where are you hurting?"

His frown only deepened when she brushed the matter off, moving away from him with that distance that felt more like a gaping hole as she did. A slight twinge ate at his heart at her distrust, the disapproval of her actions blooming across his features when she refused accept his aid.

"You said you are safe in my arms," crimson eyes flickered with barely restrained rage, the dragon taking one step forward as he continued speaking lowly, deliberately. "You said you are safe when you are with me...forevermore." Hotaru bit the last word, ending it with a slight growl. "I believed you even though I know I should not have, and yet you refuse to let me in when it is painfully clear to me that you are suffering."

"Believe me, Sayuri," he implored, his hand reaching up to brush away the maroon tresses he had started to take a liking to. "Make me not regret my decision in believing you. A dragon's trust is not easy to earn, but if you wish for me to do so, then you must do the same for me." The back of his hand then trailed along the contour of her cheek, reveling in the softness of her unblemished skin, trailing down to the lapels of the Yukata once more.

"But yes, I will fix it for you, and we may enjoy some tea," he decided, tucking the soft material snugly around her body efficiently and securing it with an obi, the motions familiar to him. Despite the sleeves of the Yukata draping over her fingers, Hotaru grunted with approval, seeing that at least the collars were no longer slipping off, teasing his sight with her sinful appearance before he left to attend to the whistling kettle.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

Despite his words of how he had said that he was well, and how he seemed to try to show otherwise, Sayuri understood that it was anything but. However, she didn’t push it, worried that she might overstep her boundaries more than she already had so far.

She never noticed the glances that the exalted shot toward her, in an attempt to not notice or even stare too long at the way her body was exposed to him. Perhaps it had to do with the manner of way that she simply just felt comfortable with him. Ever since she had bumped into him, and ever since she had been able to communicate with another of magic, Sayuri’s guard had fallen. Essentially, she already trusted him and would never doubt that he would betray her. Her faith in him would perhaps alarm a few people who would be in her position, but that was all right with her. Her body and mind already felt connected to him in more ways than anything she had ever felt before.

The sudden lack of light and the loud crackle of thunder startled the mage. Tensing up at the darkness, Sayuri tried to ease her way from the dragon, so that he would not detect the sudden fear that she felt. It wasn’t the lightning that she had a fear of, it was more of the fact that darkness often scared her more than anything else. She resisted the urge to light a flame in her hand to light the way to comfort herself. It appeared that here, in this home, there was a lack of windows that allowed the moonlight to filter through the rooms’ windows, giving her a difficult time of having her eyes slowly adjust. Shadows played on the surfaces of the floor, haunting her of the tricks that those at the palace often used.

It wasn’t that either that was bothering her, but rather the slight burn she was beginning to feel on her back. The singular largest tattoo on her body felt like it was moving, slithering as if it was taking this chance to grow. It was a horrible, and burning sensation that she squelched the impulse to cry out in pain. But then, large, warm arms wrapped themselves around her and she stiffened at the touch before slowly relaxing.

She instinctively rested her head against his chest while she felt his chin rest against the top of her head. Although, she was hesitant in moving her arms away from the safety of her chest, she reached around his torso and wrapped them around his body. Pangs of familiarity rang through her like no other, like this was something of the norm that she had experienced when she very well knew that this was the first time she had ever experienced such intimacy with someone. She froze when his fingers began to make small circles on the small of her back but his words caused an image to immediately flash before her eyes.

His warmth, his embrace, his soothing words of reassurance immediately filled her with relief. Ignoring the slight burning in her eyes that very well told her she was going to cry, her fingers curled into his own yukata as she gripped him close and whispered words that would replay something from what felt like many years ago, “I always feel safe in your arms and I will always be safe when I am with you… forevermore…" The last word had been breathed so softly, so quietly that it was almost as if she hadn’t said them. But because of how she had moved her head to return the embrace, her face barely brushed against the side of his own. Part of her hadn’t even been aware that she had said them at all as she had her eyes closed momentarily and only just then, reopened them.

Sayuri tried moving to her tip toes to get a better hold of holding him. “Hotaru…” she squeezed before slowly pulling back enough so that she was staring up toward into his glowing red hues. She withdrew her hands from the embrace to hold his face in her hands, “I… I am fine…" A small, pained smile lit up her face before bowing her head as she gently squeezed, "I’ll be okay. Just… give me a moment to compose myself." She dropped her hands to her face, covering it as she felt the burn of the tattoo move again, her head gently hitting his chest.

Like a snake, it seemed to shift around on her back as it moved around, the thorny like design crawled around all of her back, burning her with every move. Her vision swam before her eyes as she tried to focus on the patterns on his yukata but it was difficult with the large amount of pain straining her. Soon, it passed and she was soon able to focus her eyes again on his own red ones. Smoothly, she pushed him away as she said, “I think just fixing the yukata will be good… and then we can go… drink tea, yes?" Moving back far enough, the clumsily fixed yukata was done enough so that Sayuri would still be able to walk without revealing too much of herself. Averting her gaze from his own, she glanced toward the porcelain container. "Is it perhaps done yet?" The tea began to whistle loudly, indicating it’s finished its brew.

[lastexalted]

Her whisper was like the Lucifer, the way his name rolled off her tongue like the finest silk caressing against his skin. As she continued to grace his ears with her melodious voice, each spoken vowels seemed to send heated shivers wrecking throughout his frame, his body hot the the point of burning. And even when he shut his eyes in an attempt to gain his bearings once more, it only made the situation worse.

In his self imposed state of blindness, Hotaru felt her aura, bright, flaring and warmth in a way that didn't scorch him, felt her approaching before her fingers swept at his cheek, only to continue its trail down the expanse of his chest, resting above his heart.

His weakness.

Spurred by his most primal base instincts, the dragon immediately pulled away from the vulnerable position, shuffling back a single step, creating a microscopic distance between them.

"I am well," his chest rumbled as he grumbled, very much aware of all that had just taken place. He had heard enough, seen enough and even felt enough to know that she had meant no harm to him. However the scar on his back started to ache lightly at the triggered physical memory. The damage mages had wrought on him was something etched so deep, affecting him in a way that words or actions could seal them away.

"I do not mind," he replied curtly, his hands taking over hers in hold of the lapels. Many a times his eyes attempted in their own volition to slide downwards at the relentless teasing of her loosely clad garments, but her shy smile that greeted him when he forced them away only stunned him, his normally expert fingers fumbling around in a clumsy mess.

Before the dragon could snap himself out of his improficiency, the warning flash of thunder, followed by the deafening clap of thunder -- and he did not miss the way the little mage seemed to balk at the sound, no matter how slight the movement was -- resounded in his apartment, the elements robbing away the sources of illumination, leaving only darkness behind.

Hotaru blinked a few times, crimson optics glowing in the blackout. Pupils receded into thin slits as they adjusted to the sudden lack of light. All was silent, save for the wet cacophony of heavy rainfall, each drop distinct as they pounded against the earth.

While Hotaru had never been a great fan of anything water related, and rain only served to further dull his mood, it was nearly impossible to ignore the weak tremors he felt from the cloth in his grip. And only later did it register in his mind that they were coming from her, and not another earthly disaster.

Upon breathing in a deeper breath, he smelt it this time. The scent of her fear. It wasn't very distinct, the odor a vague undertone mixed into the overwhelming smell of the rain.

Brows narrowed to form a frown. It was clear to anyone that Sayuri was afraid, of the dark or thunder he had no idea. But neither of those mattered to him at the moment, his mind abuzz and his inner self in a state of conflict as he considered his next course of action. By no means was Hotaru a gentle person, neither was he a sensitive soul.

Exhaling a light breath, the dragon, with one step ate up whatever distance that separated them. And with the fading memories of eight decades, Hotaru enveloped the other's smaller form within his arms, cradling her as he rested his chin atop her head -- the way his mother had used to cradle him as a child when he sought solace from her.

Emotions flared within him as the memories woke themselves, regretfulness piercing through him like a sharp-tipped lance. Despite the motions being familiar to him, he could barely recall the face of the woman who birthed him. Their time together had been too short, their separation far too long.

"Be at peace, little one," he murmured, rubbing soothing circles upon her back. "There is nothing to fear. You are safe with me."

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

  Warmth had greeted the girl upon her entrance and leaving of the bathroom. She didn’t feel the shiver of the chill in the home that she had first expected when she had left the bathroom. What surprised her was that she could almost smell the tea that was often brewed on a day like this: dark, turbulent, and stormy. Holding the yukata close, she walked her way out as she hung her clothes to dry in the bathroom. Thankfully, her panties had remained dry enough that they were still able to be worn. Plus, the steam from the shower had dried it just enough.

