Training for a Challenge Accepted

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Shadows of the moonlit path concealed the eyes of a walking loner. Footsteps are silently heard connecting to the dirt and the blanket of grass. A slight breeze surrounded the being as the nighttime’s air currents gently shifted his jet black hair. Piercing, sapphire blue eyes glowed tiredly through the night’s blanket of darkness. The footsteps that had been treading for a while finally stopped and ceased only leaving silence of the dusk and the creatures’ callings that showed and appeared when the hovering day sun would set.

Contemplating he had gone far enough, the lean being of angelic ancestry pulled his arms up from his sides and shifted his hands to reach down his spinal chord. Gripping firmly to the hilts of the two fatal weapons hooked on to his back, Tsukishi pulled the blades from the unique sheaths with a quick sheering sound. The stainless steel blades glimmered, reflecting a glint of radiant light offered by the moon above.

A shadowed silhouette stood firmly in an open field with weapons in each hand, gleaming lights whenever moved into the right positioning. Tsukishi inhaled and exhaled calmly taking in the nighttime’s pure air. His eyes peered straight ahead over the horizon of the setting sun. He knew he was in an excellent place for practice. Everything was at peace, everything was in place. The breeze was gentle and loneliness covered the area. No signs of disturb crossed his sapphire eyes. With everything now in his line of vision and his scanning complete, the man twirled his hooked, deadly blades in his hands, maneuvering the hilts gracefully between his slender, yet strong fingers. Flashes of light crossed the grass majestically as the blades twirled under the moon light.

Tsukishi struck the air harsh with his blades, acting as if there was an enemy fighting for his or her life against him. Sliding his legs along the grass line and shifting his arms in positions making sure not to cut himself. He stopped to strike air over and over again, blocking the enemy who was not there. Tsukishi brought the curved blades the front of him in a parallel line to each blade. He closed his eyes and took a deep inhale. Releasing the air in a huff of an exhale, Tsukishi slammed the pointed razors into the fresh soil, embedding them into the earth.

When a gust of sudden breeze penetrated the outline of his body outline, Tsukishi brought his wind abilities to life. He released the hilts of the blades, leaving them there for the time being while he practiced his wind aptitudes. Bending back, raising his arms to touch the ground, the demon sprung into a back flip away from the embedded blades.

Quickly touching back down to the soft grass, Tsukishi focused himself and summoned the wind. Inner influences pushed ahead, forcing Tsukishi to show his best, to be pushed out and beyond his present endurance.

He clenched his fists as the visible wind current spiraled his arm. With great force, the emotionless face of the demon became determined. Great strain was put on his body as he released a yell of determination plummeting his hands upon the earth. Slammed down on the grass, his hands dented into the ground. Sapphire blue eyes widened as the spiral of wind shot down from his arm on to the ground. Such force was driven through the wind, shooting the agile body into the sky.

He propelled a gale of wind out from under his limbs. The sudden force of wind impelled Tsukishi into the sky, his flexible body flipping backwards as he was driven up. As his back was to the sky, great pain infiltrated his body, as his porcelain skin on his back spilt. Blood ran down his back as the tips of membrane covered wings sprouted out from his back. Fully thrusting out, Tsukishi bit his bottom lips holding his yell of pain inside. Exposed to the moonlit sky, clumps of membrane fell to the earth as he flapped his black feathered angelic wings. Blood mixed with in the membrane, and blood fell from his back.

Swallowing the pain, the winged demon folded the newly exposed wings to his sides and dove to the ground. Only a few feet away from a painful collision with the soil, Tsukishi reached out his arms and grabbed the hilts of the embedded blades he had left behind. Flipping forward, Tsukishi freed the blades from the holding soil and tumbled gracefully onto the earth, with the clean razors in hand.

Quivering lips parted as the pain rushed through him. A slight smile was painted across his lips as he was thrilled of his progress. Before if he were to summon his wings, great amounts of pain and blood would pour from his system. Kneeling on the ground, with the hooked sword pointing inward, Tsukishi huffed, heaving his chest, soaking in the pain.

“Not bad Tsukishi….you didn’t need them anyway.”

[heavenlyglow]

Lavender eyes watched the majestic man train, unbeknownst to him. Eyes that were aglow with curiosity as this man danced to his own rhythm, his weapons in hand. Delicate ears could pick up the sudden gust of wind as the blades sliced through the air.

Sora’s hands were placed gently against the jagged bark of the tree that concealed her feminine physique. Her right hand lightly grazed the side of the trunk as it sat there. Sora’s left palm however placed pressure to the back of the tree as she leaned forward. Her cheek was at the tree’s side and was being caressed by the tree’s rough skin.

Eyelashes meshed together rejuvenating the angelic woman’s drying eyes. She had been staring at this man for what seemed hours as he fought his invisible foe.

Sora’s eyes swelled at the sudden commotion of the weapons digging into the earth, parting the soil for a firm grasp. The gust of wind caused a shiver to travel down the girl’s spine and back up again.

The man performed how lithe he was as he bent backwards, allowing himself to do a back flip. The lavender shaded eyes that watched him so intently began to fill with terror as determined cries filtered into her ears. She quickly concealed herself behind the large tree. The wind around his arm had startled her enough, but when he cried out, she forced herself to hide. She didn’t know what he was doing, he obviously wasn’t human, but from his yells, he scared her more than humans did.

The thoughts that once distracted her, shattered hearing something doughy hit the padded ground. Her body spun around as she peered around her camouflage. Her eyes widened at the chunks of flesh that had landed on the grassy ground. But her gaze didn’t find the man that was there a few moments ago. Sora’s eyes drifted to the sky to the man’s new appearance.

“He has wings like Sora....”

The onyx wings that were on the man’s back kept her attention as he dove back down to the earth at a dangerous speed. She could tell his experience was vast due to his quick maneuvering to grab his weapons’ hilts. Reaching back with her left hand, Sora felt the tufts of feathers beneath her lavender hair.

The man before was now on the ground mumbling to himself. Crimson liquid began to stain along where his wings sat on his shoulder blades. Leaning against the tree for a better look, Sora’s traction on the ground was disrupted by a thick tree root. Her bare foot grazed the root causing the bark that encased it to chip off.

Catching her lost balance, she quickly turned pressing her back against the tree once more concealing her now conspicuous presence. Sharp gasps escaped her rose colored lips. Slender hands clasped over her mouth to lessen her gasping breaths. She made her presence known to everyone within a twenty foot radius. She had seen this man training and her knowledge allowed her to know what he was capable of.

Grasping her bag, she slipped her hand past the confides of her bag’s opening and grasped the dagger that was mixed in there. Slowly her fingers lost their grip and slipped from the blade. She didn’t know how to fight and came to the conclusion that she would only get herself killed trying to fend him off. If she needed to escape she would expand her wings and take to the skies. She made fists with her hands. She gently crossed her arms over her chest as she trembled. Lavender hued bangs covered her eyes as her head bowed out of fear.

“Please....don’t be hostile....”

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Kneeling on the ground, with the hooked sword pointing inward, Tsukishi continued to huff, heaving his chest, soaking in the resonating pain. The slight smile was painted across his lips vanished quickly when a sound of stumbling entered his keen ears. Sapphire blue eyes shot a swift look to his side to where his ears picked up the sound. Using his weapons for support, Tsukishi leaned on the blades’ hilts pushing them a little more into the ground.

