annotate old/stories/toujour6.txt @ 2:fc00894c1d4a moonlitnights

[svn r3] moved all the bad stuff to 'old'
author rlm
date Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:53:12 -0500
parents
children
rev   line source
rlm@2 1 "….and that's brings us to now." Seisen said, looking over his creator with a
rlm@2 2 shrug of his shoulders, "She saved my life…and I want to help make things right with her
rlm@2 3 and her…friend." The black irises of the youth looked to his maker with a knowing
rlm@2 4 glance. He didn't need to speak the words. They were already known.
rlm@2 5 "And what would you have me do, Seisen?" the booming voice asked the
rlm@2 6 kneeling man, who had removed his mask out of respect. "I would like to help you, but
rlm@2 7 my power is limited when I deal with mortals…I understand this girl has saved you, her
rlm@2 8 power is astounding…dangerous, yes, but impressive none the less."
rlm@2 9 "I was created to destroy her…you made me to be able to strike that child down
rlm@2 10 without a second thought. I was trained to be the angel of death, created out of nothing to
rlm@2 11 be her demise….stripped of a childhood, stripped of a life, only to take hers. A job that,
rlm@2 12 thankfully, didn't need to be done. Now my intended victim saved my life, her glaive
rlm@2 13 gave me the power to heal myself when I would be dead." Seisen's speech was answered
rlm@2 14 with silence, allowing his powerful words to continue, "I am here asking for a way to
rlm@2 15 return the favor; I understand that you cannot simply grant the wish with a motion of your
rlm@2 16 hand, but I think I have a way to make things right. If you'll allow me to do
rlm@2 17 this….father."
rlm@2 18 " 'Father…' so long since you've called me that. You hated me, when you
rlm@2 19 realized that your life wasn't meant to be normal…" the pain and regret in the voice was
rlm@2 20 evident, though it was masked by a cracking shield, "Very well, tell me your plan my
rlm@2 21 son…"
rlm@2 22 "Thank you father…I need to speak to your daughter…. Her, and your other
rlm@2 23 son… I know they do not know who I am, you have hidden me well, but the time has
rlm@2 24 come now that I have to reveal myself, risking my own existence…please." Seisen's eyes
rlm@2 25 looked to the floor a moment, then back up to his maker.
rlm@2 26 "….." a sigh was heard, the troubled soul of one who has seen one too many
rlm@2 27 tragedies. "As you wish, my son…I only hope Juno would listen to you. She hasn't the
rlm@2 28 mind to respect mortals, she does tend to like violence and mayhem… Jupiter may be
rlm@2 29 more understanding. I'll take you to them now, close your eyes my son.." and as Saturn
rlm@2 30 laid his hands on Seisen's head, the two of them vanished in a flash of purple colored
rlm@2 31 light, heading to the temple at Capitol.
rlm@2 32
rlm@2 33 "And you expect me to do something about that, mortal?" Juno wasn't all too
rlm@2 34 keen on the idea of wanting to help mortals, especially after Seisen was hidden from them
rlm@2 35 all these years. The queen of the gods sat on her throne next to her husband Jupiter who
rlm@2 36 was a little more interested in the goings on than the woman. "What does the happiness
rlm@2 37 of mortals have to do with me?"
rlm@2 38 "I expect nothing…but I do request your, and your husband's, assistance in
rlm@2 39 making things…" Seisen paused, looking for the right word, both his eyes turned to the
rlm@2 40 floor in consideration before moving back to Juno's. "Better for both of them. I wouldn't
rlm@2 41 come to you, unless I knew that you could do something. After all, lady queen, you are
rlm@2 42 the goddess of women and marriage…who better than to help two women, than the
rlm@2 43 patron of them?" Juno fell silent, glancing away. "The king, and the queen of the gods
rlm@2 44 certainly have some type of power that could be of help."
rlm@2 45 "What will you do for us in return, Seisen?" Jupiter began, looking the youth over
rlm@2 46 as he stroked his beard. He was greatly pleased that the man wasn't begging, or
rlm@2 47 demanding that they give their power to help his cause, "You know that we cannot bring
rlm@2 48 the dead to life again, even if you do have their spirits, their bodies are completely ruined.
rlm@2 49 New bodies might be possible, but they wouldn't remember each other and that seems to
rlm@2 50 be half the point, if I'm correct."
rlm@2 51 "That is more or less the idea…reanimation isn't a necessity. Death is eternal. I
rlm@2 52 don't think either of them would have a problem with staying the way they are, so long as
rlm@2 53 they could be together. Mortals fear death because they are afraid of what comes
rlm@2 54 after…they both now know. The mystery is gone, so the will to live should be as well...
