http://clampfix.fanworks.net/tb-fix/dreams1.txt </head><body><pre> Ok, my first public fanfic, so let me know what you think. This story takes place after Tokyo Babylon & before the X-1999 storyline, and involves Subaru's travels before meeting up with the other Seals. I've disregarded most of what was said in the manga about this period on purpose, because...well...because I do. : ) I've created a character you've never heard of before for this purpose, and as you can probably guess, she somehow disappears before X-1999, since she's not hanging around with Subaru then. I'm not sure what's going to happen to her at this point. Only time...and my imagination...will tell. - RENA (jmondazzi@mail.arc.nasa.gov) Dreams of a Blue Sky by: Jennifer L. Mondazzi 09/24/96 Part 1: Because... Aoi Taka sat and waited, carefully watching Subaru's breath crystallize upon the bitter night's wind. His silent, intense gaze was directed towards the city's lights on the horizon, as if unable to tear himself away from their soft twinkling. From this angle, his handsome profile was solid and harsh. Aoi secretly wondered if he had ever been the caring, gentle youth that she remembered, and that his sister, Hokotu, insisted he had been later on in his teens. Hokotu was as much a mystery as her brother, appearing when not expected, and disappearing just as suddenly. At times, Subaru's twin appeared almost ethereal, her hair just perfect, her skin pale and smooth -- almost angelic. Aoi shivered at the thought, wrapping her arms tighter about her body. Hokotu was as close to angelic as one could be, and yet still remain visible. She was one of the yurei...a ghost. "It's cold out here," Subaru said, his voice unemotional, "Why don't you go home?" Aoi shook her head, although she knew her friend could not see her gesture, as his back was to her. "Nope. You can't get rid of me that easily." Subaru merely shrugged, as he usually did when confronted with her stubbornness, but said nothing more, continuing to stare out over the nighttime sky. As they stood in silence, her senses fully tuned for disturbance, Aoi's mind wandered, contemplating their strange relationship... She had been away from Tokyo for so many years. It had seemed like fate when she had seen him once more, walking down the street towards her, just a few short months ago. She could see the white aura of power that had surrounded him first, recognized it's familiar vibration in the air. It's light burned brightly, exclaiming to any who touched the power, that Subaru was one of the seven Dragons of Heaven -- one of the seven Seals who would fight in the battle for dominance of the world. And yet, despite the purity of that light, and his foreordained purpose, there appeared a grotesque, evil darkness that crept just over his shoulder, as if waiting to swallow him up. So powerful was its foulness, that Aoi could not look at it for long, and so she had turned her eyes to his. Time had seemed to stand still for her when their gazes met. She had unconsciously stopped walking, uncaring of the noise and bustle around her, her entire being vibrantly aware of *him*. She had waited for his approach, the breath caught within her throat. Surely he would recognize her, despite her long absence. Surely he would remember. He had walked past her, without a word, without a further glance in her direction. The world had seemed to spin around her, and then her legs had given out beneath her. She was on her knees, her body having gone numb. How could he not know her? Why hadn't he spoken to her? At some point, a concerned passer-by had helped her stand to her feet, yet she vaguely heard his questions. /Are you alright? Do you need an ambulance?/ Somehow, she managed to mumble a response, and the man had walked off into the crowd, satisfied with her answer. Leaving her alone. Her feet had taken her back the way she had come, as a sudden panic gripped her, causing her to race after her childhood playmate. Heart pounding within her chest, blood rushing through her body, she had forced her way through the masses of people, and had finally caught a glimpse of Subaru's white robes, heading into a side street. She followed mindlessly, the need to know driving her onward. He stood at the end of the wide alley, his back to her, the concrete walls of the towering structures surrounding, seemingly engulfing them both. As the setting light from the sun shone through the entrance, Aoi caught the scent of sakura blossoms on the gently blowing breeze. "Subaru!" she had cried, her voice echoing off the encircling walls. Her breath came quick, and she was heedless of the loudness of it in her ears. He turned slightly, looked at her with guarded eyes, and said nothing. "Subaru, it's me, Aoi Taka," she had said, her voice almost pleading with him to recognize her. Still he had said nothing, merely blinked, his face impassive. She had approached him then, and as she did so, his aura glowed more brightly. She had wondered if he could see hers, the dazzling blue which she felt envelope her whenever she grasped for the power within her soul. It was an unconscious gesture, fueled by a desperation within her heart, and brought on by the young man's presence. She had stopped mere feet from him, watching her reflection within those unfathomable eyes. His eyes had widened slightly then, and the mask of his stolid face cracked. This was the sign Aoi had needed, a response from him of some kind. She had reached out a hand towards him, gently...slowly. "Please, say you remember," she had whispered, and touched his cheek tenderly. Upon their skin's contact, she had felt his power pierce her body, shatter the barriers, which she had spent her whole lifetime erecting. Her mind and heart lay wide open to him, and their memories became entangled. They had relived their childhood moments together in that brief few minutes, shared a life span of sorrow, happiness, pain and enlightenment. That is how she had found out about Hokotu's murder, and Subaru's hatred for the man who had betrayed his trust, the man who had committed the horrible crime. His name was etched permanently on her heart in the moment. Seishirou Sakurazuka. The evil Sakurazukamori. She had felt her tears burn hot trails down her cheeks, felt Subaru's hand remove hers from his person. He had taken a step away from her, and the indifference had returned to his features. His resolve had tightened, shutting her out once more. The truth of his actions, his lack of emotion had hit her like a bucket of cold water, bathing her in sorrow and pain. The Subaru she had known, and loved, was lost forever. Aoi blinked away the memory of that day, reaffirmed her mind on concentrating on the future. A new bond had formed between herself and Subaru over the few months they had been together. They had not touched since that day. In fact, he seemed to want to avoid physical contact altogether. He remained distant, but slowly, without meaning to, his reactions and feelings became known to her. Now, only when the rush of anger, mixed with the sting of betrayal, filled him to bursting, they filled Aoi's mind as well. When his blood pounded through his body uncontrollably, Aoi could sense it's hunger for revenge, combined with the bitterness of misplaced trust and shattered dreams. Only when the emotions were intense, did she feel what Subaru felt. Otherwise, she would rely upon her intuition to tell her the truth of his behavior. Her sensitivity to his moods, her brief insight into his pain, had made her aware of him in a different way. She knew that Subaru hid his pain well, and others could not perceive his underlying anguish. To the world, it was as if he had simply ceased to care for anything other than living long enough to fulfill his need for vengeance, but Aoi knew better. Subaru's heart was broken, and his innocence lost. "Are you hungry?" he asked, his voice barely louder than a whisper. It was Aoi's turn to shrug. "Sure, let's go find something to eat," she suggested, and hopped off of the sun-bleached boulder she had used for a perch. As she approached, he kept his back to her, but his body stiffened. She stopped when they stood shoulder to shoulder, both staring out over the evening's starlight. When he spoke, his voice was weary. "Why do you stay?" It was a simply question, yet the answers were beyond fathoming. There were so many reasons, and yet, only one. "Because," was all she said with another shrug, and walked ahead of him, down the hill. The wind picked up, brushing her hair across her cheek lightly. She inhaled deeply, noting the faint scent of cherry blossoms carried on the breeze. Aoi didn't worry. This scent was natural, untainted. It was almost springtime in Kyoto, and the Sakura Festival would begin soon. Perhaps she and Subaru would attend one before they moved on. -- end of part 1 -- </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>