But when she had peeked into the living room and called out for him, he froze where he stood, though he had appeared to have made the gesture to walk over, though he just appeared to be rooted in place. Sayuri wondered what it was that caused him to still like he did and she made her way slowly forward toward him. “… Ho… taru…?” she whispered softly as she approached him. His name had come to her when she had walked by his room, the air of the place whispering the name of the man that lived here. She didn’t stop her approach until she was just a few inches away from him and stared up meekly. “Are you all right, Hotaru?” Her soft voice only continuing to call for him, his name, each time she drew closer.

Sayuri was hesitant, wondering if she should, but curiosity and concern for his health came first and she lifted a hand to reach out and touch his cheek, seeing the slight flush that had appeared over his face. “You don’t seem to be all right; your cheeks are extremely warm.” The back of her fingers brushed against his cheek before she slowly withdrew her hand. A good part of her wanted to linger her touch on him, to feel that heart that now beat in the same rhythm as her own. Her hand, instead of pulling away completely, slowly moved down his face to his chest, resting atop of where his heart lay. A strong, rhythmic beat of his heart that signified strong health and strength that she could almost feel filling all of her being.

Eventually, she managed to pull herself from this weird reverie and shifted to hold up the yukata as it started to slip from her shoulders. She averted her gaze as she used her hands to hold up both sides of the yukata and pulled it tightly to herself to keep it from continuously slipping. “Hotaru, please, would you mind helping me with the yukata… so that we may enjoy a cup of tea together?” She offered a small smile, hoping he would stop being so… stiff and frozen in place.

A loud crackle of thunder startled her, causing her to visibly flinch from the booming vibrations. It was around then that the lights flickered and then completely shut itself off, plunging them into the darkness.

[lastexalted]

He kept to his silence even as he heard her through the turbulent rain, the one sentence setting itself on replay in his head as he sped through the streets towards his own home.

"… I… I feel as though I… I was perhaps meant to meet you."

While Hotaru was not a firm believer of destiny or fate, he couldn't deny that he had felt that gravitation, as though he powers of supernatural were working in the threads of their lives, the coincidences way to coincidental for his own liking. With the thoughts heavy in his mind, he allowed the quietude to be his answer to her. 

"We're here." He mumbled as he let her down, both their bodies soaked to the skin from the time they spent beneath the heavy downpour. Fitting the key into the lock to his door, he swung the heavy wooden frame open with relative ease. With fire elemental running through his veins, the dragon hardly felt the change in temperature as he stepped into his temporary abode, the heat he emitted from his body keeping him warm. He had forgotten that even if Sayuri was a being of magic, she was only but human as well.

"You should take a shower to warm yourself," he coughed dryly before showing her the way, her sneeze reminding him of her current state of being. While he himself never had to worry about feeling cold unless he was down with the Dragon Fever, an illness he hadn't caught since he was a child. "I'll find you something to wear."

Leaving her to her own devices, the dragon shuffled towards his resting chambers, relieved that his eyes were no longer tortured by her form -- the way her drenched clothes had clung to her slight figure reminding him again and again of her nakedness the night before.

Calm, he chastised his heart that seemed to be overclocking this day, hammering in his chest as he felt an abnormal heat rise in his face at the image of her that never seemed to go away. Ridding himself of his damp clothing, the dragon swiftly donned a new set of his traditional wear before he swept through his wardrobe for something appropriate that would fit her. Eventually he settled for one of his Yukatas, although the colors were monotonous, the material was of the finest silk -- woven from the very same material he currently adorned on his body.

Leaving the neatly folded clothes on the stand outside the bathroom, Hotaru started towards the kitchen. Snapping his fingers with nonchalance, magic came to life, warmth sweeping through his home, the temperature instantly warming -- an additional precaution so that the little mage wouldn't catch a cold.

An additional precaution -- it was an action that seemed uncharacteristic of the dragon even to himself. Belatedly, he wondered what was it about her that made him feel compelled to act this way towards her, with this much consideration and gentleness. Crimson hues remained intent on the pot of tea he was brewing, his thoughts drifting once more. 

“U-Um… e-excuse me… Could you… help me put on the… yukata?”

With a grunt of approval, Hotaru carefully set the porcelain down, only to turn around to be greeted with --

Kami, save me. The abnormal heat that had plagued him moments ago returned, and if he had felt it was uncomfortable before, it had been ten times worse in its revisitation. The Yukata, obviously several sizes too bigger for her hung from her form loosely, the images of her body from last night and before assaulting his mind. It teased at him, knowing that she was wearing nothing beneath.

Swallowing thickly, the embarassed dragon could only nod dumbly as he stood rooted to the spot.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

  Answers… There were always answers. But, she had to admit, even she herself would not be able to find the answers she sought after. Why was she chosen for this magic of power that she possessed? Why had she been cursed with such red hair and red eyes? Why was she left alone for so long? Where and what happened to her parents? Did anyone out there genuinely love her? And why did she feel so relieved to be in this man’s presence? Never once had she felt the touch and caresses of love from another, always scorn, hatred, and jealousy. Such negative emotions had plagued her to no end that she had never once been relieved of such stress until she had finally left Rania. Despite how short of a life she had lived, it did not make up for the matter that to her, she had felt like she’s already lived too long in this world without anyone’s warmth to share with. While this man may have lived for centuries, for Sayuri, she already felt like she’s lived for the same amount of time.

When they had bumped into one another, she could feel his heart beating just as fast as hers and then… something amazing happened. She could feel her heart slowing down along with his to a pace that caused them to beat as one. Her eyes widening in astonishment, kept her hands placed there. Even more so when she could feel the swirl of magic forming between the two of them that, goodness, made her breathless. She could even almost hear his heart beating in her own chest, their beats falling into sync.

“Your heart, it is loud and erratic. This is not normal for your kind.”

O-Of course he could hear her heart beating the way it was, just like she could hear his. But what is her kind? Was she all that different from the man that stood before her? The only difference was that he had a form very different from this one whereas she had no such thing. She had felt when they had first met that she held much more power than he did, and yet, his power remained untapped and still filled with endless potential. He was a dragon who had yet to find the purpose of why he was here.

“It beats for me.”

Sayuri had to admit, that yes, it was true. Somehow, after having met this man and having further contact with him, something had changed inside of her to accommodate him. The fact that their magic had swirled together, the fact that she felt something stirring the very core of her being, and the fact that every time they touched, a spark, a sizzle of energy seems to jump between the two of them. She could feel him move to get a closer look and she gently turned her gaze to his once more, trying not to turn any redder than she already was.

His intense stare made her feel like she couldn’t breathe or it might ruin the feelings that lingered in the air.

His eyes spoke volumes of what he wanted to ask, of what he wanted to know of her that she found herself unable to turn away until the crack of thunder interrupted his words. She was instantly soaked from the sudden downpour, even despite the man’s efforts to try to keep her dry with his haori. She merely nodded her head in answer when he mentioned that he had an apartment nearby, anywhere to keep themselves out of the rain.

A squeak of surprise came when he lifted her up in his arms. So strong, he did not even exert any effort in carrying her. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around him to keep herself still, her cheek brushing against his. Her breath hitched in surprise at the touch, despite the cold rain that covered them. Heat sparked between the touch, tightening her grip around his neck as she delicately, quietly, said, “… I… I feel as though I… I was perhaps meant to meet you.” She allowed him to have the words sink in before they had arrived at the apartment, hearing the click of the door unlock. She no longer felt the pelting of the rain and instead, was relieved to find them underneath the cover of the entrance of his home. Part of her wasn’t surprised by the modern look to the home, but still lingering on the feeling of being traditional. Loosening her hold on him, she waited until she was set down.

Once she was, she sneezed, wrapping her arms around herself to keep from feeling even colder then she already was. Her clothes, already pretty well-formed to her figure, was now clinging to her like a second skin. Her hair stuck to her, water slowly sliding down her neck and exposed skin. After another sneeze, Sayuri tried ignoring the cold like she normally did. Usually she had the water be pulled out of her clothes, but the detailed work of doing such thing would send her on the downward spiral of becoming sick. Slipping what she could of her shoes off, she waited for instructions from him of what she ought to do in his home.

If he instructed for her to bathe to wash out the cold out of her, she would oblige, but would comment that she did not have any other clothes on her. If he just shooed her off to go wash, she’d only reluctantly do so. Warmth enveloped her in a different way while she bathed, shivering upon the contact. Quickly finishing up with the wash, she smelled of jasmines as she stepped out. That was when she’d see the clothes he had set out for her.

