Kurayami no hoshi: Yumemiru kishikata By: Chandra Rooney ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Let it begin... He sits alone on the church steps. It is night, and this is the probably the only Roman Catholic church in all of Japan that still holds Latin masses. Voices can just be heard coming from inside of it. He does not know Latin, but he can understand each sound. The mass is coming to an end. Someone has left already; footsteps echo on the stone stairs. They stop on the step beside him. "A beautiful mass," the man's voice said. "You really should have joined me." "Hrm." He stood, brown hair falling into his pale blue eyes. The man gestured. "Shall we?" "I hope you have a good reason for calling for me." "Indeed, I'll be going to the Ryuujin Shrine tomorrow. I thought perhaps you might like to come." There was a pause, the wind ruffled the leaves of a nearby cherry tree. "I'll consider it." He tugged up the collar of his jacket and walked away, becoming one with the darkness. ~-~ Professor Alan Stone watched the boy leave. One moment he was there, a silhouette against the faint beams cast down from the cloud-obscured moon, the next gone. All within the blink of an eye. Stone knew the boy only as 'Zellar'. He'd found him staring at a fountain in the middle of the town. It was an angel pouring water from a jar. But the true wonder was the odd look on the boy's face. The two had talked, Stone disclosing he was an archeologist, Zellar admitting his interest in the past. They'd discussed legends, and rumors and all the things circulating university tables. But all the time, the boy had remained distant. Stone knew not where he was from, nor why he was here. He shook his head. It was late. And he had never been fond of the dark. ~-~ The boy walked on, passing the closed shops and darkened houses. He walked on through the park, and circled back to the square. The fountain was working still. "It seems we're both cursed, Tenshi, dear," he whispered softly. "You, to pour water eternally...and I..." He trailed off, and shook his head. A cold wind blew across the square. He tensed. "Come out..." The shadowy form crept forward. "You..." it hissed in a grating voice, deep and rumbling. "You are the traitor..." He turned and stared into its black pit of a face. "If you intend to kill me...then let's get on with it." The figure tossed off it's cloak to reveal a hellish bat-like demon. The boy regarded it for a second, then folded his hands together, as if in prayer and raised them to his face. "Kurayami no hoshi...come forth! Yukikureru!!" An invisible wind blows his hair back from his face, as it waves it changes to a pale blue color. His skin fades to snow white, and his ears become long, and sharply pointed, the ears of a demon. He opens his eyes, and they have become a silver color, as a black five pointed star appears on his forehead. He coldly stares at the other demon as dark shadows weave around him, fading into the navy blue cape that swirls out behind him, covering his black pants, and shirt. A whip is wound on an angle about his waist. "Ahhh...Dark Star...at last," the demon hisses. "State your purpose," Dark Star replies coldly. "Waste my time, and I'll see to it you regret doing so!" "Traitor...Queen Yasha demands your destruction," the bat demon hissed. "Hell Fire!!!" Black-blue flames appear from the bat's mouth and flare out towards the other. He leaps up into the air, easily avoiding them, and on the coming down yells: "Shadow Sword...come forth!" In his hands from the very night's shadows themselves a huge, black, and a deadly sharp sword appears. In one swing, he slices into the neck of the demon, slaying it effortlessly. He drops to the ground behind it, and stands. "Shadow...disperse," he says, and the sword vanishes as mysteriously as it appeared. "Send a message to Yasha," Dark Star tells the demon as it struggles to gasp in air. "Tell her...Yumemiru kishikata." ~-~ "Daddy, where do you want the water jugs?" Tenkou Stone asked. She looked around, her black hair falling into her violet eyes. Her father Professor Stone was talking to a local guide and didn't seem to hear her. She sighed and looked around. "We'll never get to the Ryuujin Shrine at this rate." "Why rush?" a voice asked. She turned to see a boy about her age of seventeen, or a little older. He had a nice face, pale blue eyes, and brown hair. Maybe he was one of the locals hired to help navigate the trip. "There's no where to stay there," Tenkou replied. "If we don't get there early enough we'll be setting up in the dark." "And what's so bad about that?" She glared at him. "Well, I don't know about you, but I haven't met anyone in this city that wants to be at the Ryuujin Shrine after dark." "True," he looked over at her father. "Hrm. Professor Stone seems to be having difficulties. But then I've heard he's a rather difficult man." "He can be at times, I'm sorry do you know my father?" "Your father?" his eyebrow raised slightly. "I'm