Well, sorry so late with this one,
but I was busy writing part 6 & 7 of it, jumping the gun a little. I
realized I needed a precursor to those stories, so I interjected this
one. I hope it meets with your approval. :) Look for 6 & 7 to come
soon!
- Jennifer (jmondazzi@mail.arc.nasa.gov)
p.s. If you're enjoying these stories, please feel free to e-mail me on
your thoughts. If you're not enjoying these stories.....lie to me and
tell me they're good anyways. ;)
And now, on with the show...
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Dreams of a Blue Sky
by: Jennifer L. Mondazzi
09/24/96
Part 5: Haikus and Riddles...
"Aoi, I need you."
"Subaru..?"
He moved closer, stretching his fingertips towards her, placing them
on her lips to halt her speech. As she looked up into his face, their
eyes met -- rich emerald held molten silver tightly in it's grasp. His
mind probed hers, gently, coaxing her into opening up, revealing
everything to him.
"No more words, Aoi," he whispered, his breath warm against her
cheek. She closed her eyes to the riotous feelings emerging. She felt
herself drawn into his embrace, his arms wrapping around her, bringing
her into intimate contact with him. She shivered in anticipation, in
nervousness. He bent his head, and their lips touched. So warm. So
soft. She gave into him completely.
He grasped her tighter, melding their bodies together, as their lips
parted, and they stared long into each other's gaze. His hands roamed
everywhere on her, overwhelming her senses with his caresses. Never
had she been touched in this way.
"Subaru, I...I..."
"Shhh...I know," he whispered into her ear, his breath hot against
her temple. He bent and kissed her neck, his lips trailing across her
flushed skin, teasing her with light nips around her earlobe. She felt
safe, loved, wanted, and held back nothing, giving into the temptation
he offered.
His sudden viciousness, as his teeth sunk into her neck, ripped
through the haze of passion.
She cried out in pain, pushing away, her hand instinctively reaching
up to grasp the wound. Her fingertips touched the warmth spilling from
her neck. Unbelieving, she brought them up to her face. Her fingers
were stained red with her blood.
"Subaru, why...?"
She stopped, looking around. He was gone. The light drained from
around her quickly, leaving a dreadful blackness behind. Silence
filled the empty room for several minutes, before a voice, from
somewhere in the dark, called out to her.
"There is no white rabbit to show you the way home this time."
She froze, suddenly unable to move. The man's voice she knew all too
well. It had haunted her for weeks, driving a stake of fear through
her each time she glimpsed into a shadowy corner, or passed a dark
recess. Seishirou-san.....no, Sakurazukamori... had come, and he was
stalking her.
"It is often said that the butterfly dies in winter..."
She spun around. Beyond the small sphere of light surrounding her,
she could see nothing. Her movement echoed across unseen walls, but
nothing else stirred in the quietness which prevailed. Remaining
silent for several minutes, she waited, but nothing moved, nothing
stirred. Aoi's frustration mounted, and she whirled about, confused,
angry. What game was this?
"...and yet is reborn in spring."
This time, she had located his direction. He stood beyond the small
circle of warmth, hiding within the umbra. His tall, lean frame was
outlined by a hazy, red glow -- a halo of blood. He said nothing as
she stared at him, attempting to show no fear. Her mind whirled with
thoughts of escape, trying to guess his next move in advance, yet he
remained impassive, waiting. His behavior confused her.
Why not finish it?
A sudden understanding came to her then, and she spoke before she
realized the possible danger of doing so.
"You claim to feel nothing for anything, Sakurazukamori, and yet you
contradict yourself. You terrorize your victims, playing with them
like a cat with a trapped mouse, feeding on their fear. Why?"
When he said nothing, she pressed on.
"Do you long for your lost humanity so much that you would use others
to satisfy your sick need?"
Still the Sakurazukamori did not move, nor speak, yet she sensed his
sudden rage; it emanated around him, filling the distance between them
with blistering heat. She waited, fearful she had gone too far, yet
was unwilling to back down.
A sudden harsh breeze picked up, and the scent of tainted cherry
blossoms invaded her senses. Her hair blew across her cheek, into her
eyes. She blinked, and when she looked up again, he was gone.
"You will die in winter also."
His emotionless voice echoed in the hollow room, chasing her up into
consciousness...
TO BE CONTINUED...
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Author's Notes:
The "white rabbit" that Seishirou-san refers to is from "Alice in
Wonderland." CLAMP, the original authors of "Tokyo Babylon" and "X"
enjoy this story very much (as evident from their rendition of it,
"Miyuki-chan in Wonderland"), and so, the author of this fanfic has
endeavored to incorporate that into her stories as a form of tribute.
The haiku, "Butterfly in Winter, Butterfly in Spring" was written by
Jennifer L. Mondazzi, copyright 1996.
The characters Subaru and Seishirou Sakurazuka (Sakurazukamori) are the
property of CLAMP, copyright 1993-96. All other characters and
situations are the property of Jennifer L. Mondazzi, copyright 1996.