A small smile appeared as she reached for the clothes, slipping them on over her petite form. She found that his clothes were… um, well… big. She found it difficult that she did not know how to tie the obi around her while borrowing his yukata. Peeking out into what she assumed to be the living room of his apartment, her soft voice called out to him in a timid voice, “U-Um… e-excuse me… Could you… help me put on the… yukata?” When she moved toward him after he had agreed, he’d discover that the yukata hung off her like drapes, a really long dress and her hair still had the hint of water still clinging to some of the strands.  Even the opening of the front hinted at what lay beneath the yukata, perhaps the night before when she had previously cleansed.

[lastexalted]

OOC;

Uhhhh okay so the cosplay convention starts tomorrow and me being me hasn’t had my costume ready yet, so I’ll probably not be replying to any threads these few days until the weekend is over because stupid harness doesn’t want to cooperate and idk how many times i’ve messed it up already orz. So yeah, till then my fellow warriors B)

[lastexalted]

He watched the confusion cloud in her eyes, and the recognition that followed soon after. It only meant one thing -- that she had put two and two together, and figured out who, or what he was. It wasn't really a tough job either, seeing that how they had stared so deep into one another eyes the previous night Hotaru could have sworn she bore through his soul, it was highly unlikely that she would not be able to recognize them.

"Y-You are...You're the one I..."

He offered no words, other than a curt nod, a gesture that left no more doubts about her answer. Hotaru hadn't meant to reveal himself to her, not so soon anyway. They hardly knew one another, and couldn't really be called acquaintances either, seeing that they had only met just the previous night. She didn't even know his name, for god's sake!

The sense of tranquility in the sea of human was gone as soon as her touch left the side of his face, and the dragon was left with nothing but a large, empty void. At this point of time, it no longer shocked him, seeing that here mere presence seemed to be enough to bring color into his dreary life as he mingled with the humans. Yes, she was the light to his darkness, his anchor in the open seas.

"Are there?" He returned. If it was as she had said, he would have found all the answers to the questions that boggled his mind, his life. Shaking his head, Hotaru spoke softly once more. "You are young and your kind's life are short. The answers you seek are--"

Before he could complete his sentence, the force of her small body bumped -- no, for a lack of better word, just crashed into him, into his world that he felt the deepest part of his soul rattle as his arms automatically wrapped themselves around her small, lean waist, supporting her soft body against his own to prevent her from falling. His heart skipped a beat, only to resume it's tempo with more vigour this time, the thundering of the small organ loud against his ears, each throb so forceful he could have sworn his chest was about to burst from the impact.

And not only was his heart acting in such a bizzare manner, he could also hear the water mage's heartbeats, its clarity sharp and crystal, and slowly, both their hearts slowed, adjusted and beat with tandem. The pace that belonged to only both of them. His magic then flared -- unknowingly drawing out hers as well, the energy that ran rampage within the both of them mingling, mixing and melding together so closely that Hotaru was no longer able to differentiate them.

"Your heart, it is loud and erratic. This is not normal for your kind." an unidentified emotion flashed past his own crimson orbs as he spoke, eyes intent on the other as he ignored her previous words.

"It beats for me," his voice was one of awe and child-like wonder, his sight never leaving her once as he took his time to drink in her appearance, to memorize her features. "I--"

It must not be his day, as it was the second time his words were interrupted; this time, by the deafening crack of thunder. And followed by that ear piercing sound was the pelting of rain, starting with only a few droplets, only to turn into a heavy squall.

"My apartment," he raised his voice, loud enough to make sure it was audible over the rain as he raised his arm above her head, a feeble attempt to shield her from the wet with his already soaked haori-sleeve. "It's not far from here."

Not waiting for her response, Hotaru gathered her into his arms, carrying with only an arm without any signs of strain before he sped through the crowd, his speed boosted to an unnatural pace with the magic that stoked within him, waiting, begging to be tapped by his calling.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

  Suddenly realizing what it was that she had just said, her cheeks flushed further still, deepening even redder when he commented of how it was a pickup line. Th-That hadn’t been her intention, more like it was just the fact that it had been genuinely her feelings on the matter. Something about him had brought out her impulsiveness to go after him, without really understanding what it was that she had been doing. Desperation of seeing him, of him even being near her clasped her so tight that she never wanted to leave him again. It hurt her whenever she saw his back and the pain seemed to intensify now that he was here once more.

Part of her wanted to flinch from the cold, detached voice he had given her, but she wasn’t deterred. She already has gone this far, she might as well keep going until the end.

"Th-That doesn’t answer my question," she managed to whisper when he had stated that he is who he is. His eyes leveled with hers and she stiffened, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity he returned with his own crimson hues. Unwittingly, she squeezed his hand a little tighter before relaxing her grip. Placing a hand to her chest, as if trying to hide the racing of her heart, she felt as if she was glued to the spot, unable to move with his gaze rooting her to the spot. Her heart only quickened further when his hand shifted to cover her own, everything becoming a little more sensitive at his touch. Not realizing the changes as she tried to ignore the pounding of her hear, her fingers then relaxed so that she could intertwine her fingers through his.

… She was jarred from her thoughts of feelings, wondering if she was able to—

Wait a moment…

Those eyes…

With her other hand, she reached out to touch the side of his face, recalling the events that happened the night before. I-It couldn’t be! But at the touch of skin to skin, she felt the same tumbling fire magic that rolled through his body, his soul, that a flash of the dragon she had touched last night appeared before her. And that same soothing, cleansing feeling that the he had given her.

"Y-You are…" Her eyes widened in apprehension. That was why he was so familiar, and why she felt that spark of magic ignite within her. "You’re the one I…" Relief rippled through her features for a moment, a smile that only seemed to be full of happiness and ease before it appeared to have dawned on her that… well, he had… essentially…

Closing her eyes to quickly calm herself as she withdrew her hand from his face to cover her own again, this time in embarrassment, and not to think that he had possibly seen all of her, given, well, given that it was dark out and she had long hair and it was very well possible that… he… he didn’t see… much. Trying not to panic, she spoke softly, allowing her the room to breathe for the moment, “… Just like how you comfort me too…” She was trying to focus on the topic at hand, to try to reason out why he seemed so familiar and yet, she very well knew that he was not someone she had met before.

"There is always answers…" her voice was hoarse, ragged with emotion. It wasn’t like her to feel this way, it wasn’t like her to allow these feelings to wash all over her and prevent her from understanding completely why certain things were the way that they are.

That was when someone decided to bump into her, causing her to immediately crash into him. A hard, lean body greeted her, her soft body the perfect meld to his that it startled her when her hand knew where to place itself on his chest, immediately feeling the beat of his heart. Deep, strong, and powerful, Sayuri knew he was an extremely healthy being of magic. Warmth radiated in waves then, the familiar intimate caress of the beating calmed her racing heart that she was able to slowly pull away from him.

"I… I… um… sorry for bumping into you," suddenly shy, she bowed her head toward him. Still, she didn’t let go of his hand. "P-Perhaps w-we ought t-to move somewhere else t-to converse…" She wouldn’t look up at him now, as if embarrassed by what she had just done on impulse… again.

[lastexalted]

He had heard her the first time she said it, her broken whisper clear as day, as though she had been whispering by his ear. And for some unknown reason to the dragon, the one word laced with her desperation was like a punch in his gut, his heart clenching ever so tightly, each step he forced away from her heavier.

But he urged onwards.

One lesson Hotaru had definitely learned in their last encounter was that the water mage was different from any other mage or human he had ever came across. She affected on level so deep Hotaru had to admit, it scared him. And with his past, Hotaru had ceased to believe good in any mages. That was, unless they were unbreathing and dead.

Her second cry was a plea like an arrow that found true to it's mark, piercing right through his heart. His footsteps faltered then, wanting to stop and turn around but the dragon was too stubborn to yield.

It was then that he felt a surge of energy, of magic. Magic of the same signature he had felt the night before, the same magic that fed him with peace he hadn't known for centuries. And when her fingers circled almost abruptly around his wrist, everything in the world just seemed to click. Her touch was nothing he had imagined to be -- it didn't sear him with the magics of water, but rather burned like a comfortable flame. It was a soothing balm, rubbing at the soreness and weariness within him, leaving him a thousand times more aware, seeing, feeling the world in a way he hadn't been able to.

And right now, it took him all his determination not to just pull her to him, to envelop her in a fierce, possessive hug where he knows it's where she rightfully belongs--

A growl rumbled from within his throat. All the emotions she had summoned from within him, they were raw and primitive, so much in a way that he was torn apart inside and taped back together by sheer will everytime he pictured her face. Looked into those soulful eyes.