rlm@2 55 though I'm sure they will be missed, they will miss their friends." The youth's eyes
rlm@2 56 turned to the king, though he has yet to get up from his kneel on the marble floor before
rlm@2 57 the royalty of the gods.
rlm@2 58 "What about you, are you afraid of death?" Juno asked him, her brow raising as
rlm@2 59 she gave him a smile that struck Seisen as slightly too smug, "You are mortal after all."
rlm@2 60 "Yes, of course." Seisen said without a moments hesitation, "I do know what
rlm@2 61 comes after it…for other mortals, but I was not born in the way of man, and I don't know
rlm@2 62 if I even have a soul to offer after my body loses it's will." That left Juno, who had been
rlm@2 63 expecting him to say he was fearless quiet. Jupiter was greatly impressed with the man's
rlm@2 64 honesty, his integrity, and his genuine caring for someone he had only recently met. "And
rlm@2 65 I do not have much to offer in way of repayment, or gifts, but anything I have, or
rlm@2 66 anything I can do I will." The truth in the youth's words killed whatever doubt the king of
rlm@2 67 the gods had in his mind.
rlm@2 68 "Very well, Seisen…I will grant your plea, and the soul of the girl who was
rlm@2 69 destined for Hades will now be sent to the Elysian Fields... Though, I do have something
rlm@2 70 I need to ask of you." The king smiled broadly, before giving a noticeably nervous
rlm@2 71 chuckle, "You are strong in both the body, the mind, and the spirit…are you any good
rlm@2 72 with children?"
rlm@2 73 "I'm sure I can be, if given enough time…" Seisen's reply came, looking to Juno
rlm@2 74 who began to seethe with fury, glaring at both men before storming out of the throne
rlm@2 75 room.
rlm@2 76 "Good…" Jupiter seemed concerned very little with his wife's outburst, "I have a
rlm@2 77 child, from a woman named Leto…her name is Diana, and she needs someone to watch
rlm@2 78 her, teach her how to do things…can you look after her for a while?"
rlm@2 79
rlm@2 80 Standing in the tower of the castle in the city of Capitol, Seisen stared at the stars
rlm@2 81 in the sky, his mask hiding his face in the darkness. The bright, full moon shone down
rlm@2 82 over the forest, and the lake surrounding the castle, it's pale, but somehow comforting,
rlm@2 83 light cast over the landscape.
rlm@2 84 "Mission accomplished…" Seisen said to himself, his voice sounded hollow as it
rlm@2 85 echoed off the stone walls of Jupiter's home. "I know you're there father…" the youth
rlm@2 86 called over his shoulder, though no one was in the room, "And I know you can hear
rlm@2 87 me…you created me to ensure that the spirit of Hotaru Tomoe was ushered into the after
rlm@2 88 life. She will be there very shortly, both her and her friend." Stillness only answered
rlm@2 89 Seisen, though the youth smirked, "I'm not angry…I'm sad, that she had to die so young,
rlm@2 90 but at least they'll be young, and beautiful forever, right?" Again, silence was the
rlm@2 91 response. "Yeah…that's what I thought." A soft rapping at the door brought Seisen back
rlm@2 92 to reality, he knew who it was already.
rlm@2 93 Both of the girl's spirits had been brought here, and they would all meet a final
rlm@2 94 time before they were sent to the afterlife, to eternity. It was time to say goodbye to them;
rlm@2 95 the girl he had met only days before, the child he was created to kill, and her friend.
rlm@2 96 "Come in." The youth turned his back to the doorway again, once more peering out over
rlm@2 97 the moonlit darkness.
rlm@2 98 "Seisen…" Hotaru said aloud as she opened the door and stepped inside. Her
rlm@2 99 voice no longer thick, and pained, but soft and gentle as he knew it should be.
rlm@2 100 "We…we're leaving now. I…we, wanted to come to thank you for everything you did to
rlm@2 101 help us. I know that you must have risked a lot to do this for us, and you don't know how
rlm@2 102 grateful we are." He didn't say anything, though he knew he should. The words wouldn't
rlm@2 103 find their way from his lips; his mind going blank when he should have been telling her
rlm@2 104 goodbye. Hotaru stepped forward, leaving the silent Chibi by the door, and placing her
rlm@2 105 hand on his shoulder, "Please look at me, Seisen…"
rlm@2 106 Seisen sighed and turned to face them. Each of the girls was dressed well; pure,
rlm@2 107 white gowns that looked befitting for queens, or princesses in this case, the long, lace
rlm@2 108 sleeves fit over their slender arms, leading down over the back of their hand and hooking
rlm@2 109 onto their middle finger. "You both look beautiful.." he said to Hotaru, before glancing to
rlm@2 110 Chibi who quickly averted her eyes; she felt guilty for being here, for making Seisen have
rlm@2 111 to strike a deal with the gods. "And you…" he began, regarding the pink haired girl,
rlm@2 112 "Smile. You're going to spend forever with your frie-" the youth paused, deciding to stop
rlm@2 113 using that word, and replacing it with the truth, "Your girlfriend." He finished, getting a
rlm@2 114 furious blush out of both of the girls, but not a word of protest.
