[ Watashi ]

[ Tomodachi ]

[ Saint Seiya ]

[ Clamp ]

[ Fanfiction ]

I smiled as a small bird perched on my offered hand. The small clearing was bathed in the soft light of the stars and moon, and peace radiated from the land. I closed my eyes, feeling the earth beneath me and the tree trunk against my back. My left hand closed against the warm stone I wore on my chest as a pendant, and a small wave of nostalgia swept over me. I could hear their voices, see their faces, listen to the songs...

I whispered softly :

"Why did you go ?"

I got up, and went to the oldest tree of the forest, its heart, and leaned against it, resting my head against its trunk. I embraced it and felt my heart going out to it.

"As long as you remain, I shall stay."

Suddenly, something pierced through the cloak of warmth and gentleness emanating from the tree.

Cold.

Death.

I tensed, and turned away from the trunk. Someone was disturbing the forest. Someone who brought death with him. Sighing, I went away, and reluctantly left this side of Eald.

I raised a hand to my lips, surprised. It had seemed only a short time since I had last stepped out of my domain, but the forest wore the scars of many years. Some trees were rotting, and there was a dark aspect to the woods that hadn't been there before. Lord Death had never been content to rule over his side of the forest, I had observed him hunting in the human side of Eald, and I had let him, but this was outrageous. As I was wondering if he wasn't responsible for the disturbance I had felt, I saw a light not far away from me.

Fire.

Who dared ?

I went silently to the edge of the clearing and watched.

A tall man was standing in the center of the clearing, holding a thin stick to his mouth. A stick whose edge was burning. Around him, there were the dark shapes of three Hounds. Lord Death had indeed come hunting to this part of the woods, but he had gone back without his prey. The man's eyes were closed. He seemed quite tranquil, unaware of the forest's anger at his lighting a fire, no matter how small, in its midst.

I smiled, mastering my anger. Humans were fools. It might be me and mine were only old legends now, but they should have remembered and kept away. Human foolishness was not my responsability. There would be a price to pay for this. I said coldly :

"You seem to be confident of the forest's forebearance..."

The man whirled around, his left eye squinting, trying to find me. His right eye was blind. I chuckled softly.

"I am here..."

I walked out of the woods, and smiled as I saw his expression. Disdain. Stupid. Why did humans only respect show of strength, why did they remain unable to feel the inner and true strength of what they saw ? Suddenly, he took a step back adopting what looked like a defensive stance and asking :

"Who are you ?"

I looked at him with a bit of curiosity as I saw this.

Could it be he saw beyond the appearance of a plain peasant girl I was wearing ? I shrugged. It was immaterial to me. His presence, his fire and his daring to talk to me were what mattered. I said in a deceptively gentle voice :

"Put out your fire."

He looked at his small stick, and suddenly threw it towards me. I caught it easily, and grimaced. There was some kind of acrid smoke emanating from it, contaminating the air around me. My fingers closed on it, extinguishing the small flame. He smiled, and asked again :

"Who are you ?"

I frowned.

"You are a trespasser in my domain, human. I didn't invite you to my woods..."

He looked at me a long time and I waited. I had time. He hadn't. If I knew Lord Death, he would come back soon, at moonset, and for once I would welcome his hunting in this part of Eald. Eventually, the man said :

"You are no spirit... Who are you ?"

I laughed out loud.

"Man, if you don't know, how did you dare come here ? You do not belong in this place. Your fire has angered the trees, I am amused by your attitude, but I will not remain amused very long. Who are you ?"

He made a small gesture.

"I admit to being out of my depths. I do not know this place, or you. My name is Sakurazuka Seishirou. Won't you tell me yours ?"

I walked closer to him, repeating his name, tasting it.

"Sakurazuka Seishirou..."

How strange...

Almost interesting...

I looked at him questioningly.

"This is your True Name... And yet it is not... I am Nettle..."

I looked away, and saw again the corpses of the Hounds.

"You brought blood and death to my forest. You brought fire..."

I stared at him steadily.

"I am willing to ignore your words and your attitude, for you tell me the truth, but still there is a price to be paid."

I walked away from him and faced him again after a few steps.

"What shall you give me ?"

He chuckled.

"What if I went away ?"

I smiled gently.

"Go. It matters not to me who will kill you, be it the forest or Lord Death... You are still breathing because I came to you and asked Eald to wait..."

