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 Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:29 pm
Three days. It had been three days that Sirene had sat by Yuki's side changing the rag on her head for a colder one each time the fever evaporated the ice on the one before. Now things seemed to be getting worse. What have you gotten into? Panic whispered in the mother's head as she pulled up another blanket around Yuki's shivering body.
Earlier, Yuki had come inside complaining of a small cut on the lower part of her leg. It didn't look any different from a normal practice wound but now, Sirene was left wondering. Had she over looked something? Had Yuki gotten into something?
"Darling, please open your eyes." Sirene's voice whispered. Her only answer was a painfully forced moan from Yuki's throat. Enough was enough. Yuki had not woken since that night. Sirene had not slept since she woke the next morning. With no one to turn to and already being told by a 'normal' doctor that he could do nothing, Sirene stood up. There was one person who she could call.
The phone rang slower than she remembered. Had he changed his number again? No...Yuusuke would have told her.
"Come on. Pick up the phone you big idiot!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:44 pm
"Is that the sort of tone of voice one uses when they're looking for help?" came the familiar drawl of Sirene's targeted 'one person.' A man's shadow creeped into the room from the window - a dark silloette holding up a vibrating cellphone triumphantly. With fluid ease and grace of a cat, the tall man eased into the room from the window. Tatsuo's well toned muscles rippled underneath his black silk collard shirt causing an occasional dragon pattern to reveal itself in the fabric.
Offering his bride-to-be a, hopefully, reassuring smile, Tatsuo settled his amber eyes on the troubled Yuki. The smile never left the his lips but his eyes stormed over, worried. Easing himself gently towards the sick Herald, Tatsuo let his large scarred hands encase Yuki's small pale forehead. Poking the frail girl's mouth open, his eyes and nose swept in for an inspection. Two thick fingers pressed themselves against Yuki's neck, checking her pulse as the man closed his eyes, red lashes touching against her perfectly carved cheeks.
"What happened this time Sirene...?" he asked with stone-cold authority. His voice was but a small wisper now, devoid of the slight teasing tone that it had but a moment ago.
Tatsuo Shimizu was genuinely worried.
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 6:06 pm
Her normal reaction would have been to roll her eyes and throw him back out the window he had just climbed through. Future husband or not, Sirene still did not care for Tatsuo very much. The man was rather conceded, not to mention danger followed him everywhere. How many times had they been forced into hiding because someone wanted his head? This was only a marriage for the children.
But those thoughts were second compared to the little girl laying there. The words were shaking as she walked back to Yuki's side and placed her hand over the smaller one. "I don't know." It was taking everything she had not to start crying right then. The little warrior was hardly ever sick. She kept herself in too great a shape for that and ate very well. So where had this come from?
"It's been three days and she's only gotten worse. I called several doctors but most refused to see hear once they saw or heard the wings. I thought it might have been from a cut she got during her practice session but we all get those. I was watching it and it seemed normal." Glancing down the small girl's body, she watched the outline of her foot shiver as another chill passed over and quickly went away. "Tatsuo, I don't have a clue what to do anymore." Small pools of water formed at the base of her eyes as streams slowly moved down her cheeks. "I cannot loose her."
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 6:30 pm
Being the man that he was, Tatsuo had been through, seen, and handled a lot of things. Yuki's illness was grave but it wasn't non-fixable. To the strong ex-assasin however, a woman crying, or on the verge of tears, was much more alarming. Not wanting to seem the sucker for it however, the man cleared his throat, adam's apple rolling up and down.
"Well.." he tried to begin but his voice seemed to trail off, uncertain and lost. Heaving sigh he crawled to his reluctant woman and sat near her - far enough to not touch but close enough to use the gentle wave of his body heat to reassure her. Covering her and Yuki's smaller hands with his large ones, Tatsuo offered Sirene a reassuring smile.
"Woman, I think them docs took one look at the number and hung up - wings or no wings. Hell, the idiot ones that actually CAME here turned tail the moment they saw your mug," the older Shimizu said with a hearty guffaw.
Quicker than a striking viper, the man swept Sirene into a tight embrace with his sinewy muscles arms and planted a hard kiss on her unsuspecting lips. Tatsuo pulled back just as quick as he came in but not before reaching a hand up to pat the woman's cheeks and set a loose strand of hair back to it's place.
"It's obvious however that this isn't a disease like a feared. Yuki's just infected... by a bacteria of 'Careless-Sirene-Syndrome.' It could be a fatal infection but with a seasoned and resourceful man like me, she'll be just fine. I'll give Yuusuke a call and he can come off the mountain with my medical kit by tomorrow evening. Honestly though woman, do you ever CLEAN your swords properly?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:10 pm
"Tatuso," Sirene was whispering now as her hand reached out to take hold of the man's arm. Having human contact against her bare hand sent a wave of comfort through the panic ridden body. The only other feeling she had felt since Yuki fell ill was fatigue. "I don't care what you have to do just help her, please. I'm begging you..."
