Arian's Journal v.2 - currently revamping

[kaze1981]

Prologue
In which the dying makes a wish...

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[kaze1981]

 

[kaze1981]

Chapter 1
In which the half-sprite is introduced...

It was raining...

Kaze sat at the desk, a small book unopened in her lap as she watched the tiny water droplets splash down, forming glistening trails against the slightly grimy glass of Kori's window panes.

Had it already been a month?

It was desperation that had led the half-sprite to seek out the fallen angel. Desperation and the wish, if only for a little while to stop running - to stop hiding.

Come to think about it, it had been raining like this the day she had knocked on the door to Kori's appartment, the feathers in her head wings as beddraggled as she in most probably had looked and puddles of water marking her trail from outside to door.

Kori had been at home, the first words out of the fallen angel's mouth being characteristically "Oh it's you. You do realise that you look like a drowned rat."

And she had burst into tears.

The memory made her smile ruefully imagining the picture she must have made, beddraggled and shivering as she cried on the doorstep of the fallen angel, but she'd been desperate at the time and despite Kori's (many) faults she'd always been able to rely on him.

Not that he'd been too happy about having her crying on his doorstep.

Kaze sighed the smile fading.

Kori had naturally been unsympathetic and had pointed out that reason why she was in such a state was in essence all her own fault anyway. The fallen angel had seen fit to loan her some of his clothes and some towels so she could exchange her wet clothes for dry ones and offered her a cup of hot chocolate too though.

Kori had also sat and listened as Kaze had told him about everything that had been going on since she'd last seen him.. Including her argument and split with Kirith as well the fact that she'd been summoned by the Air Court to present herself and that she'd ignored the summons.

Kori hadn't offered any sympathy, but he'd kept the sarcastic comments down to a minimum and had afterwards offered to let her stay in his spare room for as long as she needed.

He'd also told her that she couldn't keep running away for ever. There had been a strange look when he said that, something in his voice that hinted of previous experience... Then the half sprite had blinked and Kori's usual expression had been on his face, making her wonder if she had imagined seeing that expression...

Kaze half-closed her eyes the book completely forgotten, she'd long since stopped even pretending to read it, instead choosing to listen to the pitter-patter of rain hitting the building's roof. In her subconscious Kurura stirred briefly, a red eye opening briefly in sleepy curiosity before slipping into deeper slumber, lulled by strangely soothing patter of the small droplets.

And still Kaze's thoughts drifted, her mind caught in memories of that day.

Kori had pointed out that she was a sprite - that no amount of running away would change that.. that half her heritage came from it and with it came things both good in bad, although Kaze still couldn't see why she should present herself to the Air Court so she could be married off to some sprite she'd never met.

It's all that dratted bird's fault any way. The thought was sent resentfully at her bonded. It's bad enough that they ridicule for being too human.. Too tall...

She didn't even want to marry at the moment, was young by sprite terms, even if by human terms she seemed to be the age of one who had recently passed from being on the cusp of adulthood to being a true adult.

However despite all this, despite her wishes the Air Court had ordered her marriage... Had informed her in the summons that (despite the fact that she lacked the wings true sprites sported, despite her height and despite the fact she was too soft and destined to live out a lifespan much shorter than that of even the weakest of the pure) they had decided to award her with the honour of marriage because her family's sacred spirit had chosen her to bond with.

Personally Kaze felt that could have Kurura - the dratted bird was a snarkier, less apathetic version of Kori. Fortunately Kaze didn't really have to deal with her very much though - Kurura spent most her time sleeping.

Kaze's stomach rumbled, reminding the half-sprite that she hadn't eaten anything for breakfast and she stood her right hand automatically reaching out to catch the book before it slid completely off her lap, as the simple silver bracelets adorning her arm clinked lightly together.

There were cookies in the kitchen - cookies that she'd baked fresh that morning shortly after waking up. Not that there was anything else there.. At least not anything else edible - Kori didn't really bother with food unless his boyfriend Mitsukune was coming over and he tended to spend more of his time over at Mitsukune's place which was something that suited Kaze just fine - Mitsukune made her nervous.

Kaze shook her head slightly, the action dislodging her glasses slightly - something she quickly rectified with an exasperated sound and a rueful smile.

At least she had cookies and a place to stay... And friends, even if she hadn't seen said friends for a while, not since this whole mess in fact.

And if one said friend was a cold, apathetic former angel - well at least under all of it Kori was a friend - a friend who in his own way seemed to kind of look out for her (if him allowing her to use his spare room was anything to go by).

And maybe Kori was right - maybe it was time she stopped running.

After all she couldn't run for ever. Eventually some day they would catch up with her.

A rueful smile touched lips used to smiling as the half sprite started towards the kitchen and the cookies awaiting.

Maybe she couldn't run forever, but at least right now she was free...

Free to live my own choices, even if right now said choices involve nothing more dangerous than chocolate chip cookies...  

[kaze1981]

Chapter 2
In which a lanturn is found...

The shop drew her, fed her curiosity, the pretty glowing lanterns of all shapes and sizes so tempting.

Kori had booted her out of his apartment for the day, muttering something about not wanting to see her before three.

He might also have mentioned something about that creepy... Whatever the heck Kori's boyfriend who he said was not his boyfriend was.

She paused as for a moment she felt something stir in the depths of her soul, felt the brush of ghostly wings, a sense of coal black eyes...

The feeling was over almost as soon as she'd sensed it and the half sprite gave a sigh of relief.

Karura seemed to still be asleep.

Karura was her clan's, well for the lack of a better word spiritual bird.

Only the most powerful and most in tune with the currents were supposed to be able to control a link...

Although in my case control is perhaps not the best word.

It was a well known fact in the Air Court that Kaze was not the one controlling the bond between sprite and spirit.

Personally Kaze preferred to think of the bond as more of a sharing thing. This was helped by the fact that Karura spent most of time sleeping which suited Kaze just fine.

When Karura was awake unfortunate things tended to happen...

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