rlm@2 115 "Thank you…" Chibi said, approaching him and giving him a quick hug before
rlm@2 116 Seisen knew what was coming. As her arms wrapped him, he stood in stunned silence for
rlm@2 117 a moment, before returning the embrace, then letting her slip away from him and back to
rlm@2 118 the doorway, "I'll be outside, 'Taru…" The girl thought it would be better to let them say
rlm@2 119 goodbye in private.
rlm@2 120 "You know you'll have to go soon," Seisen stated first, crossing his arms over his
rlm@2 121 chest, and arching a brow at her. "I don't want you to miss your appointment with
rlm@2 122 forever." He forced a smile, though it was hidden behind his cloth mask.
rlm@2 123 "Seisen…please." Hotaru sighed, reaching her hand out to pull the mask from
rlm@2 124 covering him, "Don't hide yourself from me…we both owe you a lot, and we can never
rlm@2 125 repay you for what you've done for us…if there's anyth-" she was cut off as Seisen put
rlm@2 126 his finger over her lips, shaking his head.
rlm@2 127 "You are my sister…your blood courses through my veins, just as mine in yours. I
rlm@2 128 only did what anyone else would do for their blood." He smiled again, reaching his hand
rlm@2 129 out to brush a few raven strands from her face, "You are welcome." Hotaru stepped to
rlm@2 130 him and let her arms encircle him, resting her head on his chest. The youth smiled, his
rlm@2 131 arms then finding their way around her, pulling her close for a moment, but a knock at
rlm@2 132 the door soon drew their attention.
rlm@2 133 "Hotaru…it's time to go, Dis says we have to leave really soon." Chibi's voice
rlm@2 134 was heard, though the door wasn't opened.
rlm@2 135 "Thank you, Seisen…I won't forget you, and what you've done." Hotaru said as
rlm@2 136 she stepped back from him and smoothed her dress, looking over her shoulder to the
rlm@2 137 door, "Just a second…"
rlm@2 138 "Go on," the man smiled, cocking his head in the direction of the door, "Don't
rlm@2 139 want her to leave without you." Seisen stepped away from her. Somehow, increasing the
rlm@2 140 distance made it seem like it would be easier to part. Hotaru sighed, looking back to the
rlm@2 141 youth before turning and stepping to the door. She was about to say something, but was
rlm@2 142 again silenced as Seisen held up his hand, "I'll see you again sometime…"
rlm@2 143 "Yes….until then, brother." Hotaru smiled, a tear streaking down her face as she
rlm@2 144 opened the door and stepped out.
rlm@2 145 "Until then, sister…" the youth whispered back as the door closed, then turned his
rlm@2 146 attention back to the sky. Reaching into the strap that crossed his chest, Seisen pulled his
rlm@2 147 flute from the padded compartment and brought it to his lips. A deep sigh was heard
rlm@2 148 before he began to play; the soft, whisper of a melody floated down into the valley below
rlm@2 149 as a tear fell from his eye to follow the music.
rlm@2 150
rlm@2 151 "Seisen…?" a child's voice sounded in the darkness, causing the still conscious
rlm@2 152 man to turn his gaze to the sound of the voice. Diana…
rlm@2 153 "Yes?" he answered her, it was late…the girl should have been sound asleep by
rlm@2 154 now. The youth didn't move, only let his eyes remain on her, as he could see the faint
rlm@2 155 silhouette of her body against the backdrop of the moonlight.
rlm@2 156 "I can't sleep…" Diana whispered to him, crawling up onto his bed and sitting on
rlm@2 157 her ankles. "Tell me a story?"
rlm@2 158 "A story…" Seisen repeated, "Ok…" he waited for the child to lie down and get
rlm@2 159 settled in.
rlm@2 160
rlm@2 161 "I have a story….a love story. It all starts in the dark of night…with a young girl
rlm@2 162 lost outside in the snow…"
rlm@2 163