When daylight broke, I began to stroll around the secluded section of the Complex. I hadn’t slept much, incessantly waking to the vivid dreams in my head- whether that be the haunting voice of Vice and his followers, my sister as she freely soared down the lane that led from the house or the sweet scent of Nada as she danced through the air. Walking to the edge of the grassy slope, I looked back along the cliff side, to my right, all the way back to the tiny speck of a town. My town.

The Prophecy Room was a tiny cliff side, I noticed, between the Western Borders and the Southern Borders. Apart from a gate to stop visitors from tumbling over the edge, the Prophecy Room and parts of the Western Borders had no board that protected souls from landing themselves in Hell.

Hiruko would say that it was lucky I hadn’t walked down in the middle of the night and fallen through.

I believed he would mean that even if I was sober.

If I turned, the looming Soul Tower could be seen, it’s dark outline clear against the bright morning sky. A smaller, brother tower stood close, with yet another smaller tower bordering the left-hand side of the Soul Tower. That’s where Hiruko would be heading towards eventually, to talk with the six Generals of the Complex about the invading Hyouga members.

I was surprised he hadn’t rushed there sooner, though I was sure it was because of that fear, that penetrating burden of fear that he had carried all his life. What were we to call him, when they invaded? Any slight indication that this was the same Hiruko they had sworn to kill; that would send us all into jeopardy.

To tell the truth, we really had no idea of the situation, Nada and I. We had suddenly found how to use the Katana, controlling them, and all because three incredibly powerful men had appeared; three men with power to control water.

Every. Single. Drop.

But today, we should be meeting the Generals, speaking with their Divisions. I would be entering the Soul Tower for the very first time.

I heard someone fidgeting around the base of the tree and turned to see a proud Hiruko dumping his kill at its base.

He rolled the bird over, dropping it out of his mouth and throwing his head to one side, staring at me as though I was a new toy he could rip into shreds.

He had had that look the first time I met him.

I looked at the cat with composure, though my gaze betrayed that thought. It hinted disgust, and I hoped, that, when I spoke, it did not show, “I thought you were human. Why do you eat…bird?” I inquired, stepping closer to the cat.

“You’re up early, considering the time you went to bed.” He looked up at my eyes, saw the darkness underneath them and raised an eyebrow, speaking softly to the earth below, “That is, if you went to sleep at all last night.”

“I take it you won’t be sharing that, then?” I pointed at the fresh kill, the hot stench of blood reaching me even now, the base of the ominous oak tree a distance away.

The cat chuckled to himself quietly, “I’m sure of it. Unless, of course…” he directed his gaze toward his prey, raising his haunches up in question. I gave him a look and he shrugged me away, picking up the kill and pouncing into the shrubs once more.

I turned and waited for a while, breathing the sea breeze as the waves churned and crashed beneath me.

“Hey, Hiruko?” I spoke, the cat’s sensitive ears obviously able to pick up the sound. There came a muffled reply as a black head popped from the bush, “Mm?”

“Answer the question.”

“The blood’s better.”

“What?!” I spun around staring down the feline.

“I said, the blood’s better,” and he slunk off to finish his feed.

“You disgust me.”

“So be it,” he smirked.

****

Hiruko did not return, even as the sun drew well into morning. Both Keira and Nada were still sleeping as I trudged wearily up the slight slope to the base of the oak on which both were curled up in a tight ball, at the separate ends of the tree.

I moved carefully, so not to wake her, and drew myself tentatively to her side. If her eyes were to flash open them, exerting striking rays of azure in my direction, I was sure I would have no excuse for hovering over her as she slept. I also knew I would seem too casual and not pull myself away to justify myself. Nonetheless, I came before Nada on my knees and watched her face, peaceful and calm as she slept. I began to slowly move my hand towards her flushed face, the back of it unhurriedly stroking the soft, feathery skin of her cheek. Despite her features being a light shade of scarlet, as my hand crept along to her lips, her face was cool but not cold so that I would worry. I came to a slight stop, taking only my thumb to move along her smooth lips, as silky as the stray falling feather of a rare cobalt raven. I paused, as if considering her. Seamlessly, she had flown down my path like raven. I thanked the skies for letting her dive that day.

The lost strands of light began to flicker their way through the endlessly weaving branches of the ancient oak. Its arms had twisted around in so many complicated patterns, it was almost impossible to see where the unfeasible net of leaves and wood had ever begun.

I returned my gaze to the girl that lay before me and saw that she had taken a hold of my arm as my eyes had trailed the tree above.

I drew in a ragged breath as she pulled me closer, barely resisting the temptation to kiss her as my hand began sliding across the earth and my entire body flying alarmingly closer to the girl. I carefully drew back so she would not wake and rooted the hand there, just above her collarbone and dragged the rest of my body to meet it, so I wouldn’t fall as quite abruptly as I had if she tugged at my arm again.