Knees locked and full stature gained, the demonic being scanned the area knowing he was no longer alone. The gentle breeze stroked his hair as he pulled his weapons from the earth they embedded. Tsukishi twirled the blades in his hands so the hooks were pointing the heavens. In a playful tone Tsukishi parted his lips trying to coax whoever it was who was watching to coax out of hiding. Because of his great perception abilities, the young man already knew the spying being was indeed no animal or creature, the noise it made was slightly too loud and a little too heavy. The sound matched perfectly for a creature of the human kind or at least humanoid. As Tsukishi spoke he slowly turned his body in every direction looking for any sign of where the peering eyes were.

“I know you’re out there…show yourself!”

His sapphire blue eyes moved along the tree line and the ground. His eyes automatically honed in on a displacement in the ground. It was barely noticeable, but it was visible enough for Tsukishi’s demonic eyes to see. The grass behind one particular tree was pressed a bit, and a piece of bark was lying awkwardly away from its home. His eyes narrowed in a cunning appearance as his prey was finally found. A sly grin spread across Tsukishi’s lips as one words was spoken under his breath.

“Gotcha.”

Tsukishi slowly maneuvered closer to the tree with the same cunning smile upon his lips. Weapons were held firmly in his slender hands as he silently stepped, pressing the grass to his footsteps. As he moved closer to his designated target his eyes could see a shadow of a silhouette but not the full detail or figure; for all he knew it was an enemy. He was only ten feet away from the trunk and the roots feeding off the ground. Tsukishi opened his mouth again pushing, showing through words that he knew whoever it is was there. The tone of voice was sly, but kind and warm in sound.

“I’m not going to hurt you…promise.”

Realizing what he had just spoken, Tsukishi stopped in his tracks but then soon continued in a joking sound of voice. His steps were light but still audible for anyone’s ears. His eyes were steady, they were full of excitement, curiosity, and at the same time there was an equal amount of cautious and fear within his irises.

“Well, I have to take back the promise if you’re an enemy…you see, I cannot guarantee your life’s safety if you are indeed an enemy. But why don’t you just show yourself anyway and take a risk?”

When his words were finished escaping through his lips, Tsukishi went silent and used his stealth to his advantage. All was silent to anyone’s ears, even his own. Manipulating the wind beneath his feet in the slightest way gave Tsukishi the ability to move without being heard. The demonic presence was now directly behind the trunk of the tree which the spy hid. A grin appeared, a teasing, demonic grin spread across his lips. His eyes peered cautiously around the trunk of the tree to see a girl shaking in fear. With this notion, Tsukishi silently and carefully hooked the curved blades back into their proper holdings. Craning his neck, Tsukishi maneuvered to her side with no noise whatsoever and leaned in so his mouth was only a centimeter away from the girl’s ear. Tsukishi whispered softly in her ear, meaning to give her a small scare.

“Do you enjoy spying on people?”

Before she could react to anything, the young demonic boy, reached across to grab her feminine wrist. Pulling it quickly away from her hidden face, Tsukishi wrenched her a bit to experience the sight of her face. Holding her right wrist firmly within his left hand, Tsukishi pulled her closer to his body to examine the girl’s facial detail better. Gently, the angelic winged demon hooked her smooth chin and tilted it upward with his index finger. A friendly smile painted across his lips as he gazed upon her face.

[heavenlyglow]

The fair angelic maiden quaked in her place behind the tree, her now useless camouflage. She heard the man speaking to her, he knew she was there. Lavender hue orbs gazed to the dark heavens as if looking for an answer, but only caught a glimpse of the stars twinkling giving small bits of light to the deep blue heavens. She turned her head to the side and placed her left cheek against the rugged carapace of the tree. The sharp intakes of breath was the clearest evidence of Sora’s desperation to get out of her current situation.

“I’m not going to hurt you....promise”

Sora’s eyelids opened wider allowing her eyes to be ever the more visible. Flashbacks took her back to her beloved when they met on the beach that night. A naive angel sat delicately on the beach, her memory was empty. Sora sat upon the damp sand that night, gazing upon this man who swore not to hurt her and then began to ask her questions. Where did she live, how did she fall from the sky, what was her name...Sora had no answers. Her memory had no purpose, because all she knew was that she was sitting upon a beach, yes, it was called a beach and there was sand on it, tiny grains of grounded rocks and shells that were smooth to the touch.

Thoughts that began to drain back into her memory, were disconnected as the man took back his words. Sora’s neck snapped her head back so that she was looking straight forward. Her gaze fell upon the dark woods and the crooked trees that shadows obscured. Her eyes led a trail, down to her pale yet bedraggled feet as she contemplated the ground. The way the wind changed, he was coming her way. She didn’t know how, but she sensed it.

Perhaps if she kept her eyes on the ground and if the moonlight was kept out by the canopy, maybe this man would miss her presence and she would be safe. She covered her face with her feminine hands, hoping to mask her breathing and make it less noticeable. Soft whispers in her ear caused Sora’s body to jolt with the sudden surprise. Her mind told her to scream, but her lips parted only for a startled gasp to exit.

She felt her wrist be pulled away from her face as the man grasped it in his fingers. Unwillingly she felt her chin be grasped and pulled to face her captor. Sora attempted to avert her gaze, but something unknown to her told her to look at him, to take in his demeanor.

Onyx hair...matched his feathered wings....brilliant sapphire eyes, ones that would be seen in the dimmest of light. The angel’s gaze fell on to the man’s lips as they were curved in a smile that had a sense of friendliness to it. Sora swallowed hard as she parted her lips to speak, first strongly setting her opinion before dying down to her timid whisper.

“S-Sora wasn’t spying, S-Sora was learning...”

Her head tilted to her bag on her shoulder and the katana hilt that was seen sticking out of the opening of her leather bag. She looked back at the man, her head slightly bowed. She had the gaze of a whipped puppy, apologizing for its unnecessary behavior. Her lavender irises then averted back to the cold grassy ground, not wanting to look her captor in the eye. Was she his enemy or was she his foe? She didn’t know, for she was naive to the ways of her comrades of wind.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi listened carefully to the soft spoken girl. As his ears listened his brilliant eyes read the movements of her lips. Confusion filled his reading eyes as she said she was learning. Tsukishi softly whispered.

“Learning what?’

The demonic being watched the stranger’s eyes as they looked at the bag that was placed upon her back. A slight release of air escaped his lips as his eyes narrowed in on the hilt of a concealed weapon. A conclusion entered Tsukishi’s mind as he pieced everything together. Sapphire eyes averted back down to the young girl’s face. She was scared, timid. She didn’t look at him; did he frighten her that much? Eyes lightening up, a soft voice from his lips was released.

“You…You don’t know how to fight, do you?”

Tsukishi released his hold on her feminine chin and wrist. The man then slowly rested his hands on the girl’s shoulders gently. Leaning down so his sapphire blue orbs could meet lavender ones, Tsukishi positioned himself so he was looking up at her and her down at him. The demon with onyx wings spoke softly in a gentle tone. Vocal sounds gave a voice begging for forgiveness, a faded smile was also present.

“I’m sorry. I can see you are no enemy of mine. But, w-why won’t you look at me? Do I scare you?”

Waiting for a response, his arms felt heavy as they slowly moved down the woman’s slender arms to her elbows. Bones shifting as the movements in Tsukishi’s arms slid down, a sudden pain wave shot up his spine from the shifting bones on the demon’s back. Reflexes from pain kicked in. Sapphire eyes that once showed tenderness quickly shut tightly against the agony. Sturdy knees began quivering, spreading throughout Tsukishi’s body. His grip accidentally tightened on the unknown Sora’s arms.

Collapsing to the ground, Tsukishi quickly released his clasped hands and curled the around his chest, fingertips barely resting on the bleeding back. Small, short whimpers of pain escaped through the demon’s clenched teeth. Sweat rolled down his facial skin as he heaved shallow breaths. The man writhed in torture as waves of pain pulsed through him from his premature wings.