He shrugged, and suddenly I felt an aura emanating from him. Power... He opened his right hand, and a few delicate petals flew to me. As they landed in the palm of my hand, he said :

"This is my payement."

I looked down.

Soft, pale pink blossoms.

Death.

I bowed my head and closed my eyes, feeling something that might have been sadness. I whispered :

"What you have given me is priceless..."

I had no love for humanity, it was true but still... I looked at him, in deadly earnest.

"You dispose too easily of life... Even if it is only human life, and life you took, not life that was given you... I accept your gift, I accept those lives as payement..."

I turned my back on him and walked away.

"Go away. The path is clear. Go and never come back."

As I left the human side of the forest, I heard him coming after me, saying :

"Wait !"

I ignored his voice, and left the old, bitter and angry forest to return to my domain. An owl greeted me and I smiled. I shook my head and chased away the coldness in my heart. Somehow, leaving the peace and beauty of this place weighed on me. I shivered, remembering the strange human I had met, and looked at the blossoms he had offered me to make amends. Human life, but still, life. How could one throw away life so easily ? A gentle breeze took the petals away and I chased the man from my mind.

The sound of the river flowing was pleasant. The feeling of the rocks under my feet was good. I looked up at the blue sky and smiled. The light of day gave back life to the woods. As much as I loved my own Eald in sole starlight, I had to admit that the human land needed the sun to live. Darkness was death to them. Humans... I walked to the river shore and shook my head. The intrusion of the human had at least been useful in reminding me of my duties, in the necessity to go back to human lands, to leave my domain every so often to look after and care for the forest. Eald was three... Eald was Faery, human and Death. Death and human being intruders, invaders I had no choice in tolerating. Even though it was easier for me never to leave my own forest, I was the Guardian. I had a duty.

I bent down and let the clear water touch my fingers. It was icy cold, full of the snow melting after the Winter in the faraway mountains. I sighed. During my survey, I had found traces of human passage at the very edge of Eald. I had been careless. I had even heard the sound of children playing nearby... Human children, when my ears had so much wanted to hear... And if those children came to Eald and met their doom... Who knew what humans would do ? It was time they remembered. I had been right to let that man go, he would tell them, and they would know better than to disturb my peace again.

Wings beating almost soundlessly...

A presence.

I stood and faced the one who was disgracious enough to annoy me while I was busy touring my lands.

"A good morning to you lady..."

Tall. Half blind. Long dark coat. Mocking smile. Sure of himself. Much too sure of himself. I shook my head, smiling.

"Do you humans ever learn ?..."

I looked at him.

"Why have you come back, man ?"

He shrugged.

"To admire the beauty of this place... So dark in the night, and alive in the day... I had never seen a forest like this one... I had never seen a creature like you either..."

I laughed.

"Creature is it ? Human, you play a dangerous game. Know that to me a human is less important than the moss covering the trunk of an old tree. You are risking more than you know. Go back to the human lands, go back where you belong before I decide to feel insulted."

He smiled, coming closer and saying softly :

"That is exactly what I want my lady. Go back where I belong, and find the one who came with me..."

I looked at him, uncomprehending and answered :

"You make no sense human. And anyway, I have no wish to help you. Go, you're beginning to bore me."

I walked away, and suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat and I whirled, outraged.

"How dare you ?"

Even though I hadn't revealed myself truly, I knew my anger and the power rising could be felt. Animals would have run for their lives, human children would have screamed in terror and have had nightmares during the rest of their lives... And he was staring at me steadily, saying :

"I want to know who you are, how I came here, and I want you to tell me how to go back to Tokyo, with Subaru-kun. And you are going to tell me my lady. I am tired of waiting."

I smiled, focusing myself just enough to send his hand away.

"Sakurazuka Seishirou... Do not defy me. I have no desire to dirty my hands by slaughtering you. Sorcerer you may be, but you have no power over me, you should know that. Death... Is lord over the humans. Not over my kind. Sakurazuka Seishirou... I have been more than fair with you. Leave my lands, this is the last chance you have. Even though you didn't give me your whole true Name, I know enough. You will not like it if I Call you a third time. Go."

He chuckled.

"My lady, you are not the only one who doesn't like being ignored..."

Cry.

Scream.

I whirled around.

Soul... Crying out for help. Desperately.

Drow.

My fingers closed around the stone on my chest and I closed my eyes. Stars and moon, what I had felt... This trace of human passage skirting Eald... A human had... I ran.

"Wait !"