I could tell the girl was between worlds of dreaming and reality, for the grip on my arm would not have been allowed if her mind was in true paralysis.

I couldn’t bear the wound of her glare as she accused me when she woke, that wry attempt at an innocent smile rejected as she pulled herself from me, for the last time. Besides, even if that didn’t happen, there would be no way I could restrain from blushing. At least when she was asleep I could admire her without the disturbed glances of Keira, Hiruko or Nada herself.

But that reminded me of someone. As I predicted, I began to speak too casually with the sword- knowing after a lot failed attempts that shouting would bring us nowhere but yet another world’s length apart.

Senshi? I hadn’t intended for the word to sound so dry, but the coolness in my voice rang throughout my head.

Not looking, so don’t worry, Aaron. The sword rattled at my side, as if he was attempting to shake himself, implying a shake of his head.

I thought you would take advantage of something like this? My gaze flickered down Nada’s figure once again.

No, I’ve matured. Senshi’s tone sounded almost amused, the strong stench of sarcasm spilling from his words. I don’t look at things that don’t interest me. Romance is one of those things.

I shrugged distantly, smiling slightly as the muscles between the girl’s brows tensed -the hint of a frown- at the movement. The position was uncomfortable enough, but I would accommodate to it. Speaking with what was amusement, surprise and a tint of relief; I patted the sheathed blade and smiled sardonically, “So be it.”

I couldn’t, however, shake the feeling that by just sitting there would anger her when she woke, and though each and every instinct told me to stay, I tried to remove my arm from her grip. I straightened the hand of the arm Nada held in order to slip it out, but at my movements she draw me closer to her bosom, so much that she had practically rolled over to hold me there. As I tried again to slip out of the binding, she cried out in her sleep, frowning slightly, pulling against my arm to move away from me, and yet dragging the arm in again once she had settled. I looked at her again, taking the hand she was holding and placing it firmly on the ground to balance myself. Taking my right hand, I moved the fallen tresses of dark coloured hair and moved them to sit behind her ear. Even as she stirred at my touch I could not derogate from her beauty that had become a spell- a spell I would not dare break.

Running my fingers through her hair, I leaned in as though she was a child, breathed in the aroma of her raven hair and delicately, ever so lightly, brushed my lips against her soft, snowflake forehead; unhurriedly, deliberate.

I held myself there, carefully pulling myself upright after a short while.

Following each screaming instinct, I moved the distance between Nada and myself to barely a few inches, wishing to go even further, but I held a reserve on my face, even though the girl was unconscious. I crossed my legs and sat in the awkward position Nada had made for me, drawing my right hand to my forehead as a kind of support and closed my eyes. Though I was certain I would not sleep in that position, or before Nada woke, I could, at least, gain some much needed rest.

Not much happened while I sat there, the wind occasionally rustling the crumpling leaves above me, and the intermittent foliage came swirling down, so delicately brushing past my spine I began jerk away at each touch.

The wind that came from the sea below began to whistle and churn in the archaic limbs of the oak above me, and it moaned with what I thought was relief, sighing as it breathed.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I began to wonder if the reason for the Prophecy Room to be built on this land was more than just because Hiruko’s pathway- where the paintings had originally been discovered- was nearby. Perhaps, too, the land itself was fresh and vital for the magic to truly thrive. The thought flashed by my mind and left. I turned my head slightly to see one of the accompanying towers in its full beauty- an intimidating structure that was, in my opinion, nothing to be daunted by.

I sat by the girl I loved for an hour. She was deep in unconsciousness and I saw that she had no desire to leave the dreams in her head for a while. With still no sign of Hiruko, damn his fur, I was left stranded.

Of course, in saying so, I could tell myself I merely forgot about the dainty red-head, rather than wishing her not to wake at all, for that day. She was very quiet about it, as though she was in the hunt as she vigilantly stalked me from around the tree’s bend.

“You have a bad habit of allowing your emotion for that girl to show.” Keira chastised. Her tone remained controlled and calm, though I could tell there was a jelled fear and amusement in her voice- one not sure whether to overcome the other.

I gave a large sigh before speaking softly, “Well, it appears to be an emotion that shouldn’t have to hide.” It was a terse reply and Keira’s emerald gaze darted away from my eyes for a moment, the emotion in them belying any trace of innocence I had hoped for.

“She is very beautiful,” Keira’s reply seemed hasty. Something must have flickered on my face, because almost immediately the blood rushed to her cheeks.

I brought my head up, in question, “Is something the matter?”

The girl shook her head, her hands covering her intensely red cheeks. “Nothing, really…” She trailed off, eyes dashing from the roots of the tree to Nada as she held my arm close to her body. “Only that, you don’t try to hide your love for her…or, at least, you do not succeed essentially well. That’s a lot different for me, to say…” She looked up, face flushed as she twisted slowly to examine the bushes.