It was at that point that Sirene's eyes dropped. Everything welled up inside and she could no longer hold back. Sobbing, sniffling, gasps escaped her throat while her hand dropped to the bed once more. Feeling the fabric bunch under her fingers once more told her this nightmare was real. She was not just going to wake up and have Yuki staring at her for breakfast.
Picking up her head and looking into Tatsuo's eyes was enough to show the world just how much of a mess she was. "I'll do anything you need me to do. Just don't leave..." Her voice trailed off into another round of tear filled sobs. Was it her who needed him there at the moment or was he there for Yuki? Had she even thought about what he could do for the child? Am I really becoming dependent upon this man?
"Could...could you stay here with me?" Why in the world had she just asked that? Of course he would just up and leave if he had work or something. But Yuki needed him there. She needed him there. She could not be alone anymore like this. "Just to watch over Yuki. I haven't slept in two days and I'm scared..." The voice trialed off into slow slobs again as she tried to hide the red nose forming. He would call her a reindeer after that.
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:12 pm
Amber eyes tried to remain still rather than flitting over the distraught woman. Truth be told, Tatsuo wasn't expecting a reaction like this. To cap it off crying women weren't his thing and the bundle of tears next to him was a woman he was in the process of woeing.
Sirene was sobbing.
The ex-assasin thanked his past training to keep himself together rather than get flustered by the situation. Like the perfect soldier, the Shimizu sat still and silent, eyes calculating as he regulated his body's reactions.
She was still sobbing.
His racing heart, he stilled. The throb in his temples, he vanquished. The urge to give Sirene a deep huge, he erased.
The room was silent but for the occasional sobs that came from the heap that was once the strong and haughty Lady Sirene. Sleep deprivation coupled with anxiety could break even the strong.
Closing his eyes, Tatsuo ran a hand through his soft red hair, the long locks slipping through his leathery hand - a working-man's hands. The air was stagnant with sickness and and the tang of sour sweat was heavy.
One more sob broke from Sirene and Tatsuo was at his limit.
"Sirene," he began slowly, finally addressing her by her name, "I'll be here always. We WILL be a family, by your leave or not." He rearrange himself so that he could face, momentarily putting Yuki out of his mind. The target was clear: Handle the side-mission first to better focus on the main mission.
"I chose you over all the other women because I believed that you could be strong enough to watch over Yuusuke." He reached out steady hands to hold Sirene to face him, holding onto her shoulders firmly to force her to look deep into his amber eyes.
"The you right now... is pathetic," he continued coldly, eyes unwavering, unrelenting, "You are a mother - you have no right to break down in front of a child, even if said child isn't fully aware."
With a quick hand, Tatsuo slapped Sirene. The force was hard enough to leave some red, but gentle enough that the pain would vanish within a few hours.
"I, no, WE need you to be strong. Relying on me is part of being strong... but I have no use for crying and pleading women. You are no longer the pampered lady. Tears will not solve anything."
Folding his woman into his arms, the man heaved a sigh and stroked Sirene's hair. "Fear is good though, means you're still of sane mind and are aware of the situation. All you need to do now, is listen and obey me. I promise you everything will be ok. Just obey..my... every... word..."
He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath as he continued stroking her hair.
"And stop crying."
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:11 pm
Nothing reached Sirene more than the sudden slap across her face. Every word had gone in one ear and out the other as quickly as they had been spoken. But that slap was enough to do more. With her own hand trembling as she touched the tender skin of her face, Sirene felt life coming back into her chest.
Tears mixed with the warm touch as her bridegroom wrapped his arms around the weeping bride. He was right. She was being a completely worthless woman and what would a man like Tatsuo see in that? Or any man for that matter. There was a time for tears and a time when things had to be done. She had been protected all her life so tears had always been her answer. That was no longer the case. Sirene had to rely on Sirene. Yuki relied on her already.
Lifting her arms to the level of Tatsuo’s chest and applying just enough pressure to lean back, Sirene lifted her head up. Though her eyes were still red and she gave the sound of a soft sniffle from the bright red nose, the look she gave him was that she understood.
“Thank you. I needed that.”
Her eyes once more feel on Yuki with the loving gaze. “What would be the best way to contact Yuusuke? I do not like the idea of him being alone wherever you have left him this time.” Of course she was forcing the calmness in her voice but its affect was holding. Her breathing had deepened to slow down the heart rate and racing thoughts. “With Yuki like this, I would feel better having the entire group here.”