Dammit! My body still can’t handle it. It hurts…so much pain…so much blood.

The young man squinted his eyes open a bit to look at the woman’s face. Trying to speak with confidence, his teeth unclenched and his lips moved attempting to ignore all pain he was receiving. A voice wavered in pitch as the stings held him back from speaking normal. A hoarse, but almost gentle voice barely came out as Tsukishi huddled over, craning his neck to try and speak and look at her. Unfortunately, only sometimes could he keep his head up and speak at the same time.

“I-I don’t b-blame you…if-if I do.”

Tsukishi softened his voice to a barely audible tone.

“That’s why…that’s why I was…a-abandoned.”

[heavenlyglow]

Lavender soft strands cascade down from the scalp of the angel down to caress her porcelain face and down past her chin. The irises that matched her light hair slowly made contact with that of the man that held on to her. As his gentle tone filtered into her eardrums, she turned her head only a few degrees so that she could look at him. Timidly she shook her head to answer his of fighting, which she didn’t. Sora wasn’t one to fight, she barely knew the blade from the hilt of the weapon.

She felt his hands leave her chin and wrist, only to set on her feeble shoulders. She looked down, near his feet, not use to being touched. Though the young angelic female was nervous as this man touched her, she could feel the skin upon her face brighten with an unsightly pink. Muscles tightened all along her body, causing a jolt to spread across her body as she felt the man’s pure sapphire orbs meet hers. Her bottom lip curved into her mouth slightly as she bit down on the light pink skin of her lips with her top teeth.

The shaking in her body slowly ceased in her body when she heard the words ‘not an enemy of mine’. Her lips slid from under the slight pressure of her teeth, they opened only to release a sharp exhale or inhale, but no words exited. Lavender hued eyes gazed into his, she desperate wish to tell him that she was gracious, that she was glad he didn’t see her as a threat. Her voice...it was lost at that moment, but not the sequences that followed.

The man collapsing in front of her startled the emotionally weak angel causing her to take a step back. She looked at the broken angel being in front of her. She closed her eyes as she swallowed hard, gaining courage. She fell down to her knees, scraping them against the rough litter on the soil. She pulled her bag off her shoulder and began to rummage through the contents of the leather bag. She spoke softly as she did so.

“You scared Sora at first, but Sora thinks you would have scared anyone with those moves you performed. But why do you do that?”

Her eyes filled with worry for this stranger, he couldn’t hurt her, he was injured. Sora could sense his pain and bitterness as she gazed into his sapphire eyes.

“Why do you do something that causes you such pain?”

She muttered making her previous question clearer. She pulled her arm out of her bag and pulled out a small wooden container. She wrapped her fingers around the lid gently and twisted, popping the lid off. Inside was a gel substance that had a green tint to it in the moonlight. The scent of the gel was a give away on what it was, the gentle aroma of aloe. The scent was changed slightly, other herbs were mixed into the healing ointment.

“This can help you, it will ease the pain, but it’s only if you want to...”

Sora’s head was bowed as she talked to the onyx haired man in front of her. The moonlight highlighting her features ever so gently, giving her the angelic glow she deserved. Pink lightly painted across the cheeks of the easily flustered girl as she kneeled in front of the man awaiting an answer.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi looked up at the girl as he struggled to keep his pain inward. His eyes widened in curiosity to her question. But soon they relaxed when she explained what she meant. A slight smile crossed the young man's lips as he answered her with a voice that was soft and hoarse.

"To get me stronger...that's why I do this."

Tsukishi straed her in the eyes while she rumaged through her cloth bag looking for somethig. The demon was not really interested, but he still had a hint of curiosity of what she was doing. A trace of a giggle left his mouth as he spoke to the angel.

"You can't exactly live in this hellish world without knowing how to fight."

The black winged demon kneeling on the ground in pain lowered his head in memory. His eyes saddened from what he was severly taught when he was young, way younger, when he was a mere boy.

"The weak are weaved out from the strong...those weak beings eventually die. No offense or anything, but I want to be one of those survivors."

His head lifted to the girl who kneeled directly by him. The pian was easin away litle by little, but his hands still held firmly against his writhing back. It was such a pestering probelm. Tsukishi began to mumble to himself on how much he hated pulling out his wings, but the demon knew he had no choice. He had to make his body learn to adjust to the additions he was born with.

Tsukishi eyed the girl as she held out a container of healing ointment. The young man smiled softly showing he was grateful, but he refused. Tsukishi gently pushed the container away with a smile on his face. He moved it closer to the young lady and farther from him.

"Keep it...if you give that to me, I won't get any stronger. Use it when you are in need."

Tsukishi slowly sat indian style in front of the caring girl. Though pain surged through his body, the demon with onyx wings held strong. The smile of friendliness remianed across the boy's lips. Tsukishi heaved small breaths of air soaking in all the pain he was recieveing. The man then spoke to the girl reasuring her that he was fine and that she need not worry.

"The pain will subside like it usually does. actually, it's getting better, the pain is not as bad as it was in the very beginning of my self training."

The angelic demon smiled at the girl and brought back the conversation of fighting and how she was learning.

"Should I teach you?"

Tsukishi looked at her for an answer. The young man held up a finger to keep her from responding right away. The playfully and in a friendly way pointed directly at the girls essence. He had a joingly serious mask on, soon to morph into a grin as he thought and spoke his one request.

"But, if I do...you must give me your name. Surely a beautiful girl like yourself has one, do you not?"

[heavenlyglow]

The female angel gazed at the ointment with content, before she placed the lid back on and twisted the cap shut. Taking it into her palm, she closed her fingers around the wooden container and slid it back into her leather pack.

She turned to hear the shifting of soil and forest undergrowth. The man now faced her sitting Indian style, his legs crossed. To her, he still looked like he was in pain and she didn’t see why he wanted so badly to immune himself to the pain. Her hand reached up, placing lilac tinted strands behind her ear. Slender fingers fell down to her thighs and the black fabric that laid over them. The feminine appendages began to fiddle with the ends of the fabric, twisting and turning it out nervousness.

She lifted her head up when he mentioned teaching her to fight. Her eyelashes enclosed around her lavender orbs a few times, as she began to think about the possibilities. She really wasn’t one to fight, even if she had weapons. It would, however, be beneficial for her to know exactly how to hold the sword and a few movements incase she needed to somehow. Her feathered wings twitched slightly underneath her thick lavender hair as if to remind her that she always had them and need not rely on weapons.

Soft lavender orbs met brilliant sapphire blue ones when the black winged man asked for her name. She didn’t know her true name, just the one given to her by her beloved when he found her. Her name meant ‘sky’ and it seemed to fit her perfectly, at least that’s what he said.

“Sora."

Her voice just a slim level above a whisper as she spoke to the man. Pink was splashed across her face, when the man described her as ‘beautiful’. She gazed down in embarrassment to the dirt ground. Her slender fingers fiddled with the ends of her dress once more as she contemplated the thought of learning how to use the sword and dagger she was given.

“Sora is not much of a fighter. Sora has not been faced with something Sora needed the weapons for, Sora has only been on own for seven days. Sora supposes Sora should learn something though, but must it be tonight?”