Returning to meet my gaze, her brow tense with concern, she spoke softly, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell Hiruko how I feel for him.” Keira dropped to her knees, as though she was pleading with me. “That cat’s not one for emotion, really, is he? Well, at least not on the top.”

A faint smile appeared on my face as I recalled something Hiruko had said on the first day I had met him.

“Keira.” The girl looked at me tormentedly as I continued, “When I first met Hiruko, I made a few mistakes of asking him about himself. He reluctantly told me about the close relationships between General and their Vices. When I tried to push him further, he practically beat me up and then fell asleep in a bowl of milk.” Keira looked she was about to cry, a chuckle caught in her throat.

“Just don’t push, and see what happens.” I assured her. “Though don’t take advice from a fifteen year-old and expect it to be polished.” Keira gave a forced smile, nodded, and spun on her heels, walking over to the bushes to locate the missing cat.

I’m not sure about a lot of things. There is something I’ve only become certain about very recently, but it is something I have always wanted. “To love”. There is a lot of meaning in those words. When you love one another, you usually tell them so often it becomes merely a greeting. Yet, we always crave that- love of another. “To love”- it means not just to love what has come before you, not just to love the past but to turn and love the future, too.

It means all of this. It means to hold all of this close to your heart.

That is what I think, and…

It is what I have become to know.

****

Though usually I would have fallen asleep merely out of the boredom of sitting under a tree for hours, I could not bring myself to feel that.

I couldn’t possibly feel that, not while she was here beside me, holding onto me, not willing to let my arm slip away.

But, all dreams slip away and it was not long after that the girl began to stir. She hesitantly stretched out her legs and pulled down on my arm again, sending a sharp pain through to my collarbone. I yelped from the surprise, and Nada immediately jumped with it. Her hands, cautiously sliding down the arm she had been holding, were brought down to her side. Her eyes, wide with surprise for the fact I was waiting by her side, slowly began to return to normal. But the blood had rushed to her face when she saw me, and I had no way of knowing whether that was good or bad.

“Aaron?!” Bad, I told myself, truly bad. “What happened?” Her flat hands bawled into a fist by her side, as though she was trying to hide something.

I opened my mouth as if to speak and instead blew out a long, tired sigh. I began to explain the events of the morning leading up how I went to check on her, and how she had attached herself to my arm.

When I had finished, she leaned towards me, black hair brushing down my shoulder. I caught the sweet scent of strawberry in her hair and had a momentarily desire to wrap an arm around her waist.

I fought down the impulse.

“That’s kind of a dull story.” She remarked, coming closer to my side, trying to distance herself from the unconformable roots and steep slope she had woken to.

I laughed a little. “Well, I’m sorry you don’t find yourself racy enough.” I spoke teasingly.

I glanced at her and she jumped. “You seem tense.” She looked at me strangely for a moment, as if she could feel my desire for the impossible. We were worlds apart, I knew- one of life and one of death. So why, then, was I trying to persuade her to give up her life for me?

A selfish act, I knew.

Nada pretended not to notice, but I saw her back tense.

Right there, right then, I considered jumping to the base of the hill and running, running far away.

Why did I feel so comfortable in this situation- having to explain to a young girl why she had woken with a boy at her side, hovering over her?

I was beginning to scare myself.

Nada shrugged in response to my comment, “Hard roots aren’t exactly my perfect place to rest.”

There was a decent pause as we both flashed the colour of a robin’s breast and turned away from each other.

I shook my head and turned back to her, Nada shrinking with sharp discomfort as I took her hand within my own. “I’m sorry, to have scared you.”

She bristled, “No, of course not!” She came onto her knees, leaning forward slightly. Though not particularly embarrassed about my situation, I went rigid and recoiled somewhat. Hesitantly, Nada dropped back to her knees. Furious with myself, I let my hands untwine hers and allowed the anger to gnaw at my side. I was scaring her.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” The way the words were formed made it sound like I was trying to end the conversation, but I still had an opinion on the matter. “I should have left you be.”

The girl shrugged and smiled tiredly at me. She had begun to relax and was nestling into the woolly-headed state-of-mind we tend to fall into when we wake. There was a long pause, and I didn’t think we would be speaking again, but then she sighed. “The last memory I have…of being alive,” she confessed softly, “is my mother crying.”

She drew a breath and looked away, continuing forlornly, “We’ve had a history. She’s the kind of mother who controls what her daughter’s life is going to turn out like. I don’t know if you’ve seen it,” the faintest smile brushed past her lips, “But I have, we’ll say, a strange way of acting, at times.” I was sure she was referring to our first meeting as she effortlessly defended us from the stick-man. Me. I told her this and she responded in a pathetic tone, telling me that it wasn’t quite effortless and it had taken her mother’s time and money for her to learn such things.