"Have we met before?"

"If this is supposed to be a pickup line, I'm afraid it isn't working, Miss." Hotaru was relieved that his voice held no tremble, betraying nothing he actually felt. It was cold, detached even. As of one who spoke to a stranger for the first time.

"I am who I am," he answered almost flatly in response to her question, although his voice did falter slightly now, his nose taking in the vague scent of salted liquid in the air -- tears. His heart clenched even tighter, knowing that it was his fault and his fault alone that caused her grief. And when his own crimsons met hers, Hotaru knew he was gone. Lost to her.

"I do not know," he whispered, almost in amazement and in awe, his sight never leaving hers. They sucked him in, the windows of her soul. He could have stared at them all day and never tired of it. "The world works in strange ways ," he agreed, his other hand shifting over to cover hers as he continued. "That even though I know you are a threat, a touch from you comforts me. Even though I know we are mortal enemies, I do not feel the abhorrence I should have for you. Not everything comes with an answer, little one."

His crimson hues then flickered into bright amber, the otherworldly glow flashing before it quickly faded back into the dull red ones. The same colored eyes that she had seen from the dragon last night.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

When she had bumped into a stranger, she hadn’t expected for her nerves to flare up like it did. It would have been the first time she had met someone or rather, talked to them in their mother tongue here. Whether it was their mother tongue or not, Sayuri knew that she wouldn’t have that much difficulty in being able to talk to a citizen here… but still… But what had been essentially out of her understanding was the sudden spark of magic that ignited inside of her, telling her that this person, had magic inside of him. It was proven even more so when she heard the familiar hiss of the being she had only met…

Their eyes connected and all at once, she felt familiarity, warmth, power, sadness, and even love. His expression flickered to something akin to shock and surprise, as if he was surprised in seeing her. Why? Why was that so? Had they met before? It was impossible for Sayuri to have met and knew someone here when she had only just come to the region. The place was new and she had barely yet find her ground here. But as quickly as the surprise was there, it was gone, waving off her apology. And even faster, he swiftly excused himself and disappeared into the crowd of people.

"W-Wait," she whispered, her voice broken as she watched his figure slowly disappear. People kept bumping into her, making it difficult to follow on after. Her small stature made it extremely challenging to go against those who were obviously much taller than her. "W-Wait!" she cried, this time much louder than before. She still kept moving after where the male had gone off to.

Why was she chasing him, she wasn’t entirely sure. A large portion of her hurt at the collision but it wasn’t something she felt physically but rather something else entirely. It throbbed with pain, with need, with other feelings that Sayuri could not pinpoint. It was impossible that he had magic, but it was obvious that upon their collision he had it. Even more, that refreshing, cleansing quality she had felt in his presence was new and it made her want to be greedy and stay near him. She had to… had to find out what was wrong and why she felt this way! On the brink of tears without understanding, she cried out once more before she realized he was gone. Desperation clung to her as she wanted to see this stranger again, to talk to him. Her hand moved forward as she reached for where the figure had been moments ago before she lost sight of him. As if willing her magic, she began to what feel like fly through the crowd of people until she felt it was the right time to reach her hand forward to grab.

And grab she did.

And I hold you like that…

Sounding exasperated, she managed, “Wait!” Her fingers had managed to grasp themselves around his hand, panting with determination as she caught her breath, “H-Have we met before?”

It startled her, the instant feelings that washed over her from that simple touch. Heat upon even more heat filled her up and then this soothing, calming feeling enveloped her thereafter. It made her want to burrow herself against this stranger, this man without knowing the reason why… to wrap her arms around his body and pull him close to her, to her heart. It almost burned her at the touch that she would have withdrawn her hand if it weren’t for the fact that it was the only thing keeping him rooted next to her at this moment.

Her cheeks flushed, she stared hesitantly up toward the man. She looked desperate, confused, and worried. “Why is it… that…” Her voice stopped as she glanced down. Her other hand covered her eyes as she tried not to cry… the ache of relief reverberating so strongly in her that she wanted to cry in happiness. “… that you give me such… relief and happiness, even though you are a complete stranger?” Removing her hand from her face, she stared toward him with an intense stare that faltered, “… who are you…?”

[lastexalted]

She must be incredibly astute, thought the dragon to himself. Either that or she was a mind reader. Willing the magic in his veins, Hotaru himself conjured a mental shield, a shield that would protect his innermost thoughts from any intruder of any kind. At moments like these, Hotaru was glad that he had at least paid enough attention during his lessons.

Go? He shifted his head slightly, a growl bubbling involuntarily from within him. For some unspeakable reason that he was compeled by the forces of the world, the word 'go' didn't sit well with him at all. The thought of her leaving him, leaving his sight seemed to almost chafe at his patience.

Don't go, he wanted to say, but then again in this form he was unable to form words with that terrible maw of his. So instead, Hotaru slithered towards the banks where she was headed, trailing behind the mage as she made herself decent.

And when the tips of her fingers brushed against his scales again -- that sweet, soft caress that seemed to burn like a thousand suns, yet at the same time strangely comforting to him as the slightest of magic filled him again, the same magic she had gifted upon him just seconds ago.

When you touch me like this...

Glowing ambers then turned in his response to the clipped chirp of the snow white falcon that sat perched not far from where the both of them were. On one hand, he felt disoriented, feeling bewildered at how the familiar had so easily breached past his shields. On the other hand, Hotaru felt empathetic, yet wary at the same time. Humans rarely knew the meaning of 'loneliness', and it was a word that was thrown around rather casually. However if what the familiar had spoken were true, then yes, Hotaru would have found a kindred spirit in her.

His gaze followed the two retreating figures, and only when they disappeared from the line of his sight, their scent stale did Hotaru surface from the lake, the same harsh bright light enveloping his entire body, leaving an olive-blonde human standing as it faded away into the night.

"Well...I suppose it's time for me to practice those rusty spells," the dragon murmured softly, his cheeks tinged a faded pink as the image of the young mage's bare skin and curves remain etched in his memory. _________________

His eyes cracked open even before the sun rose, before he heard the birds chirped. His eyes, bloodshot, blinked uncomfortably for a few moments before he finally arose from the comforts of his bed. All night, he had been plagued by dreams -- or nightmares, he would suppose, a wry grin marring his face as he drifted into the thick fog of his dreams; the images were unclear, blur at best. But he clearly sensed who was in it -- Sayuri, the water mage that wouldn't leave his thoughts in the day, and clung onto his dreams in the night.

A soft sigh escaped his lips as he slid off the soft duvets, clad in the transluscent Yukata that hung loosely on his otherwise lean, muscular body. It was doubtful that he would be able to find the elusive sleep once more, and a walk around the city would probably help with smoothing out his thoughts.

Disrobing himself, Hotaru put on a Hakamashita, securing it with expert fingers that worked deftly, effeciently tying a secured knot around his waist before shrugging on his Haori. He had been told once, by a young lady he met that what he wore was considered strange to that of the current society. She had even been 'kind' enough to teach him the basics of men's fashions. However change was hard to bring about, and Hotaru found himself favouring the comforts of his tradition, rather than the contemporary style.

With nothing but his pouch and the keys to his apartment, Hotaru found himself once again in the situation of a massive sea of humans. The crowd was unforgiving, and it irked him with every contact he made with a blundering person, the irritation clear in his eyes of the unwanted collision. He felt like a pachinko ball then, knocked around by the careless people as they rushed, squeezed and fought to fit into the empty gaps--

"Ah, s-sorry! I wasn’t paying attention…"

Then you should probably start now, the dragon snapped in his mind, crimson hues flickering with vexation as he turned towards the familiar, feminine lilt to speak the usual words, only to find the girl of his thoughts staring right back at him.

"It's..." Words were stuck in his throat as he stared, shock and surprise flashing across his expression before he cleared his throat, his face returning to that of an almost expressionless one.

"It's alright," he waved her apology off cooly, as what a normal stranger would have done. "If you'll excuse me." With a quick tilt of his head, Hotaru turned around to once again blend into the sea of strangers. The world was small, but with this much of a crowd, they weren't going to be lucky, or unlucky enough to see one another again.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

So much pain, that Sayuri could feel her heart ache with pain. That was why she gave him that soothing magic to calm and relax him. A good part of her only wanted him to feel that continuous comfort as long as he was within reach. It hurt her to know that someone had felt as much as pain as it had, especially for such a majestic creature like this one. Even though she had not gotten his name, she understood his whispered words when he mentioned of how cruel her kind was.