She continued to fiddle with her dress out of nervousness. Her hair slid out from behind her ear and cascaded down blocking pieces of her angelic face. She was timid in actions, not much of a talker either. It was obvious when she stuttered during speech. She lifted her head once more, but light purple irises were averted to the side.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Sapphire blue eyes gazed at the petite woman as she fiddled with the ends of her fabric, twisting to the form of her delicate fingers. His eyes blinked a few times when he realized she was nervous around him. That puzzled him; Tsukishi was a very kind person to his friends, why would this one be nervous. A sigh heaved out between his lips when he remembered she was scared when she was “learning” him. A singe of pain waved though his back.

Still waiting for a reply to hear the girl’s name, Tsukishi moved his piercing eyes to the night sky. Twisting his back, causing more pain to wave through him, but it was dwindling, the demon turned back to where he was training. His eyes laid sight of small pools of crimson blood. He released another sigh thinking he had to wash the blood off and retract his wings. What a task.

Calm eyes looked back up to meet lavender orbs. His head jerked back a bit from her response. The name was perfect for her; it was quite elegant and peaceful. But that wasn’t what surprised him; it was how she said it. Oh well, it was really none of his business, but he was quite curious to know the story.

Given?

[/i]

His eyes went content as a smile of warmth appeared on his lips. His lips opened in response. A smile was still on his face and his eyes were narrowed in happiness and gentleness. Tsukishi was very comfortable around this person…it was weird, but he liked it. His last companion had vanished and disappeared from existence, he hadn’t met anyone since, probably from depression. But that was beside the point. The important part was that this new being was no threat, and trustworthy…for now.

“That’s a nice name. In fact, I bet it suits you very well.”

Tsukishi blinked a few times in embarrassment as he noticed the pink across her feminine cheeks, causing a faded red to move across his. A grin then appeared, it was a friendly and playful grin. He was listening to her question of not learning how to fight at the very moment, personally he was against it, but he had been training for about two hours before this little angel came along. He was envious though. Sora had only been lonely for seven days, when he had been lonely for five mouths, but he had been alone longer before his first comrade vanished.

What did he care? He was banished, for all he knew they wanted him gone. And for that, they will pay one day. But that was not on his things to do at the very moment. Tsukishi was more interested about finding more about this young lady. She was shy which intrigued him, that’s how Tsukishi is. If someone does not wish to speak with him fine, but when they catch his interest he’ll try and get into a conversation. The young demon has a very complicated attitude and he knew this. A small giggle escaped his closed lips as he watched her eyes look up and then avert to the side. She was so innocent.

“No.”

Tsukishi’s hand lightly tapped Sora’s as he reassured her in a playful and friendly way.

“We don’t have to start tonight, but practice makes perfect. That’s the rule I go by. But…”

Tsukishi slowly stood up, the pain completely being gone now and walked a few steps away from Sora out under the moon light and under the starry sky. His head tilted upward and turned slightly back to eye the girl who was behind him. A smirk crossed his lips and a small voice drifted into the night’s still air.

“…we will start tomorrow.”

The smirk morphed into a lighthearted grin. His sapphire eyes closed as he spun around to face her at a quarter turn. The grin remained as his lips spoke in a tone of voice of kindness and liveliness. His eyes opened to watch her face.

“I have to train you properly.”

His arm was bent upward at the elbow as his hand tapped the finger in the air pointing at his newfound friend. The grin was still on his face even though his next sentence was in a serious manner inside his heart, but he did not want to scare her.

“‘Cause y’ know I can’t go having you die on me.”[/center][/color][/size][/color]

[heavenlyglow]

Tufts of feathers beneath lilac hair twitched at being cramped for so long. It had been a week since the angel had stretched her feathered appendages. She glanced at Tsukishi’s figure. She was still timid about showing her unique, pearly white wings. She fidgeted a little, swaying from side to side on her bent legs that rested against the ground. She looked up at Tsukishi and reached out her right arm infront of her, between her figure and the male angelic demon. Her fingers were stretched wide as she angled her head to the side a little glancing at Tsukishi through her slender, feminine fingers.

“Do you really think Sora could get strong?”

The timid voice that escaped her had a little more body to it. She was beginning to feel a little more comfortable with her newfound companion. She pulled her arm back to her chest. Once outstretched fingers clutched tight against her palm forming a tight fist that was kneading against the middle of her chest as if she was in pain. Neck joints allowed the girl’s head to fall slightly as she glanced at the leaf littered ground. Lavender hued orbs fastened tightly as she held back bitter thoughts.

“Strong...he was strong....Sora was not, and for that reason, Sora's been alone. For that reason, Sora lost the one that guided Sora through this world that Sora looked upon like a shattered puzzle. The one that guided Sora by the hand, the one that....”

Sora’s mind desperately thought back the dark memories to force salty droplets to stay in their place. She opened her brilliant eyes that were glazed with extra moisture. A shiver climbed up her spine, causing her to tremble for a few moments. She glanced up at her companion. Her naive expression had melted away to reveal the angel’s hidden emotions. Her doleful expression was plain as her twilight shaded pupils gazed deeply into her companion’s.

“But if Sora died, it wouldn’t be so bad...Sora would be with him....”

In the back of her mind, her thoughts screamed at her for being naive once again. Her loved one would want her to live her life fully, not be cut short only for her to join him. Her shy demeanor began to resurface after her small thought. She retracted slightly, leaning on her heels. She pulled her hand to her lips, the fingers curved gently.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi threw his head back at the starry sky as a laugh escaped his lips. Her question tickled him. He held his lean arms out to the side as he laughed, his sapphire eyes hidden behind tufts of black and eyelids. The demon spoke through his laughs. A smile appeared on his innocent face as he brought his head down to look at her; placing his hands on his hips.

“Of course you can! What kind of question was that?”

His eyes were kind and his lips held a grin with small lovable snickers coming from them. Focusing a little more on the woman in front of him, the grin vanished along with his snickers. Tsukishi’s eyes honed in on her sudden change in demeanor. Her hand movements to her chest, the way her eyes shifted to the ground, and the way she closed her lavender pools of vision. Tsukishi moved closer to her being and placed a hand on her head, caressing her lilac strands lightly. He bent down looking up at her, attempting to comfort her. He didn’t know what was wrong, but he wants to be friendly. The young demon slowly whispered to Sora in a gentle tone.

“Sora, you are already strong…I’m just gonna help that strength you have already grow.”

He held his lips shut when he could see her eyes again. Tsukishi didn’t have a sad face on; it was gentle, showing friendliness. Even though her eyes were glossy giving the emotion of tears, the young demonic man held his façade. When Sora gazed into his sapphire eyes, Tsukishi offered yet another smile.

Unfortunately for him, that innocent smile he offered disappeared from Sora’s next sentence. Her eyes were deep as she spoke. What came from her lips was all truth, he could tell just by the depths of her eyes and expression. Tsukishi pulled his hand back slightly in surprise to her last words.

“I would be with him…”

Sapphire eyes of the demon saddened, narrowing and looking away from her as a faded red stroked across his face. Tsukishi placed his hand back on top of Sora’s head. A heaved sigh escaped his mouth as he closed his eyes and rubbed her head. He wasn’t looking at her though. The rubbing was rough, but gentle; it teased with lilac strands messing them up. The winged being perked his head back up slowly and turned away from the young angel, hiding his confused emotions. He held his hands behind his head as he walked a few feet away from her. Tsukishi called back to her waving his hand in the air.

“Get some sleep…you’ll need it.”

He watched her from the corner of his eye as he stopped under the moon, his feet still on the grassy plain. Tsukishi squirmed in the inside. His eyes drifted to the moon as the hand he waved came to his head. He scratched and rustled his jet black hair from shame. Sapphire eyes were fixed on the aura of the moon as thoughts drifted throughout his head.