As she looked back at Tatsuo, her blue eyes looked weak with the softest smile. “After all, we are a future family and I would like to have my son here.”
Standing from the bed, Sirene walked around until she stood just before Tatsuo. Leaning forward, she placed her hands on his upper thighs and bent down her head. This was something she had wanted to do for a long time but never had a reason or the nerve to do it. The kiss was soft but meaningful in her own way. She only broke it to whisper "I'm glad I agreed."
What she did not catch in that moment was something coming from the sleeping girl. A mumble at first, more like the groans Sirene had been hearing for days, that started to grow. "Potius mori quam foedari"**
Her body was shaking the more she spoke those phrases again, almost as if she was possess by some unseen darkness.
And then...nothing
(** Latin: rather to die than be dishonored)
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:44 pm
Silently applauding himself, Tatsuo heaved a sigh in relief, his black silk shirt rising and falling with his chest. The black dragons seemed to ripple in a chest as he breathed deeply, catching the almost floral scent of Sirene as he held her close.
The man quietly listened to the woman as she regained her composure, glad that she could recover this quickly. The softened but contained look on her tear stained face was what he liked to see in the women he pursued.
Rolling up his long black sleeves, Tatsuo reached to unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt when movement from Sirene paused him. Raising an eyebrow in question, the ex-assassin braced himself for a big-a** wallop. When the blonde placed her hands on his upper thighs, the man thanked the gods over and over in his mind for the training he recieved that preventing him from flinching.
Is she goin' for my gonads?! he thought in panic. Flexing his muscles to brace for impact, but then...
Lashes flicked up and down as Tatsuo Shimizu blinked rapidly. Sirene actually kissed him, and willingly on her own! In the past he would have to steal any and all kisses and hugs, occasionally needing to picking the bathroom lock to see her naked. The man was beginning to think that the woman would never warm up to her but this...
I suppose going steady wouldn't be so bad now.
Opening his mouth, ready crack a jock about another meaning for the word "tatsu" (standing up") other than just "tatsu" (dragon) and saying how his "dragon" will "stand up." Just when sound was leaving his lips, Yuki's feeble moan broke through.
"s**t," was all Tatsuo said as he flipped his cell phone open. A few punches on the keypad and a text was sent to Yuusuke.
"Sirene...babe, when did you take Yuki out for latin lessons?And for that matter, LATIN!? Of all the things, you picked LATIN!? I thought mothers forced piano on their brats, but you picked a dead language," he tried to joke as he peeled Yuki's cover back.
"Now, remember - follow my orders. First order: Get me the sword that she nicked herself on."
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 10:13 pm
There was not a single breath taken in the woman’s body as she turned her gaze from the man she had just kissed to the one she guarded. Had she just heard correctly? Yuki was speaking?
And thus Tatsuo came to the rescue a second time.
“Tatsuo, what are you saying?” Sirene snapped as she lifted a hand and brushed away the quickly drying tears. All the water works had snapped off the moment her daughter’s voice woke her up. What had been hope quickly set the panic off once again. “Latin? Are you sure?”
Getting out of his way as the blanket swung free, Sirene started towards the wooden door. All swords were kept downstairs under lock and key until she or Yuki wished to practice. The key was kept in her jewelry box on a chain. It was easier to pretend it was a piece of jewelry than a key to a weapons box. “Why would I teach a child Latin? Only thing I teach her is sword use.”
It was the last thing she said before throwing open the door and nearly leaping down the stairs. Had it not been for the small reminder she did not have wings herself, the woman might have tried. Thank goodness for hand-rails to keep her from landing on her face at the bottom.
Moments later had Sirene standing in the door way, sword in hand. She was looking rather disheveled as she glanced around the suddenly messy room. Holding the plain sword out for his reach, Sirene felt herself begin to speak and speak quickly. “The sword was a gift from a former master and friend of my father’s. As for the Latin…”
Sirene’s eyes shot towards Yuki. “I have never spoken more than the commonly know phrases, let alone given her lessons. She won’t even read a book unless I make her. Do you really think she would be willing to learn another language?”
The question was not meant to be answered. Her daughter was more stubborn than a mule and just as quick tempered. Had she tired to teach her another language, Sirene would have ended up with a book thrown out the window.
Yuki’s body was covered in sweat. The small night gown she wore was glued to her skin and Sirene was very glad it was purple. Not that Tatsuo was a ***** or anything but no man would see her daughter like that.
The small cut on her ankle wasn't bleeding but it was red. Rather red and almost swollen when Sirene saw it now.
"That wasn't like that yesterday..."