sorry, you are?" "Tenkou Stone. Professor Stone is my father," she held out her hand. "A surprise, and a pleasure," he smiled, shaking it. "I'm Zellar." "Really? The Zellar that my father speaks of so often?" She asked. "I didn't realize your father was so fond of me. But yes, the one and the same." "You're going to accompany us to the Ryuujin Shrine?" He nodded. "I'm looking forward to seeing it. It's supposed to be well preserved." "Indeed," Stone walked over. "The single most well preserved shrine in this region. It's an archeologist's dream come true." "Very true, Professor Stone," Zellar nodded. "Are we about ready to leave?" Stone looked surprised. "For someone not sure they were even coming, you're eager, Zellar." Zellar smiled slightly. "I guess I found a reason to be." "Oh?" Stone asked, eyebrow raising. But he wouldn't say anymore. "Well, on to the Ryuujin Shrine!" Tenkou announced, trying to break the tension. ~-~ Tenkou spent most of the ride up to the Shrine sneaking glances at Zellar. He stared out the window the entire time, and barely acknowledged anyone. When they did arrive at the Shrine, the men immediately begn to set-up camp. Tenkou looked up at the Shrine. It was a massive building of faded and weathered stones. "It's huge!" She gasped. Zellar looked up at it. "It's just as I remember it...from the pictures." "Do you think it's safe to go inside?" She asked. "The team that was up here yesterday say it's very sturdy," Stone answered, handing them flash lights and hard hats. "It would take an enormous earthquake to even crack the structure." He clicked on his own flash light. "I'm heading in, you two are welcome to follow." "C'mon!" Tenkou exclaimed, waving to Zellar. "You want me to go inside a Shrine?" he asked, a strange look on his face. "It's no fun just standing here in the heat! I bet it's beautiful inside." "But...it's a Shrine." She glared at him. What was his problem anyway? "So, we'll whisper." She rolled her eyes. "It's not against the law to go in!" "Holy Law states that-" "I'm going in!" She announced, grabbing his hand. "And you're coming with me!" "But...but..." he protested, as she drug him inside. "You don't understand-" ~-~ It was cool and dark inside. Almost damp. And it set every nerve he had on edge. Stupid girl, why wouldn't she listen to him? He didn't belong in this place! And he certainly didn't want to be in it. It wasn't worth the price he'd have to pay later. "Look," Tenkou pointed to a wall painting. "There's the Ryuujin." He looked at the picture. It was a three headed dragon that slight resembled a man. "Why would anyone build a shrine to something like that?" he wondered out loud. "People are so strange." "Because it's an ancient god," she informed him. "If you say so." He shrugged. "I thought you told my father you liked this kind of stuff?" she snapped. "I said no such thing. I told your father I felt I could relate to the old stories. I don't believe I ever said I enjoyed them." "You're a strange guy, Zellar." He leaned against the wall, a sudden flash of pain overcoming his self-control. "Are you all right?" she asked, looking back from the picture. He stared up at it. The Ryuujin was glaring hostilely at him. As if it knew who he was... "Zellar?" Oh, it knew who he was all right. It was certain now of what he was. And it was not happy that he'd dared to come into its Holy Place. "Do you need to sit down?" He'd never seen such rage before. It would take a miracle to keep the Ryuujin from striking him down right then and there... ~-~ Tenkou waved a hand in front of Zellar's eyes. He didn't blink. He just stared straight ahead. Something was wrong with him. He was deathly pale, and looked almost threatened. Maybe he was claustrophobic. "Come on, Zellar," she said calmly. "Let's get you back outside. Would you like that? Maybe we can have something to drink, help Shou unpack the rest of the supplies..." She carefully led him outside by the arm. He kept looking back at the picture on the wall as if it was going to attack him. ~-~ It turned out that they didn't need to help unpack supplies. It was all done. So they just sat around till Stone came out of the Shrine. But that time the sun was about to set. That's when the trouble started. It was the local guide, Shou Henko. He and the other village men hired to help by her father refused to stay at the Shrine after dark. "If you want to throw your life away, then you go ahead, but we will not stay here after dark!" Shou was shouting. "Why not?" Zellar asked, looking up and joining them in the real world for the first time since he and Tenkou had come back out. "The curse," Shou said. The other locals nodded and murmured. "Which curse is that?" he asked. "This spot is a place where demons live! Many many have lost their lives! They stay here the night and never return! Yasha, the Demon Queen, comes and steals them away to the Nether World!" Zellar had an odd look in his eyes. "Yasha?" "You believe me! I can see it in your