Dammit all…

[heavenlyglow]

Sora’s eyes closed tight as Tsukishi’s fingers ran through her lavender strands causing them to knot slightly. She released a soft groan as she was treated like a child in some manner. Lavender eyes only scanned once more when she heard footsteps begin to fade. She picked up her head, brushing aside velvet soft bangs. She listened to Tsukishi when he told her to get some sleep. Sora’s position on the ground shifted, as late as it was, the young angelic girl had no hint of dreaminess.

Shifting to glance where Tsukishi was, she pushed herself up to her feet. She made sure he wasn’t watching her as she began to make her way a little deeper into the forest. Bare feet made no noise as she intentionally missed the dried leaves to keep her movement hidden. She turned back after what seemed to be a few steps. Tsukishi’s figure was small, but still visible. She glanced around and went up to a large oak tree. The boughs of the elderly foliage were low as she grasped on to the limbs with a strong grip. Her slender, feminine hands were strong as she pulled herself up, bough after bough, until she got high enough that she could look over some of the treetops. Lavender orbs glanced down at the ground. It was hidden from her sight for the exception of a few areas that were a couple feet in width. Sora’s head tilted back up to the moon and it’s heavenly glow, smiling as she basked in its glory.

Arching her back gently, her feathered appendages unraveled like palace carpets. They expanded over five feet and the end feathers spread out giving even more length to the wings. Sora let out a small moan as she stretched her wings. A soft smile curved her lips as a gentle night breeze ran through the treetops. Fisting one hand, she clutched her other hand over the fisted one, bringing both to her chest. Sora’s lavender eyes closed with contentment for the nighttime.

Sora’s body out of contentment began to rise on her toes until she hovered above the branch, her wings twitching to keep her up in the air. After only a few moments, Sora’s bare feet settled back onto the wood of the bough. The right feathered wing bent around her shoulder so that Sora could clean sticks, burrs and other forest material from the soft, detailed feathers. Sora’s naivete got the best of her as she stood in the moonlight cleaning the feathers. At the moment she had forgotten that she had a companion and she had a fear of others seeing her heavenly gift.

Sora’s mind was completely distracted as she cleaned the delicate coating of her feathers. Soft hums of a delicate lullaby emitted from her soft pink lips. Sora was completely content at the moment as soft words began to mix with the lullaby’s tune:

“Someone holds me safe and warm,
horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully,
across my memory,

Far away, long agothings I yern to remember
and a song someone sings
Once upon a December”

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi stroked his head, his fingers intertwining with black strands. His hand combed all the way down to the back of his neck, where the fine hairs resigned. His eyes were locked on the moon as a sigh streamed through between his lips. Tsukishi blinked erasing all thoughts and tilted his head down and to the side. He reached back, carefully releasing his hooked blades and embedded them into the ground; piercing the fertile soil. The young demon then leaned back to collapse on the cushion of the cool grass.

His black wings cloaked his body, containing some body heat. The moon was brilliant as it shown down on his being. The demon brought his hand out in front of his face. His arm was stretched to its fullest as his fingers sliced the moon in his vision. The outline of his hand, its shadow, traced itself along his skin. Sapphire eyes were full of bitter thoughts. Tsukishi hated it. His hand drifted down. The bend if his elbow draped over his eyes as he tried to relax, his mind was too distracted though. Another sigh was released into the night.

Tsukishi’s eyes were about to send the young demon into a sound sleep until a soft voice was heard. His eyes opened slowly to listen closer to the lullaby. The voice was familiar. Silently rolling over on his stomach, Tsukishi propped himself on his elbows and then pushed up on his knees, hands resting easily on his thighs lightly. His eyes looked towards the forest where he could hear the vague voice. It was enchanting for some reason, like a sailor on the water drawn to the deceiving siren. His eyes softened as he brought himself to his feet. He couldn’t see her anymore.

Sora?

Lean, black dragon wings spread open. The bright light of the moon cascaded through the webbing of the demonic wings as they stretched. Tsukishi took up his weapons and fixated them on his back. With a non-stressed spring, Tsukishi’s body lifted from the ground taking off slowly. Sturdy wings supported the boy’s weight as he hovered above the tree tops. His sapphire eyes then saw the chanting angel.

Did she have to go that far away to sleep?

He had a questioning look on his face. The black haired demon moved elegantly over the tree tops. The cool air caressed his face and dragon wings. Coal tresses were blown back as the wind moved it about. Tsukishi came closer; he was a good five feet away from Sora, but he was hovering well above her head, his shadow loomed over her being from the majestic moon; the white light barely shown through the strong demonic wings. A smile crossed his lips as Tsukishi’s sapphire eyes gazed at her beautiful wings. The picture he saw, it was like something out of a painting. Tsukishi crossed his arms as his fine wings kept him in the air.

“So…you really are an angel.”

Tsukishi gave the girl a smirk. His lips moved in a suave manner yet it was supercilious.

“An angel being taught by a demon, a dweller of Satan…isn’t that against the law of heaven?”

ooc: I changed Tsukishi's description...only his wings though...they're still black but they don't have feathers anymore...they are more like dragon or gargoyle like wings.

[heavenlyglow]

Shivers shot down Sora’s delicate spine as she heard Tsukishi’s voice. Troubled gasps exited her open mouth as she tried to ease her pounding heart. Pure horror caused the girl’s muscles to completely tense up, allowing little and easy movement. She went to whirl around to see her companion, but her delicate feet had little surface on the tree branch. She felt the branch leave the bottom of her feet and Tsukishi’s figure fading from behind the tree branches.

The female angel’s body plummeted to earth like she had done about a year ago. Her right arm was outstretched, hoping for help, a branch, maybe even Tsukishi’s grasp. No cries escaped the angel’s mouth as gravity over took her feminine body pulling her forcefully down. Sora’s mind began to blank out until she hit the ground forcefully. Her fall was caught by a thick bush luckily to cushion it somewhat.

Sora’s head lulled to the side as she glanced up at what sky could filter through. Lilac eyes blinked slowly as she pushed herself up off the branches of the bush. Feathered appendages gently bent over the broken girl’s body. Pure feathers were coated with the angel’s crimson liquid. Twigs were entwined in the feathers enough to pull uncomfortably on the flesh. Sora winced as she began to stand her legs quaking underneath her body weight.

Thoughts began to clear as she stood on her trembling legs. Her first reaction to someone seeing her wings was to hide them. Unfortantly when she turned to see who it was, not recognizing the voice at first, her footing was lost. Standing on the dirt ground all she could think about was her naivete at the moment. There was no one else out here, just Tsukishi, there was no reason for her to be afraid. Would he be as cruel as the men she’s met before...she doubted it.

Shaky steps resulted in the calves of her legs to hit the ground as she fell to her knees. She bent her right wing around and carefully began to tug the twigs out from the feathers. She winced as she pulled on them, but the pressure of the pulling on the delicate flesh made her whimper. Lilac eyes looked about helplessly as blood trickled down selected feathers.

“Tsukishi?”

She questioned timidly as pain began to sink in the nerves. Sora’s nose twitched slightly as she sniffled, trying to fight back useless tears. She went back to trying to free her wings from the plaguing twigs.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi’s demonic mask twisted into a sardonic smile. His piercing sapphire eyes watched Sora’s reaction carefully. The purest creature on this hellish planet was asking for help from a damned demon such as Tsukishi. As he watched her slip off the branch, the demon offered no hand. Hence the first lesson in training: rely on no one’s help.

The demonic figure pressed his almost transparent wings to his back. He raised his hands above his head and dropped through the tops of the trees. His slim body dropped through the trees branches. A calm mask on his face as he followed Sora’s plummeting body appeared. Tsukishi grabbed on the nearest branch; it was close to the ground but high enough that his feet could not touch if he hung. Blue eyes watched contently.