She blinked for a moment before a sad, small smile appeared. “Yes… I suppose we are. But then… some of us are extremely kind, I guess. You didn’t want magic from me, why would you? I am a mage who uses all of the elements in nature and then some… everything of me is dedicated to the world of magic…” A quiet, bitter laugh, “Although I excel in healing magic above everything else.” For a moment, she let those words hang until the dragon appeared to have noticed something about her. Tilting her head, she wondered what happened for it to suddenly turning his head.

The small cry of a bird nearby caught her attention, a snow-white falcon with piercing golden eyes that almost matched the dragon’s eyes. But there had been something about the dragon’s eyes that made her want to… stay. “I suppose I must go…” Since she had to swim passed the dragon to get to shore, where a white robe was seen hanging from some low hanging branches, she moved slowly by him. The barest part of her fingertips brushed against his scales, her voice humming as if she was checking him over. “Thanks for listening, even if you disliked me… I’m just happy to know you’re so healthy even though you’re in a place like this.” She bowed her head respectively toward the dragon before continuing to swim away. Oh, it ached for her to slowly become farther and farther out of his reach. Why did it bother her so much to feel him leaving her proximity?

Once she reached the edge, the water had come to her knees, her long hair clinging to her petite form as the water dripped down her body. She reached forward and grabbed her robe to wrap it around her before squeezing out the water from her hair. Satisfied on some level of how dried the hair now as she used wind magic to dry herself enough to not become sick, she glanced toward the dragon. The white bird nearby glanced toward it, mimicking Sayuri’s movements. Sayuri waved good bye while the bird merely murmured words as she sat perched on a branch. At the moment, the mage reached to pick up a small basket of what appeared to be washing bottles and towels of the like before she began to walk down a small path.

She’s not like other mages, I hope you understand, Eve told Hotaru, her voice smooth and melodic. Her voice sounded sad, however, My Lady is a painfully lonely girl, but if you are the being I think you to be, then today will be the end of her loneliness. Otherwise, thank you for not attacking her. And then the bird took off, flying on after the walking Sayuri. Soon, they disappeared between the flickering large trees by them.

✸          ✸          ✸

By the time morning came, Sayuri woke with a gasp. Clutching the middle of her shirt at her chest, she gripped it until her knuckles became white. Dreams haunted her all night, leaving her unable to have the proper night’s rest that she had been hoping for. Her long hair draped down over her as she reached for the alarm clock. Ah, it was still early… Perhaps it was best she woke up early so that she could go on her walk. She glanced to the side of her, where a perch was made for Eve so she could fly in and out as she pleased. From the looks of it, Eve was gone.

Standing up, Sayuri dressed for the day wearing a pleated black skirt with a long sleeved, white v-necked shirt that hugged her form in all the right places and revealed a touch of her collarbone and upper chest. Since the shirt had a sheer-like quality, she wore a skin-tight white tank beneath that. Wearing stockings that came up to her thigh, she clipped them to her garter as she slipped on a pair of black leather heeled boots that came to just below her knees.

Since she rarely carried bags with her because of her magic allowing her to simply grab whatever she needed, she still needed to carry one for the sake of normalcy. Humans here weren’t used to seeing magic and using too much of that here was going to get her in trouble. She did not want to draw attention to herself so she set putting her wallet and some other miscellaneous items that she realized humans needed her to function. But as she was doing so, her gaze became distant, recalling the dragon she had seen last night. So beautiful was he, so healthy and powerful did she simply want to stay there the rest of the night with him. But she knew better. The entire walk home had been painful, as if her body was telling her something she didn’t know. It was too early for an attack but her body ached with want, with need, for that dragon’s presence.

So that he would never leave her sight again.

Wait, again?

Sayuri shook her head, wondering if she really did not get enough sleep. With a sigh, she finished packing her small bag and slung it over her shoulder before she headed out. A good part of her yearned to see that beautiful dragon again, and another part of her yearned for something else entirely. It was a feeling she could not quite pinpoint since it ached and longed for something so fierce, so strong that Sayuri wondered if it was perhaps the built up of feelings from previous lifetimes. A spark, an excited feeling of knowing that he… hm? He? She shook her head again, wondering if she was a lot more tired than she felt.

Distracted was she with her thoughts as she headed back to the park, she bumped into someone, quickly uttering, “Ah, s-sorry! I wasn’t paying attention…”

[lastexalted]

No it wouldn't. There was nothing he could have done to make everything better. Nothing he could do to have saved his innocent, unknowing brethren that perished in the war, nothing he could do to bring his parents that died in the line of fire back to life.

Nothing he did could ever give him back the childhood he missed out, the childhood that he spent in fear, in sorrow, denied of his parents' warmth and love.

No, killing the young mage wouldn't change anything. But it would definitely, no matter how slight it would be, the endless rage that burned within him. Raising himself upright, Hotaru raised his heavy, horned head towards the skies, his maws opened to a soft but sharp, mournful keening wail -- a cry of his pain. Eight centuries of loneliness and suffering, a life so much longer than those pathetic, fleeting ones of humans.

His keening echoed in the dark night, his emotions heavily saturating the air. There had been days he considered dying, ending his life. However he had to stay strong, if not for himself, then for the pathetically few remaining brethren his legacy demanded for him to protect. As their last exalt, the burden of safety and well-being of remaining dragons rested on his small shoulders.

The whine broke off abruptly as he felt her hands on his face, her hands pulling him closer to her own face. Hotaru jerked his head, trying to shake her off as he tried to pull away from her, his fury rushing to the surface once more as he snapped and growled, the tips of his fangs exposed even as she cooed with that gentle, soft voice of hers.

And when the magic invaded, Hotaru was overcome with dread. He fought even harder then, thrashing, fighting the magic that was forcing itself into him. This was it. He was going to die because he let his guard down before a water elemental mage. He was going to die a meaningless death, having yet done anything for his Clan.

Golden brown hues shut themselves, as though the dragon had conceded his defeat, the wave of magic slamming into him as his final shields gave way. However, instead of feeling an intense, blazing heat that would burn him from inside out, Hotaru felt something...different.

It wasn't elemental magic. It was magic of the Earth, calming and soothing him like a balm. Coupled with the way she rubbed her small hands on either sides of his snout, Hotaru couldn't help but purr lazily, a rumbling whine escaping the depths of his chest as he nuzzled deeper into her hands, greedy for more of the magic she fed him with, magic that she unselfishly gave to him.

Your kind are so cruel, the dragon thought softly to himself. While her brethren were cruel when they murdered his clan in cold blood, this young mage who called herself Sayuri had shown him, let him feel a little glimpse of peace, of heaven, only to pull away from him moments later, throwing him disoriented back into the world of the living. 

“It’s so… distorted here. I can’t feel Earth sometimes… the humans of this earth has polluted it that it’s difficult to use my magic here. Since you arrived, for the first time, I feel so… so comforted and… safe…”

Part of him wanted to simply ignore her, to just turn his head and leave, whereas the other part of him wanted, was compelled go forward, to encompass her within him, to share his smouldering warmth, to offer her protection and kindness -- and it was then that it struck him she was stark naked, the only cover that she had were the long, wet tresses that clung to her smooth skin, against her soft curves, covering only as much as they showed.

If a dragon could blush, Hotaru would have exploded in embarassment. Not wanting to make any sudden movements, the dragon turned his head away from the mage, his molten gold hues cast towards a spot in the lake that suddenly extremely intriguing. 

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

Warmth.

So much of it, she almost burned her hand from the touch, but it was the perfect contrast compared to the chill of the night air and the water that she could feel. But when her hand had touched his snout, essentially his skin, something in her blood boiled, her heart racing at a feeling that pulsed. She couldn’t… explain it, but settled that it probably had something to do with the magic that he had in his body.

What she wasn’t expecting was the whisper of his… voice. So deep, low, angry… Her kind? No… it was impossible! The mages of Rania never allowed any creatures of magic to ever be killed. In fact, they had placed wards in the areas to prevent stupid hunters from trying to hunt them down. Griffins, unicorns, creatures of myth and power were protected by them… so… how was it possible that this lone dragon had thought that her kind had killed them all? A troubled, pained expression flickered across her features. He had jerked away, snarling in indignation as he bared his teeth toward her. She withdrew her hand to her chest again with the other.

This time another growl, a hiss of his voice fell on her ears. She did not know what her “kind” had done to him, but the fact that he held such hatred toward her… assuming she understood it, was the source of his anger toward her… when she very well knew nothing of the sort or the history of it. She hadn’t even heard of such things like an attack on the race of dragons!