eyes!" Shou turned back to Stone. "I will not risk these man! If you know what is good for you, you'll come back with us!" "Nonsense," Stone replied. "Leave if you insist, but I paid you for a week, so you had better be back here tomorrow morning." "Oh we'll be back," Shou said as he rounded up his men into a Jeep. "But you won't..." "Daddy," Tenkou began. "Curses...and superstitious mumbles...I thought this was a modern nation! What say you, Zellar?" "Demons...most amusing." Zellar replied, the detached look back in his eyes. "Foolish rubbish," Stone repeated. "Utter garbage." ~-~ Hours later Stone had gone to his tent, and the sound of his snoring was soon heard. Tenkou decided now was the time to approach Zellar about what had happened earlier that day. She sat down beside him at the fire. "So, are you okay?" Zellar put out the fire calmly. "It's late, Tenkou. Close to midnight. We should both call it a night. Pleasant dreams." He walked over to his tent, and vanished inside. She stared at the tent, the dying embers, the spot he'd just been sitting. "What are you so afraid of me for?" she asked the stars. Then, she sighed and went to her own tent. ~-~ He lay there, breathing quickly, and sweating. Midnight...the Witching Hour...the Devil's time was here. And ever cell in his body felt it. What the man, the human, Shou had said was true. This place was a grounding for a gateway to the Nether World. That meant Yasha...and that she no doubt had a guard posted. Which meant that danger was evident. Humans slept in these flimsy canvas tents. A demon guard would see it as their duty to either kill and feast upon them, or send them to the Nether World. He shouldn't have let her...Tenkou, drag him into the Shrine. Now he had to lay here, paralyzed, with this cold sweat drenching him. And who knew what he might have to be ready for tonight? Footsteps...someone was up and walking around outside. He considered calling out to see who it was when the gut-wrenching pain shot through him. Like fire flowed through his veins not blood. He gasped, choking. "N-n-no..." "Zellar?" Tenkou's voice asked. "Is something wrong?" No! Not her...not now when he was like this! Not- His hands were folding together by themselves, coming up to his face. "Zellar? Everything all right?" "Kurayami no hoshi...come forth..." his voice was saying softly, strained by the pain. "Yukikureru..." ~-~ Tenkou had tried to sleep. But for some reason she couldn't. She'd heard rustling of blankets from Zellar's tent, and assumed he was having the same problems. "Zellar?" She says. "Looking for someone?" a voice asks. She turns. The boy has pale blue hair, and silver eyes that seem to glow. He's lean and tall, dressed in a black shirt and pants. A navy blue cloak swirls around his boot tops. It looks like there's something on his forehead. "Who are you?" She demands. "Kurayamino Hoshi." He replies. "And you?" "Tenkou Stone." She looks around, wondering where had this guy might have come from. "Tenkou...? You are the Queen of Heaven?" "No...it's just a name." She pauses, thoughtful. "Just because I'm named 'tenkou' doesn't make me the Queen of Heaven...anymore than being named kurayamino hoshi would make you...a Star of Darkness." He watches her with those silver eyes. "In most circumstances it would not. But, then Kurayamino Hoshi...is a bad translation for your language." "My language?" "You are Japanese, aren't you?" "I...yes. But what do you mean by a bad translation?" He looks up at the Shrine. "I'm called Dark Star. It's both my name, and my being." "Your...being...?" He turns with a swirl of his cloak and approaches the Shrine. "Come out!" "What?" Dark Star looks back at her. In the moonlight she can see the bruise on his forehead is really a black five-pointed star mark. "I was born under the Black Star, and consumed by Darkness through the will of Yasha," he begins. "I wandered between heaven and Earth, not belonging to either world, until I have rose against it! Now I take vengeance upon my brethren that would destroy the beautiful life bestowed upon the people of this world!" Tenkou notices something that look like eyes in the Shrine doorway. "Life is a precious gift," he continues. "And those who would corrupt and destroy it without a second thought; I cannot forgive them! I will not forgive them!" The eyes glow an errie red. "Yes, I've heard your speech before." Dark Star's confidence seems to fail him for just and instant, and then he narrows his silver eyes, and snarls. "Yasha! About time you came for me! I was getting tired of your little games!" The woman steps out from the shadows. She's beautiful. She has long dark green hair, and heavy-lashed gold-red eyes. She's wearing a slinky red dress. Darkness and shadows seem to cling to her. Then she sees Tenkou. "What?" She screeches. "Impossible! I sealed you away in stone Tenshi Jikeino!" Tenkou stares at her. "No matter..." the woman snaps her fingers, and ropes of cold shadows encase Tenkou. "I don't know how