The angelic woman seemed to have an aura of peace. Her whimpers curved into his hearing range. The blood drawn from her wings, staining the feathers, a sticky substance every being should have, caught the attention of the young demon. He saw her lilac eyes and the movement of her lips speaking his name. Tsukishi curved his lips into a devilish grin. This indeed was a twist of fate. Who would have thought a being of heaven would fall into the arms of a demon, a pawn of Satan himself.

“Get up.”

He fell to the ground beside Sora and grabbed her wrist, pulling her to her feet. He kept her from tending her wounds. The wounds need to heal on their own in order for the wings to be able to endure strong amounts of pain. Tsukishi reached over and pulled the remaining twigs from her wings.

“You cannot tend your wounds in the middle of battle…let them go. They’ll become stronger…trust me on that.”

Tsukishi gave Sora a questioning look. His eyes were glued to hers. His hand had yet to let go of her delicate wrist. This girl was definitely weak. There was no way she was suited for battle at this point and time. The young demon leaned into her with a questioning glare on his face.

“What all do you know about fighting? Anything? Offensive, defensive? Nothing? Wouldn’t be surprising though. You’re an angel. What would an angel know about violence or pain? Furthermore, why had an angel fallen from the skies, away from the safety of heaven?”

[heavenlyglow]

((ooc: I changed the way Sora talks in my posts. I always pictured speaking of herself in third person, but kinda of forgot about it. I decided (it’s late and I always come up with odd plans late lol) to have her start talking the way I pictured her to, so I edited previous posts so that she spoke the same. Sorry to be so difficult))


Lavender hued irises settled on Tsukishi’s muscular form hovering above her. The young angel shuddered at his words as her wrist was taken from her and she was pulled roughly to her feet. Chilled fingers of her other hand grasp Tsukishi’s wrist to try and pry him off of her. Lingering in her heart was a new emotion, she felt the fear of Tsukishi. Something about his behavior, she wasn’t use to the roughness of a male’s personality, because she had been pampered by her lost loved one, but the man before her was different.

Her preoccupied thoughts had missed Tsukishi’s comment of her wounds, but with his questioning look into her eyes her attention had been averted. He began to run off questions but some he answered himself as she listened to him. She blinked lightly as she began to think.

Her past was blurry, all she could really remember was sitting on the sand of a beach outside her home. The rough grains roughly grazed her delicate skin as her body shifted towards questioning murmurs from behind her. She shifted on the earth, her feathery wings wrapping around her body as she timidly gazed at the strangers. A young man’s gentle voice filtered into her ears ‘We won’t hurt you’ she could remember his silken, soothing voice. Automatically, her wings pulled away from her quivering body so that her view was better. She pulled her wings into their little tufts on her shoulder blades as the man lend down and placed a jacket on her bare shoulders. It was a summer night, but the temperature had dropped to an unusual low and the simple dress the angel wore was not enough to keep in body heat. She could remember being helped gently to her feet and guided into the village, from there it was her constant peaceful living at the village until a week ago.

Glancing back at Tsukishi, feathered wings fluttered shaking a few loose sticks out of the silky feathers as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Sora does not remember where Sora came from. Sora just remembers waking up near Sora’s village. Sora’s friends said Sora fell from the sky, but the stories just confused Sora. Now if Tsukishi was so nice, he should let Sora go.”

She wriggled her wrist in his grasp to remind him he still held onto her. Her eyes glanced to the ground and watched the leaf coated forest ground as leaves danced a bit in the gentleness of the winter’s breeze. Shivers crawled over her pale skin causing goose bumps to raise on her delicate skin. Her shoulder hunched up to almost touch her ears in reaction to the sudden chill. The night was still going strong, meaning it would get even colder. Bringing her shoulders to their settled level, she once again lulled her head so that her eyes could met Tsukishi’s sapphire blue orbs.

“Sora is cold, Tsukishi...”

She shivered again as she glanced back down. Her ability to talk so boldly now towards him meant that she had confidence in him that he was someone she could trust, but a small fear towards him still lingered in her chest. She twisted at her hip, the ends of her skirt fluttered in the breeze and her wings coated her shoulders with an extra layer of warmth. Lavender irises rolled up to meet Tsukishi’s as another shiver cascaded down her spine.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

The male demon watched the fallen angel as she struggled to pry his hand off of her delicate wrist. She was no where near strong enough to do so. He shook his head subtly finding amusement in her struggle. This girl was not suited for battle. Why would she want to be taught how to fight? It doesn’t seem to fit her nature. Tsukishi backed off on his glare and stood up straight; clinging to her wrist, he refused to release her. His ears listened to her little speech, but his eyes were averted towards the sky. The night was growing longer and the wind chill would drop to a lower temperature. His glance quickly snapped to her eyes from her last statement. His sapphire eyes narrowed. His face was emotionless but stern at the same time. The young man leaned in close to her innocent face. A small smirk graced his lips.

“If you want your wrist back that bad, then take it. Free it yourself. Your enemies will not be ‘so nice’ to release you. Once you are in their hands your dead.”

Her complaint of being so cold irked him a bit. Realizing there was no possible way that this weak girl would pry herself free; Tsukishi pulled her closer to him in a not so gentle way. Sora’s arm was passed his waist, and his arm was behind him. He was harsh in his voice. His face was serious, sapphire eyes narrow. Only a few centimeters were between his face and hers.

“I have a strong feeling you pampered by this village and the friends you speak of. You were hidden from the realities of this damned world!”

Tsukishi’s eyes did not soften. This girl that stood in front of him was too naïve to learn how to fight. Tsukishi’s head began to shake. His eyes closed tightly and he roughly pushed Sora’s arm down, finally releasing her. He quickly whirled around in the opposite direction. He took a few footsteps away from her essence. His eyes glanced back at her.

“Sora…once I teach you how to fight, you are opening yourself to enemies. You are sending them a signal that you are willing to die. Is that what you want?”

His eyes looked to the winter chilled sky. His black hair waved in the cool breeze. Chills crawled up his spine. They didn’t phase his façade though. Leather black wings draped over his shoulders, warming them in the slightest way.

“I opened myself a long, long time ago. People who know how to fight know that they could die at any moment. Are you willing to go through death?”

Tsukishi silenced his words. He allowed nature’s calling to fill the space between them. The demon walked away from the girl. Without turning back he motioned for her.

“Let’s go. I know a place, it’s not much, but it will shield you from the harsh weather. We have to find you more appropriate clothes too. That dress of yours won’t do. It will be torn to pieces in training.”

He glanced back at her, stopping in his tracks.

“Well, are you coming?”

[heavenlyglow]

Footsteps laid lightly against the ground as Sora made her way towards Tsukishi. Her grace was evidence of her heavenly birth when she walked upon the earth and when not startled, Sora contained a compelling grace within the sky. Her delicate figure swayed with each step she took and her head tilted to the side only to gaze upon the heaven’s floor above them.

Sora’s eyelids closed over her lilac hued irises taking in the nature around her. The soft sounds of the wildlife were quickly drowned out by the soft winter breeze that blew through the trees. Her skin crawled as the strands of lilac hair danced around her figure, skimming her delicate physique. Tilting her head towards the heavens, Sora’s fair eyelids opened to gaze upon the sky.

The sky glittered with the stars. Clouds were outlined with moonlight as they danced across the sky. They were no longer the thin, wispy creatures of summer, but thick and dense, a clear signal of winter. When their frame was highlighted, the light gave way to the foreboding hue of gray upon their body.