Her voice was soft, almost inaudible, “… Even if you kill me, it will not change what happened… It wouldn’t heal those wounds.” So much sadness radiated from him, as if she could read everything that had happened to him. There was so much history, so many years embedded into his body that Sayuri could read it all. It was dangerous to become so connected so quickly, especially to a creature she wasn’t even sure was going to stick around for a long time. Her hands gripped tighter still before she reached out toward him with both hands, slowly, “There’s… so much pain… how long have you lived with such pain?” It sounded as if her voice was hoarse.

She moved forward enough until she was just in front of him. Reaching up, her hands would cradle both sides of his snout. Soothing magic would ripple through her hands, relaxing tense muscles in his body. Ignoring the strange sensations of familiarity and comforting warmth, her voice softened to something soothing, as if she were humming a lullaby, “Please… just relax… I could never hurt a creature like yourself.” Her hands gently massaged the sides of him, her hands moving just enough to graze sensitive parts of his head and ears. “I’m… too connected to magic to be able to hurt you without hurting myself.” She pressed her lips against his nose as she peered up. “If I hurt you, I end up hurting myself… so there would be no point in ever harming a creature of magic… Therefore, it’s impossible for me to ever hurt you… ever.” Bound by the magic that flows through him and the world around her, it was impossible to break from the very thing that had cursed her and yet blessed her. Magic simply adored her and flowed through her like breathing air. Were she to be stripped of magic, Sayuri would die.

Something in her told her if she were to separate from this creature, she would only feel unbearable amount of pain. But still, she did it anyway and at the loss of contact, something inside of her cried out in anguish, her heart squeezing tightly as if she had just lost something precious. Again, she held her hands close to her chest as she moved away to give them the distance that he so wanted. “I’m… Sayuri… what’s your name?” A small, reassuring smile appeared. “Ah… You might not even tell me… That’s fine… you can just listen to me talk.”

Her gaze shifted to the side before she stared into the sky. “Since I left Rania, I’ve only had Eve with me… I haven’t met anyone else of magic in a long time so it was so good to see there are others out there. Eve isn’t very good with conversation so I end up being alone for the most part. But I rather be alone than be back at Rania, where the ladies there just…” She paused but sighed, “It’s so… distorted here. I can’t feel Earth sometimes… the humans of this earth has polluted it that it’s difficult to use my magic here.” She closed her eyes. “Since you arrived, for the first time, I feel so… so comforted and… safe…”

[lastexalted]

Hotaru's first natural reaction was to lunge out, to snap at her as she came closer, to warn -- no, it was past the warning. He'd kill her, before she had the chance to rain her magic upon him. The scar hidden behind his teal mane across his body throbbed with distant pain as he watched her approach, himself frozen still as his eyes gazed intently at the other, wary of her every action.

"You're...beautiful."

What he had expected was feeling the brunt of her painful magic cast upon him when she neared, not a compliment, if one could consider it as. Of course, silver dragons itself were a rare even among their kind, and given that dragons were far and few between, it didn't come as a surprise that a human would come to find him 'beautiful'.

He stayed completely still as she placed her palm flat against his snout, albeit flinching a little at her hot, almost searing touch -- the proof that she was a mage of his opposing element, water -- but settled as his heart calmed, his body relaxed at the strange calling, the calling that seemed to come from her blood.

Of course you wouldn't, your kind killed us all. Hotaru snorted in indignation, jerking his snout away from her touch, a snarl ripping from his throat as he bared his fangs at her, the scorn in the gesture obvious, only to sheath away the jagged teeth as he slithered a safe distance away from her.

Although she seemed to be one of the rarer, kinder sort of mage, the ones he never had the fortune to meet, one could never be too careful around her kind. He had been careless, allowing her to approach him, touch him even. It was a slip on his part, his mistake.

A growl bubbled from within him, a warning for her not to come any closer. Or face my wrath, your death.

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

This new place she had come to, she was grateful for all of the nature and places that freed her from the confines of a suffocating city. Being in such a place made her sick, and forced her to cleanse for a much longer time. But she didn’t mind, since it had allowed her to refresh herself and allow her to bathe in quiet and peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Oh, how interesting it was to see so many people in one place. She had never seen such interesting people housing all sorts of magic in their bodies. What was more, she was surprised by the amount of disassociation with magic here. None of them were as strongly in-tune as she was, apparently, even as she had sent out ripples of magic to see if anyone would react to it. No… no one did. This put Sayuri to be rather lonely, but at the same time, she knew better. Being alone was something she was used to after all.

A white bird fluttered near her, landing on a perch nearby as it tucked its wings in. It cooed something at Sayuri, where she sat at the top of the tallest building in the city. With a soft whisper, she murmured, “Yes, I know… tonight is a full moon.” The white bird flew off, heading off to perhaps go catch some prey for the day before she was to help the mage with her purification. With a sigh, she lifted herself up from the ledge where she was swinging her legs from and stood there, watching as the people and cars moved about the streets in a busy fashion. The wind blew by, her maroon hair billowing behind her as she gazed up to the sky.

Night had fallen and Sayuri stood at the edge of the lake, peering across its rippling surface. A girl with silvery hair stood beside her, the ends of her hair tipped in baby blue hues. Her golden irises glanced about Sayuri to make sure she was all prepared. The girl escorted to the edge…

"Ready?" the girl asked Sayuri, her voice surprisingly soothing and melodic, as if that was the words of how the bird would sound like.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before nodding, “Yes, Eve, I am.” The girl nodded, disrobing her before bowing away. Her foot touched the surface of the water, ripples of bright blue radiating out in waves before disappearing. It was then that the mage waddled herself into the water to begin her cleansing ceremony…

… The water set her back down in the water, allowing the girl to simply float there as she gazed up into the night sky. Her maroon hair clung to her, dripping from the water when she had dunked her head in the water moments ago. She ignored the burn in her back, telling her how the tattoo seemed to ache with need for something that Sayuri would never quite understand. She knew on some level of what it wanted, but it was something she did not want to give it…

Lost in her musings, it was around then did she sense a creature come close. She saw it dive into the water and—

A magnificent snow-white dragon suddenly appeared in front of her. Her eyes grew wide when his head whipped itself around to see her, and she could very well see herself being reflected in them. She could feel the power radiating off him, just like…

"You’re… beautiful,” she whispered softly, admiration and a sort of relief filling her delicate features. Her hands had braced itself in front of her, surprise causing her to react reflexively to protect herself. But, his gorgeous mane and the intense stare of his eyes allowed her to reach a hand forward to try to touch his snout. Her cheeks were flushed from the bathing she had given herself, her maroon tresses covering her although her shoulders were bare. “… Such wonderful magic is coursing through you… a wonderful power and lifeline. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a creature of magic.”

[lastexalted]

Crash into me [Hotaru & Sayuri]

The night was silent, save for the rustling of leaves and the murmurs of the passing breeze. The moon hung in all it's glory at the apex of the sky, shining in it's pearl-like luminance.

It was the perfect night for a flight.

In a flash of harsh glow, gone was the humanoid form he took when he consorted with the humans, and in it's place, a majestic horned dragon left for the endless skies, silver scales sparkling, reflecting at the pale moonlight, teal mane drifting behind him as his serpentine body pierced through the air.

Yes, He was free. The dragon twisted and spiraled through the thick, fluffy clouds as he soared, pleased rumbles thundering from his sharp, gigantic maw, as though he was laughing.

Dancing in the sky, Hotaru glanced towards the ground, marveling at the beauty -- or whatever beauty was left of it. Massive trees formed thick canopies, the green covering almost all of what he could see, save the mountains and the lake. The lake itself was tranquil, peaceful as the water rippled with every breath the wind blew at it, so clean and clear that he could almost see through it's transparency.

Without as much as a second thought, the dragon dove downwards, headfirst into the lake, leaving a loud splash as he felt the coolness of the fluid caress against his smooth scales, the pressure of water stubbornly resisting the new addition. Despite being a fire-elemental dragon, Hotaru never had felt aversion to water bodies. In fact, he loved taking baths with such a passion that in his Home back in the village, a huge pond was built in his bathing quarters, large enough to accommodate his dragon body.

Finally feeling the burn in his lungs, Hotaru flicked his tail, propelling himself up towards the water's surface, his nostrils immediately sucking a lungful of cool, night air as soon as he hit the top.

Lids then raised, revealing amber hues that glowed in an otherworldly light. He had sensed another presence, one that sent alarms blaring in his head, his body tensed and ready for fight and flight. There was only one thing in the world that would give him this sense of loathing, this sense of fear. And when he whipped his head around only to see a pair of ruby orbs boring right back at him --

As the humans would say, 'Well, Fuck'.

[lastexalted]

Drop.

I'll most likely convert Hotaru into an indie blog, so feel free to unfollow him if you so desire.