you've gotten free...but you won't be staying long. Say good-bye to your precious one, Kurayamino-san!" The shadow ropes tighten, and Tenkou gasps. "Leave her be, Yasha! She's not Tenshi!" Dark Star calls. Tenkou tries to make reality make sense. "Did...did you say.....Yasha...?" Yasha sneers. "I knew allowing you to keep your soul was a mistake, Kurayamino-san...you had such promise..." "You shouldn't have taken Tenshi," Dark Star replies. "And you don't have any control over me, Yasha...the Black Star is beyond anyone's control." Tenkou stares at him and at the woman. Yasha's face has a very ugly look on it. "Enough," Yasha snaps. "Demonic incantation!" She points a hand at Tenkou. "No!" Dark Star's hands are moving. "Shadow Wall...protect!" The magic energies slam into an invisible barrier. Yasha glares at him. "You've gotten stronger..." "So long as the stars burn...the Black Star grows in power..." "Enough of your mystical rantings...Demonic incantation....!" Yasha points to a tent this time. The tent of Stone. "Daddy!" Tenkou manages to cry out. "Hell..." Dark Star curses softly. Yasha smiles wickedly as Alan Stone comes out from his tent. Correction, as what was once Alan Stone comes out from the tent. The being is a three-headed dragon-man. Dark Star looks back at Tenkou. "Forgive me, Queen of Heaven. It appears I've failed you again." Tenkou stares. "Failed...me...?" He unleashes the whip from around his hips. "Black Flare!" The whip wraps around the Dragon-man's right arm, and a blast of powerful black electricity races along it. The Dragon-man yanks back his arm, ripping it out of Dark Star's grip. Simultaneously the electricity ceases. He tosses the whip against one of the tents. "My turn." He smiles with all three of his heads. Then, he belches white energy flames. Dark Star leaps, but it almost too late. His cape catches fire, and he hastily casts it off. "Shadow Sword...come forth!" he cries, and the black sword materializes in his hands. The Dragon-man laughs again, spits fire once more. Dark Star slashes at the flames; he waits for the power of the sword to transform them into harmless sparks. But that's not what happens. The flames engulf the sword, and it melts. Yasha laughs. "Your shadow powers cannot defeat these flames of light!" Dark Star curses. "Then...I will use something that destroys light. Something that destroys all." She gasps. "You wouldn't dare! You...your respect for life forbids it!" He looks at her then, and smiles coldly. "You've forgotten, Yasha. I may hold life in great regards, but I am and will always be a Dark Star." He places his index and middle fingers on the star on his forehead. "Yukikureru!" he cries. His silver eyes glow brightly, and his body becomes surrounded by a black aura. "Death..." he says calmly, bringing his fingers to rest together, and extending his arms out in front of him. "Don't-" Yasha begins. "...Wake!" He slams his wrists together, flinging his palms open. A massive ball of darkness, of dark matter, that has been created is released into the air. Yasha screams. "You'll destroy us all, fool!" "So be it," he says, and the ball launches itself at the Dragon-man. She screams again, and hurries to escape through a portal to the Nether World. The Dragon-man is not so lucky. The ball enters his body, and instantly the very life essence in every one of his cells turns against him; exploding outward in a blast of deadly dark energy. Dark Star leaps up into the air just high enough so that the energy has weakened to a harmless wave when it reaches him. But Tenkou doesn't have that option... ~-~ She was in the Square in the center of town. It was night. It was dark, and a million stars are glinting down from heaven. She can see the fountain. It's then she knows it must be a dream. The water-pouring angel is missing. Two young lovers sit on the edge of it. The boy has long, brown hair pulled back from his face with a leather strap. His pale blue eyes are filled with affection. The girl is beautiful. She has pale pink hair, and it curls about her face in soft pig tales. She also has the most beautiful violet eyes, and is dressed in a white gown. The boy is waiting, Tenkou can tell from the look in his eyes. And now the girl is going to answer. She says something, and it's then the realization that this dream is without sound is made clear. But it's a happy answer. The boy and girl kiss. Then, the sky turns black and empty, the stars have all vanished. No...something is covering them. A giant hole in the sky. Yasha appears, looking just as she had a few moments ago in the waking world. The boy jumps up to protect the girl. Yasha laughs at him. She gestures for him to come closer, and while he's trying to slink back, touches his forehead. What an odd spot she chooses, right over his "third eye" the seat of psychic power. She yells something now....five words? But it obviously was something powerful. The boy has fallen back in pain. The girl's rushed to his side, and now