Sora looked ahead to realize that she had fallen quite a bit of distance behind Tsukishi. She quickly went to catch up to her demon companion so that she was by his side. Her eyes began to look over her companion a little more closely. More closely, Sora began to look at his wings. Her wings fluttered slight against her back as she gazed at the demon’s wings. She had never seen anybody with wings, let alone with wings like his. They were black and leathery, the opposite of hers, white and feathery. In fact, all together, Tsukishi had a dark facade. Black clothes and hair, and with his hair as ruffled as it was, his eyes were buried. He gave an overall mysterious outlook to any person who would pass him by, well that was what Sora thought.

Sora shook her head and looked to the side realizing she had been staring at Tsukishi the entire time, scrutinizing him. She placed her hands behind her back, entwining her fingers with each other as she walked in silence. Without much concentration, her mind wandered picking out things that she could possibly talk about with Tsukishi. She watched the ground and her feet as they peeked out from under her dress when she walked.
“Sora wants to know if Tsukishi thinks Sora is ‘unfit’. Some of the villagers would say Sora is ‘unfit’ or ‘immature’ or a ‘liability’. Sora does not know what those words mean, but Sora can only guess that they are bad from the way they told other villagers. Sora does not want to be ‘unfit’, but Sora does not want to hurt anyone. Is that what makes Sora ‘unfit’? Sora is talking to much, Sora should not talk so much....”

The angelic female became flustered with her sudden skill of speaking and her face became painted with a light pink. She began to stare at her feet again as they walked to find the shelter Tsukishi had talked about.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi waited patiently for Sora to stop dreaming. His sapphire eyes soaked in her appearance without her knowing. The breeze that was dancing around the two was gentle, but it had the chill of winter behind it. The sky was clear for the time being. It was fabulous. The moon rained down on the feminine being as if it had been doing that for years. An innocent glow, a gentle physique, everything that suited Sora was given to her under that moonlight. Tsukishi shook his head slightly and turned away from her. Why would she want to fight? The young demon crossed his arms and stood there waiting for Sora’s approach.

The light that was shining down on the angel and demon slowly was taken over by darkness. The rolling clouds blanketed the shining moon. The grass was covered in darkness, the whole area was. As the darkness rolled across the ground it rolled over Tsukishi his eyes still glowing even in the darkness. A soft shadow faded in and out revealing Tsukishi’s true form. Luckily at the time, Sora would have no knowledge of his true essence. She was in her own little world at the time. His eyes flashed a devilish red and fangs grew from the darkness and then faded.

This secret…I don’t know how long I will be able to contain this evil…this devil.

Tsukishi turned around about to call out to Sora when she approached his side. He began walking to their shelter, it was a good walking distance, but they should be able to make it there before the sun kissed the earth. As they walked in silence, the demon tried ignoring the feeling of someone watching him, he could feel Sora’s gaze. It was a little nerve-wrecking. What the heck was she looking at anyway? Tsukishi just shrugged it off. It’s been a while since either of them had said anything to each other. After the little speech he gave her, it was kind of expected that she would not say anything considering, the delicate being she appears to be.

Tsukishi watched the small angel from the corner of his eyes making sure she was still with him. Tsukishi couldn’t help but smile as he watched her. Everything that she was doing was kind of funny, in a childish adorable sense. Tsukishi looked ahead ad looked for land markings signaling to hi that he was going the right way. It. wouldn’t be the greatest if he went and got them lost.

Tsukishi listened to Sora’s voice as it silenced Mother Nature from his ears. Tsukishi rolled his eyes at what Sora was saying to him. Not about her opinion, just what she believed. The villagers, what the humans had said to her. Tsukishi stopped in his tracks. He turned to Sora and grasped her shoulders gently bending down to look up at her. His sapphire eyes looked straight into her lilac pools.

“Tell me Sora, do you think you are ‘unfit’? Unfit means to not be adapted for a given purpose or in other words, inappropriate. Do you think you are that? No…don’t worry about…you’re not talking too much. You are only ‘unfit’ if you make yourself ‘unfit’. True, you are not up to standards when it comes to fighting, but that doesn’t mean you cannot get to those standards.”

Tsukishi stood up and released his hold on her. He gave her a gentle smile and turned away beginning to walk again. He folded his hand behind his back hugging his demonic wings as they slowly began to fade back into the fold of his skin.

“No one wants to hurt anyone, it just happens. But sometime, you have to hurt someone to protect something that is most dear to you. Or you might have to hurt someone to defend yourself. Or…you could hurt someone by trying to get something you want.”

Tsukishi looked to the sky as the clouds gathered together in a tighter formation.

“Physical pain is a part of life. No matter how hard you truly try…you can’t escape it.”

[heavenlyglow]

Sora’s fragile shoulders drew up in embarrassment as she watched sapphire eyes meet her lilac eyes. The light pink blush crawled across the bridge of her nose and across the porcelain skin of her cheeks. She was slightly distracted by the closeness of them, but her short attention span quickly lengthened as Tsukishi spoke. She listened to each word, but they weren’t making sense, weren’t sinking in. Once he had finished, she looked dumbfounded as if she had just heard a quantum physics lesson.

“Adapted? Inappropriate?”

Her voice chirped when she questioned the words that were beyond her vocabulary. Her head tilted to the side, resembling a dog listening to a whistle. Her head popped straight up though when Tsukishi began to speak again. She studied his face and words as he spoke.

His words, they contained the word ‘hurt’, a lot. She knew that word. She understood that word completely. Sora felt her wings flutter beneath her thick waves of lilac strands. She felt her body involuntary step back. Was it just a week ago that those things happened?

The flames that still stung the bottoms of her feet as she walked amongst the embers. Her mind envisioned the scene. Her eyes glazed over as she thought about it. The smell of wood burning. The sound of human cries, but within the cries were curses and violent yells. She shook her head and pushed the memory back. There was no reason for those memories to resurface right now.

Sora gazed upon Tsukishi and followed his eyes to the heavens, to the clouds that was above. She looked back at Tsukishi. He knew so much about this, more than she knew, or would probably ever know. She went to open her mouth, but bit her tongue, was it right to ask? She thought about it and figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask, would it? She, again, shook her head at each comment that brought up a question, making her doubt herself. Just go for it, she could hear her thoughts pushing at it. Finally, she opened her mouth and the words rolled over her tongue without a second thought.
“Why does Tsukishi know so much about hurting? Did Tsukishi hurt someone? Did someone hurt Tsukishi?”

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi’s face fell into failure as Sora comprehended none of his words but one. The word ‘hurt’ was the only one she understood. The young demon did not turn to face Sora, but only continued to walk when Sora asked him those questions. The questions were ones of the past…ones that he would have to think of the past to answer. This was something he wished to avoid.

The black leather wings vanished into his back as his footsteps faded away from the angel. He knew they were drawing close to their destination. A small village, it was merely a simple one. Nothing too extravagant, but it was more than enough to call home, or simply…to call a shelter.

His walking lead them to the top of a hill. Over looking the hills, a small village was in sight. Small puffs of smoke could be seen floating to the top of the sky. Dim lights of flames were seen flickering; Tsukishi gave a slight smile to the scene. He relied on this village a lot, for food, water, shelter, and clothes; something that Sora needed right about now. Tsukishi stood there in silence allowing Sora’s questions to just hang. He thought back on them.

“Why does Tsukishi know so much about hurting? Did Tsukishi hurt someone? Did someone hurt Tsukishi?”

She was only curious…she had the right to be. After his little speech, why wouldn’t she have questions to ask? Maybe, she was not fit to fight. Her innocence would be lost. She would have to face great challenges and pain. She would have to endure blood satins, and horrid memories. Tsukishi released a sigh. His sapphire eyes seemed to dim at the thought.