I've highly enjoyed the time Hotaru spent with everyone. I wish everyone the best in their future roleplays, and I hope to have the honors to thread with you all once more.

Regards, Hotaru-mun.

[lastexalted]

Ooc;

[lastexalted]

Did you mean,

Sly Dragon? B)

because the last time i checked I have scales and not fur.

But no, I'm glad you enjoyed the M!A. whispersweaimtoplease.

Yes, thanks for that you sly fox.

you owe me for all the tears and the rips and hte damage

Shoulda known you were the mastermind

[lastexalted]

「一字，一句，一瞬间走了火。 一天，一点，一转眼入了魔。 忘了我从什么时候， 忘了你为什么能够让我 一步一步走火入魔。」 -- 走火入魔 T/N 「One word, one sentence, one flash and we've gone too far. A day, a little, a blink of an eye, we're lost in love. Forgetting since when I had, Forgetting why you could make me Lose myself in love, step by step.」 -- Losing myself in love. _____________________

The scent of their fear was like fuel that fed his anger, and his human skin suddenly felt too tight, too constricting for him; the ferality beneath him snapping so close to the surface. His blood hummed as adrenaline shot through him, his only instinct to go for the kill--

And he felt it. Her touch on his cheek was diminutive, weightless even. But the warmth it extruded, the attention she demanded, he could feel it as clear as day through her fingers. A touch that propelled the beast within him back into it's dark abyss, back into its deep slumber.

Blinking twice to clear away the fog of disorientation that had settled within cloudy vermillions, Hotaru allowed the girl to steer the direction of his gaze towards her. And even in the haze, her hazel brown eyes seemed to shine ever so brightly, like his personal beacon of light that led him out from the dark.

"Hotaru doens't have to worry... Chii is used to that."

How can you say that? He wanted to retort, to argue that she shouldn't have to bear the brunt of others' malicious thoughts. Further more, how could anyone even get used to insults being hurled at them? The smile she had shown him did nothing to soothe his fury, tightening the grip he had on her, but not hard enough to crush her delicate ones.

Ah, he had been so smitten with her as a person, he hadn't noticed the strange devices that sat on either sides of her head where her ears should have been. And as he quietened, focused and listened further, he found that she...her heart wasn't beating.

"You are strange," he spoke flatly after a short silence. "Your heart does not beat, but you live." Untangling his own fingers from her own, Hotaru stared unblinkingly at it, his voice still leveled and almost awed as he spoke. "And you emit human warmth."

"I do not understand what you are, too," he admitted softly, his hand searching for hers once again, for her warmth and her touch. Entwining their fingers together, Hotaru brought her hand towards his lips, grazing the back of it lightly with a fleeting kiss. "But because I don't, so teach me, so I may learn more about you." Crimson hues then lifted themselves, boring deep into her warm ambers, his expression austere as he uttered the next words.

"Chii doesn't have to worry. Even if the world is against you, I will be by your side. Even if it needs be, I will taint my hands for you, I will be Evil for you. All you have to be, is good. I swear it."

「一千年以后」After A Thousand Years | Hotaru & Chii

  { 心靈 } — Did he not like it when she had called him kind? Why not? He was kind to her, wasn’t he? Perhaps there was more to him than she had expected that she had yet to learn about. Even with his words of how she had thought too highly of him, it only caused the girl to tilt her head, “Is Hotaru not kind to Chii? After all, Chii is a…” She paused, realizing what the next few words she would have said may or may not have surprised a normal person. But then, this whole entire meeting of someone like this was not exactly normal either.

     The smiles were better suited to his features than that other stern, fierce looking one he had. He looked much better, kinder, and warmer when he smiled. But then, Chii wasn’t one to be afraid because of someone’s frightening expressions or fierce gazes. She had met far scarier people in her relatively short, remembered lifetime and she had to say that he wasn’t anything like those people.

     She was going to simply ignore the boys’ calling, having since but gotten used to it. What she was not expecting was for this stranger to immediately voice his strong dislike toward the situation, blinking in curiosity when his timbre did not sound even like—

     Was it possible that he wasn’t entirely human like she was?

     The boys heard the snarl and visibly flinched before shooing themselves off as they quickly fled the scene. No… that look on his face was not preferred to his earlier smiling one. Removing one of her hands from his, she reached up and touched his cheek, trying to gain his attention as she turned his face toward her. A small smile was etched into her delicate visage, “Hotaru doesn’t have to worry… Chii is used to that.” She withdrew her hand to point to the white cat-like porcelain ears that hid her own. “Chii would’ve gotten attention no matter what I did.”

     She glanced down toward their hands, her fingers squeezing his before relaxing. “People here stare at people who are different from them and often call them things that are hurtful, but Chii understands it is because they do not understand what it is that I am or who you are. Just because they are mean to Chii does not mean Chii has to be mean back… It would only…” Her voice softened a touch as her eyes became lidded and dark. Her voice was barely above a whisper, “… It would only make Chii a bad girl… and Chii wants to be a good girl.”—{☆}

[lastexalted]

「可惜不是你陪我到最后， 曾一起却走失那路口。 感谢那是你牵过我的手， 还能感受那温柔。」 -- 可惜不是你 T/N 「A pity it isn't you that accompanied me till the end, Once walking together but seperated at the intersection. Thank goodness it was you that held my hand, I can still feel that warmth.」 -- Sadly, It Isn't You. __________________________

          His heart throbbed erratically, as though it was distracted from it's momentum and was now trying to find that balance again. Each thump thundered so loudly, it resounded in his ears, his blood pounding as he felt the roar, the rush. The muscles in his jaw ticked as he tightened his already tightly grit jaws, his mind confused at the unnatural response the woman drew from within him with just a smile.

          Oh how the great had fallen. With a mere twirk of lips, she had him become a soft, mushy, sappy mess. And it frustrated him that a mere stranger would hold such power over him, but yet...he felt that he could never be truly angry at her.

          "Hello...Chii." He returned the greeting, feeling the muscles around his lips relax as they gave way to a rare smile, a smile that was drawn out by her smile, blinding him, leaving him almost breathless as he was graced with the beauty of it. "I am happy to see you again, too."

          It was only when she stood that he realized they were still lying on the ground since her fall. And when she had gotten up, Hotaru felt desolation engulf him again, his inner dragon unwilling to have the girl away from him despite their fingers that were woven together. Following the cue of her tug, Hotaru stood up as well, noting that she was of a more petite figure compared to his lean, yet slightly muscular stature, that how fragile she truly looked beside him.

"Hotaru is kind, even though he does not like apples."

          Kind? The dragon, once again grimaced inwardly. If anything at all, he was anything but kind. Or at least, towards humans. He had, since long ago come to terms that he would never be truly able to forget what they had done, what they had caused in the name of their selfishness and glory. No, he was not what she thought he was.

          "You think too much of me, little one," he flashed a small smile at her. Then again, he couldn't fault her for it. From their short conversations, Hotaru had found the girl to be innocent -- with the loss of her memories, she was too naive and pure even, seeing only what she saw on the unblemished surface, and not the hidden ugliness within him that swam so close to the superficiality.

          And it was then that his ears caught wind of the malicious murmurs, words dripping with negative sneering, heavy with ill-intentions. Unlike Chii, Hotaru knew what the obnoxious teens were saying of, and unlike her, Hotaru was unable to simply ignore them. Filled with a rage he hadn't felt in centuries, his blood-scarlet orbs glimmered, flickering into pale gold and back to swirling vermillions again. A surge of protectiveness for the young girl welled up from within him, his feet stepping before her, shielding her from the views of the other males with his own body.

          And then he snarled, the sound contorted and beastly as he did, his anger channeled into the noise he let rip from his throat.

          "Shut the fuck up."

「一千年以后」After A Thousand Years | Hotaru & Chii

  { 心靈 } — Skin contact was something that she had always had done toward people, uncaring for personal space since it was one of the few… things that she had not been taught to respect. But she hadn’t thought too much on the skin contact she had given to the stranger, even though he did not feel like a stranger at all. It was bothersome that her mind could not comprehend why, but her body very well knew this… person. So when he had leaned into her touch rather then away from it like most seemed to, a flash of a smile, a smirk, and then something burned right after. Where did that…?

     Her cheeks flushed, not knowing why as she adjusted herself. Fleeting images from something somewhere that told her that this man had… had indeed…—

     Deciding to save her apple for later, she stuck it in a small white bag she had worn around her shoulders. Her hands laced themselves around one another as she listened to his soothing words. Deep, like a rumble from a beast whenever he spoke. He didn’t talk like the people that were constantly around her but then, he didn’t feel like the busy people that surrounded her either. None of them had ever caused this nostalgic feeling before. He continued to explain to her that he did not remember her, allowing her the moment to understand that he had quite the photographic memory to allow him to remember each face that he had ever met. If he wasn’t connected to the time when she had lost her memories, then where…?