Fingers were hurting my left arm, squeezing with a strength that was almost unhuman. I turned my head absentmindedly, ready to strike at the nuisance which dared touch me.

"This time you won't disappear lady ! What happened ?"

I shook my head.

"Something that should have you cowering at my feet begging my help, human. Now let me go !"

He bit his lower lip.

"No. Tell me what happened to Subaru ?"

I shrugged.

"Who is... Subaru ? How could you feel it ?"

He looked at me very seriously.

"Subaru is mine, lady. I know. Now answer me."

I stared at him steadily. I couldn't ignore what he had said, the passion in his voice and the light in his eyes. The other human had to be special to him... His mate... And I could understand, even respect the need to defend and protect a life mate. Besides, what emanated from him...

Power.

Intelligence.

Yes... This human was unusual. Powerful, very powerful. But he was also merciless, and dark. He was a killer. This I could feel. An assassin who lusted after human life like others lusted after wealth... I was loath to trust him, but I had to admit I would need all the help I could get. So I said :

"The drow have your friend."

He shook his head.

"Drow ?"

I sighed.

"Yes, those of my kind who turned to Darkness... They will devour his soul."

I hesitated a moment, then thought that not only I had no choice, but that he had a right to come. So I said :

"Come. If you want to help me I will let you."

I turned my back on him and went back to Eald.

"Hey, the feeling didn't come from the forest !"

I laughed bitterly.

"Of course not. Man, we cannot face the drow unarmed. Whatever you think of your own power, mine is far greater, and theirs... I have no time to argue with you. Follow or stay. It's the same to me."

I stopped in front of the tree, and turned back to the human. He looked at me questioningly and I asked :

"What do you see, Sakurazuka Seishirou ?"

He frowned, then answered :

"The old tree behind you... There is some kind of power radiating from it... But I don't see anything. I can't feel any presence."

I smiled.

"No, of course not. You have Sight enough. That is what I wanted to know. Now you will tell me the truth of yourself. And you will give me your whole True Name."

He stared at me steadily, a long time. Finally, he shook his head.

"Why should I ?"

I looked away.

"I have no time for this. And your friend doesn't either."

I began leaving the human side of Eald, and heard a cry.

"Stop !..."

I froze, already halfway in Faery, and turned my head towards him. He sighed.

"All right, I will tell you..."

I stepped back to his side of the forest and listened without a word.

"I am Sakurazuka Seishirou, and I am Sakurazukamori. I am the Guardian of the Sakura. This is the truth."

I nodded, whispering :

"Sakurazuka Seishirou... Sakurazukamori..."

A cold wind rustled the leaves of the trees around us, and I felt the whole forest shivering. I looked at him.

"Yes... I understand... You are the Guardian of the tree which bears those blossoms you gave me... Blossoms feeding on the lifeblood of your kind... And you must provide this... Sakura... With new lives, always, endlessly... This is an abomination. No wonder I felt a killer in you. No wonder I feel the Hunter's lust in your soul..."

I looked at those unwavering eyes in which there could never be pity or compassion, and said bitterly :

"Very well. I have no choice anyway..."

I held out my right hand to him.

"Take my hand."

His fingers closed around mine, and I turned back towards the tree, stepping into Faery.

I smiled, hearing Sakurazuka Seishirou's sharp intake of breath.

"I am going to let go of your hand. Focus on me, or you will drift away. Focus your will and you will be safe. You are in the heart of my lands..."

I walked to the Tree which was the core of Eald, and looked at the Swords and Stones hanging from its branches. Slowly, I reached out and took two blades. I fixed the Stones a long minute, then whispered :

"No... No I cannot do this..."

I turned away sharply and went back to the human I had brought into this sacred place. I put my sword in its scabbard, and held out the other to him, saying :

"This belonged to one who was very close to me. I am sure he would let me use his blade to fight Darkness. So take it..."

I bit my lower lip.

"I cannot give you his Stone. I refuse to let you touch the memories and dreams of those under my care. You will have less control over the sword, but it will have to do."

He chuckled.

"I have no need of weapons, lady."

This time, I had had enough. I might be needing help, but it was time he learnt. I slowly let go of my human guise.

"Human, you know not whom you scorn. Have a care..."

I let my voice be itself, and shed the shadow I had cast upon myself, displaying my true self for the first time. I saw him instinctively stepping back, as if blinded by my inner light and overwhelmed by the power. I said softly, as if to a child :

"I am Sidhe. I am the last of the Daoine Sidhe. I am older than the hills, and I rule over this land. My kind was here when humans weren't yet among the nightmares of the earth. We are the heart of the land. We are the core of the earth..."