I do not wish this life for her.

He lifted his head up high and had a determined face on. Though, his words were directed to the small angel, he did not turn to face her just yet. His jet black hair waved in the wind, and his clothes flapped slightly. The cool breeze faded and appeared over and over again. The moon light shimmered down on the two silhouettes. The hooked blades clinging on to Tsukishi’s back glowed in the night, reflecting the moon and the stars; the sharpness of the blades very apparent.

“Tell me Sora. Do you really wish to learn how to fight? You have to realize… once I begin teaching you, there is no going back.”

Tuskishi craned his neck so only the corners of his piercing eyes could see her delicate face.

“Are you seriously ready to open yourself up to pain and hurt, and never go back to this state of innocence?”

Tsukishi left the question in the air. He waited to hear her response. Whatever she chose, was her own fault. He would not hold responsibility for her choice. Tsukishi’s eyes left Sora’s essence and looked back down upon the village. Her decision was the deciding factor of where they went.

[heavenlyglow]

Sora’s delicate body walked through the woods beside Tsukishi. Her bare feet continued with a fluent motion to keep within pace. Her faded purple strands of hair bounced around her face as her body bobbed with each step. She was still waiting for Tsukishi to answer her questions, but she didn’t place force upon him for them.

Her small legs strained against the extra effort with climbing the incline of the hill. Sora’s lavender hued irises were taking in what she could see. The pillars of smoke filtered into the sky. Her head tilted to the side, confused on how there was smoke in the middle of the forest. She pushed herself to quicken her pace. The desire to see what laid beyond the hill began to sink into her heart.

The tiny village was glowing slightly from the fires that were ablaze with in the homes. The homey little houses looked welcoming. Sora’s eyes saw them differently.

Sora’s heart pounded in her chest so hard, she felt it within her head. The sharp intakes of breath could have been mistaken for catch up from the extensive walk she had taken. The sharp intakes of breath, however, were panicky. Tsukishi’s questions fell upon deaf ears. Her right arm scaled her body and grasped her left shoulder. Her left arm wrapped around her waist. Slender legs began to pull towards her body and gave out on her. Sora’s head began to sway slightly. Memories were biting back at being suppressed for weeks.

“Sora, they want your wings. Please stay away.”

Her beloved’s last warning before he ran towards their burning village repeated over and over within her mind. A delicate body of a fallen angel couldn’t take such trauma.

Sora’s body reacted to the fear as she forced herself to her legs. Turning in the direction they came, Sora’s legs headed in a fast, but clumsy way. Her feet slid down the dewy grass on the hill and her feet slid out from beneath her. She skidded down on her back a few feet before pausing. She rolled to her feet and continued into the forest.

Her feet lacked the grace her wings gave her and she was constantly tripping over sticks and limbs that laid on the ground in the dark forest. A thick limb caught Sora’s pace and caused her to fall awkwardly onto the ground. Pain spread quickly through her leg as her broken ankle sank into the leaf covered ground. Quiet sobs shook Sora’s body. She had just stopped crying over the loss of her village and her beloved from weeks ago. And now, she laid face down in the leaves in the woods, crying over them again.

[*\\*Tsukishi*//*]

Tsukishi awaited his answers patiently, shifting his weight from one leg to the other several times. He had been on his feet all day; it was time for resting soon for him. His sapphire eyes looked intently upon the familiar village. It was a quaint village. They didn’t have much to offer, but they always made do with what they had. They always found a way to help people who asked. Kindly people. Humble humans. Tuskishi’s eyes looked gently on the pillars of smoke and was about to take a step forward towards the village when he heard swift footsteps from behind, leading away from his current position.

Tsukishi wheeled around to see the delicate angel named Sora running away, down the hill. Confusion filled his eyes, his mouth dropped open as if trying to call out her name or to tell her to come back, but no syllables came echoing out into the still air. Tsukishi clenched his teeth in frustration, and chased after the running girl. The demonic being shifted his weight as he ran down the slippery hill to slide easily down on the heels of his feet. He followed her back into the forest which they first came from and called out to her.

“Sora!”

Tsukishi’s eyesight worked best in the dark. He could see every detail in the forest; every twig, and aloof branch, each and every leaf hanging low down on the ground from weeping branches. Sora’s outfit was easy to follow for him. Tsukishi caught every movement coming from the girl. She wasn’t exactly graceful on the ground now was she? Swiftly running along the ground, the devil’s being pushed low hanging branches out of sight, and ran over obstacles on the ground. Soon the chase came to an abrupt stop.

Piercing eyes caught witness to Sora hitting the ground after a wicked root caught the girl’s foot forcing her into a collision with the ground. Slowly his pace, the male demon skidded softly to her. Tsukishi’s being stood tall over Sora’s broken spirit. He watched her break down to tears from the pain of the wounded ankle. But there was more to the tears, Tsukishi could tell…the hint of her running away from the village was a dead give away.

“What are you so afraid of?”

Tsukishi didn’t even give her time to speak before he asked the question. Hell, he didn’t even think before asking it. He was a bit frustrated, from this sudden commotion. He was confused, and concerned too, but mostly frustrated. She had asked to learn how to fight, and now she runs. What does she want? Is this going to be a waste of time…that was the last thing Tsukishi wanted it to be. Tsukishi didn’t soften his tone of voice towards her.

“What or who are you crying for?”

Tsukishi released a heavy sigh, and knelt down so it was easier for him to talk to Sora. So it was easier for him to meet her eye to eye. The male demon lowered his tone to be gentle. He placed a hand on her head, and spoke softly. This girl was not use to harsh treatment like he was. She was a delicate being who had to be treated fragile. However, if learning to fight is what Sora wanted, this tone of voice will not be familiar.

“Calm down. Take a deep breath and breathe. Look at me…why did you run? What is haunting you?”

[heavenlyglow]

With her heartbeat was in her head and Tsukishi yelling at her to tell him what was wrong with her, Sora couldn’t concentrate on what exactly happened. Truthfully, at this moment, Sora’s mind was a broken puzzle. The pieces were scattered about and she couldn’t find any pieces that fit together to make any sense of it.

Sobs still rocked her fragile body, and the words ‘calm’ were failing to register within her mind. It took a few minutes, but soon the pain from her twisted ankle brought her back to reality. She winced and looked down at her bruised ankle and sniffled. She looked up at Tsukishi, who was most likely baffled at her sudden outburst.

She straightened her body on the ground, careful of how she moved about on the forest floor. She put her dirty hands to her face and held her face in her hands. Still trying to sort out her thoughts, but she gave Tsukishi the only answer she could manage at the time.

“Sora cannot go near humans. Humans-Humans....”

The brittle angel couldn’t finish her sentence before crumbling again into weak sobs. She kept her face in her hands. All the bitter memories that had been locked back within her mind had found their way back, haunting her.

“Sora is hurt. Sora does not want to be here. Sora is not made for the time of rough. Sora does not want....to be alone...”

Sora picked up her head slowly from her hands. Dirt smudged her porcelain skin from her hands. The pale irises of her eyes were red from fatigue and crying. Matching strands of hair were matted from the day’s activities. All in all, Sora’s appearance was less than poor from her original appearance. She wrapped her arms around her body trying to conserve heat. Nothing made sense to the angel now. All she knew was that, she felt a heart wrenching feeling in her chest. Little did she know that the feeling that was inside her was the loss she felt just a week ago. It had contained itself and kept itself hidden. Now all the memories were back and she was nothing but a fragile little girl.