     When her childishly copied words from a movie she had watched earlier today seemed to held actual truth, she felt a little… amazed. Chii thought that sort of thing was impossible, given that… well, she could never seem to remember her dreams all that often. She could even hear the slightest touch of his laugh in his voice that held the same level of amusement that she did.

     Whether or not it was true, was something that she would never be able to verify.

     Again, she found herself snared by the intense stare he gave her, locking eyes with him. His much larger hands encompassed her own, radiating an intimate warmth despite his gentle care in not crushing her own hands. She was befuddled by his care toward her that she could not help but squeeze his hands back. His words of excusing him for his rudeness did not seem to bother her, but it was the words after that had elicited a reaction out of her. To have met once again sounded only like the things she had read about in her books and seen in her movies!

     ”Hello Hotaru,” she murmured with a radiant smile, her eyes glittering as she made herself remember the name. “Chii is happy to see you again!” Although why she said that, sent her through a spiral of confusion, her mind would be unable to completely understand. Well, whatever it is, she decided that if it was really all that important, they would eventually find out. She squeezed his hands, her gaze never leaving his own as she allowed the warmth of him to simply melt into her, the caressing sensations tickling her heart and stomach. Deciding that it was perhaps better to show him her new world and home would be a good way to get to know one another better, she had her feet stand on the side before standing up. Moving his hands in hers so that their fingers would interlink with one another, she would help pull him up.

     Now standing side by side, she felt dwarfed instantly by his tall stature. She only stood at the petite height of being 152 centimeters tall and she barely could even come up to his shoulders. Now standing in front, she held his hands still as she glanced down toward them, revealing long, doll-like lashes. “Hotaru is kind, even though he does not like apples.” On some level, Chii realized that she did not want to let go of these stranger’s hands… the comforting warmth of them soothing the troubles she was not even aware that she had.

     Nearby, a crowd of what looked to be young male teens glanced in their direction and began to shout obscenities toward them. Things like ‘get a room’, ‘he’s a weirdo’, ‘her hair is long’, and other things along those lines caused Chii to merely cant her head to the side. Glancing up toward the male, she inquired, “Would Hotaru like to spend the rest of the day with me before I go back? Or is Hotaru busy today?” It seemed as though she had ignored the obvious shouting that the vulgar teens seemed to be shouting in their direction. —{☆}

[lastexalted]

「我不是一定要你回来， 只是当又把回忆翻开； 除了你之外的空白 还有谁能来教我爱？」 -- 失落沙洲 T/N 「I don't need you to come back, but when I start to reminisce; other than the emptiness which is you, Who will teach me how to love?」 -- The Lost Sandbank ______________

"Chii," as the name rolled off his tongue like thick honey, a strong sense of longing invaded all his nerve endings, his body stiffening at the intensity of the foreign emotion, and all he wanted; no, needed to do now was to breathe her in, to engrave her so deep into his skin, his body that she would never be lost to him again.

Lost? His inner conscience laughed mockingly at himself. How could one lose something that didn't belong to him in the first place? Then again, he swore that there was something about the girl in his arms that he felt that he should have known, yet not.

Then again, ever since his arrival in the town, he hadn't been acting much like himself. Perhaps this was just one of the 'unusual happenings'. He should probably contact the Elders to send a healer to check the state of his health once more.

”Chii is relieved you aren’t hurt, I had thought that I had.”

Her gentle touch was like a searing brand, her hand burning trails as she cupped his face, tingles shooting down his spine at the the mere contact, the lilt of her voice like music to his ears. Instead of the reflex action of slapping her hand away from his face, Hotaru once again did something out of his usual character -- he leaned into the touch, closing his eyes as he focused on the spot of contact. At least until she removed her hand to throw, or for better words, shoot the leftovers of the apple she had been eating previously into the trashcan a distance away.

Mesmerized by her smooth movements, crimson orbs trailed every single movement, every single twitch of her hands. Those hands that had lain their touch upon his skin, a touch from a human that hadn't repulsed him, like the way they had always comforted him, soothed him --

Hold up. Where did that image come from? Brows furrowed to a point as images; broken images flashed through his minds. They were quick and fleeting, but Hotaru could tell that those hands he had seen, those touches he remembered were all from the same female in his embrace.

But how was it possible?

"Calm your worrying, little one." Hotaru murmured soothingly, his eyes still fixated on those small, dainty hands. "I am well." If Chii had known anything at all...but she didn't. He supposed it would be futile to pry anything further from her who had lost her memories. "But I have no recollections of you." Hotaru prided himself in his memory span -- he remembered everything, everything from eight hundred years ago with painful clarity, but nothing had came up when he searched his sea of memories for her face.

"But mayhaps you are right," he mused thoughtfully at her hypothesis, his tone light with a hint of a laugh in it. "Mayhaps we have met in our dreams."

“Chii is Chii, but who are you?”

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, the dragon encased her smaller hands in his own larger, blockier ones in a careful hold, as though he was holding glass so fragile it would break if he extruded any strength at all, and not a human's hand.

"Pardon me for my rudeness," he apologized, crimson meeting ambers once again, not releasing his hold on her. "My name is Hotaru. And even if it was true that we have met in our dreams, I am pleased to once again make your acquaintance."

「一千年以后」After A Thousand Years | Hotaru & Chii

{ 心靈 } — The slightest changes that his arms made were immediately recognized. Something hummed deep within the very core of her being that she could not help but promptly adjust to his grip. Befuddlement and the strangest thudding of her heart racing in her chest was in a way that she had never felt before. But… she knew with the most utmost care that she did not know this person, at least, she assumed so. And yet… everything about him felt… familiar in a way that Chii could not help but accept all the adjustments his grip and body had done against hers as she seemed to have simply just… molded to his form… how… curious. Something rang so deep within her that she found it difficult to keep her thoughts together. There was even more of a strange feeling of something tingling in the back of her mind that she could not seem to recall.

     Her train of thought ended when he managed to reply his answer from behind the apple, Chii taking it back from him after he had shaken his head vigorously in rejection. Oh, he didn’t like apples. That was… oddly disappointing. Somehow, a peculiar feeling of her heart being clutched tightly hurt like nothing anything she’s ever experienced before and she wondered why that was. Again, it seemed to be referring to the moment when they had first contacted by skin. She set the apple in her lap with the other half eaten one, blinking when she turned to face him.

     Unable to reply when she saw his hand move toward her, her eyes dilated in surprise by the sudden contact of more skin, his rough, callused ones against the softness of her own. Yet, she had the feeling of understanding that he was somewhat pampered — Hm? Flickers of images flashed in her mind… old memories? A similar situation, a similar action, and a similar smell… Even the gentle way his stern looking face seemed to have softened was… painfully familiar. Why? Why was there so many… feelings with a complete stranger that she does not know of? Never once had anyone mentioned that there was someone in her previous time had been there someone like him… But was it possible?

”Who are you?" "Have we ever met?”    

     However, his first inquiry caused her to stop her train of thought. “Chii is Chii,” was her only answer, almost as if it was her go-to answer. Though the second question led her to the most logical conclusion as to why he seemed so familiar was perhaps he must have been part the time before she had lost her memories. It would mean that she had finally found her connection to her past! “‘In your dreams, perhaps,’ was what Chii was going to say but, it doesn’t look like that’s the answer you’re looking for,” she answered. Leaving the apples in the little pocket of a crevice she made with her dress, she reached with her free hand and touched his cheek, lightly cupping it.

     ”Chii is relieved you aren’t hurt,” she murmured softly with a small smile on her delicate visage. “I had thought that I had.” The simple action caused another wave of nostalgia, this one stronger than the last. But in a moment, it was gone as fast as the previous flashes. How regretful that she would not be allowed to try to remember. “You might’ve met Chii before I lost my memories. Chii was in a very bad car accident and had gotten badly injured. I had lost all of my memories… until recently, Chii had been in a hospital for a very long time.” She removed her hand from his cheek to pick up her apple and bit into it. Since there had not been much left of her apple anyhow, she finished it within two bites, leaving the core. Glancing around for a possible disposable, she saw one several yards away. Straightening her back and her arms moving into a position like the basketball players she had seen before, she used just enough strength to shoot the core straight into the trash.

     Turning to face the man again, she tilted her head, “Chii is Chii, but who are you?” Perhaps his name might kick-start the journey to recovering her memories!—{☆}