Continuing on from that point, she spoke rather carefree, “I’m refined, at points, where I don’t necessarily have to hide emotion. At other times I’m confident and I don’t care for my mother’s taste in life at all.” She sniffed slightly and threw her head back to look at the leaves in the magical oak.

“Ahh…” Nada whispered, “That was my world; a constant clash between two warring creatures; the Queen and her successor. Mother taught me a ladies’ refinement, how she should show no emotion or shatter one’s public figure. Once they’ve seen you weak… I taught myself how to fight and how to stand up for what I thought was right. But it always seems that, somehow, she has dug a sense of sophistication into my mind… and I have to find some way to dig it out.” She ended that discussion, but decided to elaborate on her original point.

Her last memory was of suffering.

Nada stiffly spoke, “I think, just for a second, I returned to reality. Mother was there, in tears next to me. I was gripping a present- a bear. I’m used to sleeping with something,” she spoke a little softer, “Or someone.” I shifted my eyes to her but she averted my gaze. “I guess that’s why I attached myself to your arm. Sorry, about that.”

Why? I chuckled to myself. Please don’t be sorry about that.

Luckily, the scuffling in the bushes suggested to us that Keira had found the missing cat and we both rose to greet them.

Keira placed her hands on her hips and gestured to the cat that was covered with twigs and was carrying a large bag in his mouth. “He went to the Tower and got lost trying to find his way back.”

“His sense of direction’s as crappy as ever.” I noted the cat looking away from us.

“Shut up, Funny-hair,” he hissed, slightly offended, dropping the bag at my feet and skulking off to the giant oak.

In a single, graceful moment, he had climbed up to the branch like a spider and continued his way up the broad branches. Persistently he leapt his way to the thin, stringy twigs as he brushed through the covering of leaves. The silhouette of the black cat could be seen a distance away, though his coat tended to blend in with his surroundings and he was occasionally lost to the view.

He was obviously not in a good mood at all.

Keira walked to us and smiled wanly as she spoke, “It’s the day. Today’s the day when he’s to go to the Soul Tower…and explain the situation in full detail…” The girl trailed off as the cat’s ears swung, and she was given a slight scowl.

She shrugged him off and looked back at me.

“I would have thought…he said that it was a serious matter; the Hyouga…” I paused and looked to Hiruko, who returned my gaze with a sharp glare and mangled hiss as ducked under the cover of leaves again. “Why did he take this many detours if this was such an important issue?” I hushed my voice, not wishing to disrupt the cat further.

Keira stumbled slightly, her voice wavering, “Well…” She eyed the swaying leaves at the top of the oak. “I think…he’s scared…of them.”

I drew a breath. Hiruko had always seemed conscious when he spoke of the Hyouga tribe, every time. Was he trying to refrain from thinking of them, of the threat they posed on him?

Keira returned her gaze to me. “They will kill him if they find him. If the Generals of the Complex of Souls were to do something rash and haphazard to alert people, protect the Complex and Tower or attack the Hyouga, they would have done so already. I believe he was trying to avoid that; taking messages across to the Borders. Seeing as he’s the Messenger General, they couldn’t do anything while he’s wasn’t there. He was also trying to make that happen. I think Hiruko has a pretty good idea of what the Hyouga would do, and he knows that by taking part in the General’s rash decisions he would be endangering his Division. That’s something he won’t do.” She looked down to the ground considering her words.

“I think there are a lot of reasons….”

I bent my head slightly, releasing a short sigh. Hiruko didn’t want to have to deal with the Hyouga. He had given the Complex a heads up when he had been visited by Nada’s patrol earlier, and seeing as the matter hadn’t been as serious then...

But we were going to meet them today and Hiruko still seemed reluctant to do so. I could imagine at least one of Generals being the type to take the conference in a downward spiral. I could also imagine Hiruko loosening his defensive walls just to strike back at such a person.

I guess Nada and I would find out what kind of life Hiruko led here.

****

“Please. Please!” I called through the open window.

That stupid melody chimed again as the music box turned. She had left it there on purpose. The piano notes climbed to a gorgeous high peak before coiling back down to the soft, comfortable, repeating tune. The shadows of starlight drifted down to my face and an equally silver tear silently fell to the window sill and then others far beyond, to the earth below.

The song replayed itself and then, just as the broken toy box that spun the music chimed the first note, so too did a bunch of past memories collect in my mind all at once. I felt a sharp stab of pain and guilt as each one was thrown at me.

“Helena!” I called out once again. And finally, then, as the last of the memories came- the girl shooting down the lane and out of my life- I collapsed onto the bed, gasping through the tears. It had been several weeks and I had not found her.

It pained me greatly.

The ringing of the music box began to slow. There had been two of them made- one for the each of us. It seemed she had taken hers in the small bundle of possessions she strung over the back.

Come back to me, Helena.