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 10:49 pm
"I'm saying woman, that you're crazy and I really hope that your personality reflects in bed, otherwise this marriage is doomed," Tatsuo yelled after the retreating woman. Cold sweat ran down his spin, following the contours of old battle scars that lay hidden underneath his shirt. Unbuttoning the top two buttons like he intended to before he was surprised, Tatsuo touched a small black bird shaped tattoo below his collarbone. He closed his eyes in concentration as his other hand reached for Yuki's forehead.
The steady heart beat of the young herald filled Tatsuo's senses. The occasional intake of breath broke through the silence as the man focused. He felt it, heard it, became a part of it. His heartbeat went thump, Yuki's too went thump in reply.
Thump thump. Yuki's heart would go.
Thumpthump, his would reply.
Thump thump thump.
Thump thump thump.
In a few tries he synchronized their heart beats.... and then..
Red hair flew as Tatsuo tossed his head back, wrenching his hands off Yuki and his tattoo. Eyes wide open, the arm amber was now a vivid yellow - like a warning sign. Gasping for air, Tatsuo slouched back down to sit on the bed, next to Yuki but not touching her.
Sirene's re-approaching foot steps awakened the man out of his daze. His best work mask on, Tatsuo smiled at his wife-to-be and looked at the sword. Silently, he grabbed it away from the woman as her focus went towards her charge.
Cold eyes turned deep amber as each millimeter of the sword was tested - both visually and by touch. Gently caressing every open space of the blade with the pads of his fingers, Tatsuo's eyebrow furrowed deep.
"Well woman, it may have been like that yesterday or it may have been like that from the start."
Not waiting for a retort, Tatsuo reached into the secret compartment in his shoes and pulled out a small silver dagger, setting the sword aside. Without a single flinch or hesitation, the man drew a thick line of red on his palm.
Squatting on the ground, Tatsuo grinned, a feral like look spreading slowly as his hair gently turned on end. Drawing a circle with his bloodied palm, Tatsuo stood back and stabbed the sword in the middle. Careful so as to not cut himself on Sirene's sword, he slathered his blood on the blade.
"Sirene, come," came the simple order.
Quick as a flash, he drew three circles within a larger circle, the blood seeming to glow a bright red.
"Stand in the very center of this and Dont. Move. An Inch."
Meanwhile on the mountain top a few hundred miles away, a young male Herald stared at the luminescent screen of a cell phone as the sun began to set.
"What did Yuki do this time?" came out a creamy even voice as Yusuke stood up slowly, brushing the leaves off his clothes.
Autumn leaves crunched under his black leather shoes. The occasional drop of black ink sent gentle echoes across the mountain valleys - the Herald's feathery wings was abundant with black calligraphy ink.
A small wodden hut appeared in front of the herald teen, inviting as it basked in the warm orange glow of the sunset. Disappearing momentarily into the shadows, Yuusuke Shimizu soon reappeared, holding a lacquered box with silver adornments.
"Hang on Yuki, I'm coming now!"
Running at a break neck speed, the Herald leapt off the cliff and into the air!
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:27 pm
Sirene no longer knew if she should have been panicking for Yuki’s life or her own.
Leaning her head at an angle in attempt to watch every move he made, Sirene raised both eyebrows when she realized what he planned to do. “What in God’s name do you think you are doing?” Even worry did not stop her from getting annoyed at him. Not only had he just ruined Yuki’s white carpet with his blood, he stabbed a gift through goodness knew how many layers of her home. Now that was going to be a fun one to explain to the repair men.
Yes sir. My bridegroom stabbed a sword through my daughter’s floor. No I am not crazy and that is blood, not jello.
Tatsuo’s doing still looked like madness and she knew well enough that meant someone was going to bleed. In this case, someone else was going to very soon. “Oh just forget it.” She sighed knowing that this was not a battle in their war she could even come close to fighting. She had promised to do anything and everything he asked of her if it meant saving Yuki. So into the bloody circle she went.
There wasn’t much she could say once she stepped into the ring. All she could do was give Tatsuo a look that said I trust you, don’t kill me. Deep inside, Sirene knew the man wouldn’t kill her until that ‘dragon’ of his found a nice cave to sleep in for awhile. With any luck, she could put that off for awhile longer. Worst case, he asked for that as payment.
Why the heck am I thinking of that now of all times? Mentally, the woman was kicking herself as she tried not to show fluster on her face. So the man had a nice body and his touch was starting to get to her. So what that she had just…wait…she had just kissed him.
And there went her upper hand completely.
Taking one more deep breath, Sirene closed her eyes and began to pray. She prayed for Yuki’s life, for Tatsuo’s sanity, and most of all, she prayed that her cursed neighbor had not called the cops again.
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