I let sadness come to my face.

"When the humans invaded our lands and began cutting trees, killing the forest and chasing or taming the lowest of the Sidhe, we began abandoning this land. For the time of humans had come, and ours was gone... But some of us, who loved the forest so fiercely were tricked and trapped by the Darkness. It offered them hope of chasing the humans..."

I bowed my head.

"They turned to the Darkness. They became the drow. They... Ceased to be. Instruments of the Dark, soulless... Their Stones died..."

My hands squeezed the blade I was still holding out to him.

"We fought our own kind... We saved humanity... Humanity who was destroying our heart and soul. Humanity who feared us and looked on us as on demons... But for a few... Once the drow were defeated, we found that too many of us had disappeared forever. So my people left. They went beyond the Sea, where no one can follow. And I stayed. To protect this last small portion of the forest, to protect the dreams and memories of my people. To guard this land against a return of the Darkness..."

I shook my head.

"And your friend went to the forsaken place where we buried the drow. And woke them..."

I fixed the human in front of me.

"Do you see now Sakurazuka Seishirou ? The enemy we must face are my kind who turned to the Darkness. Take this sword."

He reached out and took the silver blade from my hands. He looked at it for a while, and then smiled.

"It is indeed a beautiful and powerful weapon my lady..."

Suddenly, his right hand caught mine and he looked at the blood running from the cuts made in my palm by my squeezing the blade. Gently, he brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. My heart skipped a beat, and suddenly I found myself unable to retreat or send him away. I felt as if surrounded by a myriad of swirling delicate pink petals. So soft... Suddenly, the spell broke and he released me. The cuts were gone, healed. I nodded.

"I didn't ask for your help... But I thank you anyway..."

I turned away from him and went to the Tree which was the heart of Eald. I leaned against its powerful trunk and closed my eyes. I didn't want to do this, but I had to. I couldn't take the risk... I looked up to the branches and leaves, and the soft light of the stars piercing through, and whispered :

"Your friend's soul is likely under dominion of one of the drow... The drow were Daoine Sidhe once... They were our friends, our kind, our brothers, sisters, lovers... They... Know us... Our enemy may very well know my True Name..."

I smiled sadly.

"Names are power. Call three times, using the True Name, and the one you call must come. Must answer... We are bound by our Names, just as you humans are... If our enemy knows me..."

I looked at Sakurazuka Seishirou.

"I am Siodhachan."

He bowed.

"I am honored lady Siodhachan..."

I shivered inwardly. I was at his mercy now that he knew, but I had had no other choice, and we both knew it. I turned away and closed my eyes. I wasn't used to depend on someone like this. I was Daoine Sidhe. And the Daoine Sidhe were proud. Weakness, vulnerability... These were human failings...

I hardly heard the steps as Sakurazuka Seishirou came to me. His hands lightly settled on my shoulders, and I felt his breath on my neck as he whispered :

"I understand the value of what you have given me my lady. We are allies in this. I shall not use your Name against you, you have my word."

I looked at him and nodded, gently disengaging myself. I smiled. Regrets were useless. I had done what I had to. No more, no less. I looked at the forest I loved, at the forest which was my life and reason to be, and called softly :

"Ciataich... Meara..."

There was a deep silence in the woods, and suddenly the wind rose. I smiled happily. The flowing and ghostly shapes of the Sidhe horses materialised in front of me and I said :

"Thank you my friends, thank you for coming..."

I soflty patted ghostly necks, whispering :

"I need your help to bring me and my companion to the drow lands..."

They both recoiled, and then looked at the human behind me. I felt Meara shivering under my hand, but Ciataich walked boldly to Sakurazuka Seishirou and began examining him closely. I chuckled, telling him :

"Do not move, he shall not hurt you..."

Ciataich snorted suddenly, lowering his ears until they were flat on his skull and a swirling of wind envelopped Sakurazuka Seishirou. I sighed.

"Ciataich will bear you. Do not try to impose your will on him or he will drop you between this land and the human world, and you will be lost forever. He will follow Meara. Trust your mount, and do not believe what your eyes see. The Sidhe land offers you protection against mortal weapons..."

I mounted the gentle mare, and kindly stroked her neck.

"Are you ready ?"

As no answer was forthcoming, I let Meara go and we started galloping between worlds.

End of Part 1.

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