that she's no longer sitting Tenkou can see her angel wings... ~-~ Tenkou coughs and opens her eyes. What a dream. She looked around. It's a hopsital room. A kind looking nurse noticed her moving. She smiled down with kind brown eyes, and graying hair in a tight bun. "Well good morning, dear!" The nurse exclaimed. "Thanks be to God you're awake. When Mr. Henko found you, you were almost dead." "Shou Henko?" Tenkou asked. She looked around. "Where am I?" "Take it easy, miss, you're in no condition to be getting needlessly excited," the nurse warned. "You're in Saint Mary's Hospital." "What am I doing here?" she asked. "Mr. Henko brought you here. He found you at the Shrine when he went back there Thursday morning." "Thursday? How long have I been out for?" "Nearly a week, dear." The nurse patted her hand. "You're still very weak. I'll let you rest a bit more. If you need anything, you just press this button here and I'll come. I'm Nurse Himiko." Before Tenkou could say anything, the nurse left. She sighed, and turned to look out the window. It's only a few moments later before she fell asleep again. ~-~ It's the dream again. Now the boy is getting up. But...he's changed. His brown hair has become pale blue, and his skin snow white. He's ears have become long, and sharply pointed. Demon's ears. And those caring pale blue eyes are now a cold silver color. A black, five-pointed star has appeared over the spot Yasha touched him. The girl cries out as he pushes her away. She watches in horror as he goes to Yasha's waiting arms. Yasha smiles smugly at the pink-haired girl. She starts to cry, and turns to climb up into the fountain. She fills a jar, and it looks like she's going to throw it on the boy. But as she bends to pour the water, Yasha yells something and she turns to stone. The angel of the fountain is where she was in the waking world. The boy looks up at Yasha, and Tenkou can see how his eyes are clouded over. He's under some sort of spell. The poor girl must have thought she could break it by throwing the water on him. Yasha bends towards him, she's taller than he is. And the angel begins to cry. Tenkou had no idea how a stone statue could cry, but tears were coming from its eyes. Yasha is just inches away from the boy, and is opening her lips to kiss him. But a single tear from the Stone Angel drops and falls onto the black star on his forehead. The spell breaks, and the boy's eyes clear. He throws Yasha away from him with a shout, and turns to look for the girl. When his eyes find the angel he yells something, and jumps up into the fountain. Yasha's recovered from her rejection. She laughs and says something to him that causes him to look down at his reflection. He cries out again, and falls against the angel in dismay. This makes Yasha laugh even harder as she vanishes. The black hole in sky is gone, and the stars return. The boy puts his arms around the angel's neck, and cries on her shoulder. After a few moments he stops. Tenkou blinks...suddenly she can see his face so clearly. The determination in those eyes mixed with the pain and hatred. He leans forward and kisses her forehead tenderly, and then leans back, stroking her cheek. "Don't worry, my love," he whispers softly. "Dark Star?" she gasps, finally able to place him, but her voice has become silent. "I will make her pay for what she's done," he tells her. "Make no mistake about it. And if it takes me to the end of time, I will find some way to free you, Tenshi." Then he leaps down from the fountain and walks away. "No!! Don't leave me here!" She screams wordlessly. "For Godsake! You can't leave me here!" ~Epilogue~ Tenkou woke up screaming. She found herself back in the hospital room. Nurse Himiko rused into the room. "Shush, child, it was only a dream." Himiko patted her hand. "You're safe here." "My father-" Tenkou blinks. "What happened to my father?" "Oh child..." the nurse patted her hand. "Try to understand, they haven't found him yet...so don't lose hope for him." "What happened?" "They've decided it was some kind of fire bomb that went off, dear. The area was flash burnt. Half of the Ryuujin Shrine was toppled." She paused. "You have no idea how lucky you are to be alive. It was God's grace, child. A miracle." Tenkou let this sink in. Then she cleared her throat, and bracing for the worst news, asked: "What about Zellar?" "Who?" The nurse looked surprised. "There was a boy with us. He had...brown hair. Pale blue eyes...maybe a little older than me. Is he...alive?" "Oh you mean the one who they think planted the bomb?" The nurse frowned. "I'm afraid they haven't caught him yet. I shouldn't be telling you this, you aren't well enough-" "Planted the bomb!" Tenkou exclaimed. A bright flash of pain shot up her arm. "Careful, dear, that's broken," the nurse warned. "Yes, planted the bomb. But don't worry, his description has been all over the news. It's only a matter of time before they catch him...and fear not. Justice and God has no pity for kidnappers."