Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Astral Illusion ❯ Beginnings ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/n: Thank you for your interest in reading this starting novel. Many names may be hard to pronounce as they are in a different language so I have supplied a glossary of the names to know in this chapter. For info on all the characters and daily updates on the story please visit the livejournal at www.livejournal.com/astral_illusion

Glossary for Chapter 1:
Ciel (sjel): meaning "sky" in French
Clair (klar): meaning "light" in French


Worlds.
There were vast quantities of them that remained untapped, untouched by that of man kind. While man --human; was not present in every realm, that did not mean dangers so similar to theirs did not occur elsewhere. There were always tyrants, always wars, no matter how different two universes might be. Every world, every space within it, had its system; but even the most stable of rule could easily crumble in a world so accustomed to peace.

In a world, in a time, where calm and strong rule had flourished for centuries, things could still very quickly turn for the worst. In a place where Gods ruled and were ruled, the time had come to acknowledge the turn of a century and the change of a figurehead. While the ruling leader of this place never changed, the symbol of their world would. For every hundred years the face they called their princess changed and while she had little to say in how their world was ruled she became their emblem of peace. But this century would prove to cast a shadow upon them all.

With the day of her crowning, the princess to be had yet to be found. There was word of an abduction, the gods in a bit of a panic as they searched for her. Creatures in the sky, in the sea, over the land, searched every score of their domain until it was certain the princess was no longer in their plain of existence. There was no sign of who might have taken her, or where she might have been taken to. Her ruling god wept, as well as their leader.

The gods were giants, and there were twelve in all. They took the names of their counterparts in the sky that twinkled and sparkled in their brilliance. A dragon, strong and bold, with his ever bickering heads, ruled them with a strong claw. As he was Gemini, the symbol of the twins, his two heads were either always at war with each other or in complete unison. Two brains, two personalities, he was quite the force to be reckoned with. But for all his strengths it was hard even with two of him to console the upset bunch of Gods before him.

"Who's will was it to do such a thing? What is there to gain, taking away our light?" The mass of bull, black as night, snorted as he spoke out. He was of course the most upset, for in their world each of them had rule over certain species and the princess had come from under his rule.

Gemini understood his pain, for they had all grown close to her, waiting for her adult-hood so she could take her rightful place. He shook his large scaled heads, silencing the chattering crowd with his stern gaze. He was a calm and considerate leader, which had retained him his position for many centuries now.

"I know not, who has dared to steal our princess, but we will find her. Send out each of your best scouts for she has undoubtedly passed between worlds. We will find her and smite those who dare appose us." One head spoke boldly, as it tended to be the more dominant of the two. The other head roared in tune with the others.

Each God chose their scout, each for their own strengths. Gemini, who ruled over the birds and skies, turned to the man he felt his own child in a way.

"Ciel."

"I will find her, my lord. For I would not be her friend if I did not search until my wings were brittle and my feathers falling." The lean blond stared up at his God, eyes of blue as close to the color of the sky his name so meant. Gemini, supposed out of everyone, this boy had to be the most torn inside. He and the princess had grown up beside one another, were friends, siblings. He saw the determination in the little angel's eyes and nodded his heads in agreement.

When each God had decided on their adventurer he sent them out, two to search each world as to cover ground faster, as worlds could prove to be vast in size. His heart was heavy and he wondered if the news brought back would be anything he would like to hear.

2007AD, Planet Earth

His life had come to an awkward standstill as of the moment. The boy, hair dark as his eyes, was staring in mass confusion at the woman who had suddenly appeared up from the water in his bathtub. She was beautiful, transfixing as she stared back at him, her expression just as confused as he. She wore only a thin layer of what to him would be something a woman would wear to bed. She was in fact wearing what was deemed as ceremonial bathing robes in her world. Her large, bright eyes clouded as unconsciousness folded over her and she sunk over the side of the tub to the floor.

The boy, with his raven hair and eyes moved toward her. She may have just magically burst through his shower, but he wasn't so rude as to leave her, soaking, on the cold tile floor. Perhaps he was dreaming, there was a reasonable thought. He scooped her from the floor, didn't bother with the towel he should have folded around his waist as he had no hands left to do so. He opened the door to his sister, who stared up at him in shock and what he thought might be mild horror.

"What the hell? Where'd she come from, Raye?"

He ignored her, focusing on wrapping a blanket around the girl in his arms. She was small, and yet built as if meant to be fawned. He cradled her on his lap as he sat down on the edge of his bed. He was still confused but something about her face, so peaceful in sleep, was calming. That placid air didn't last long as his sister pushed into the room, shouting her befuddlement and questions.

"Would you hush, Kimmi? She just.... came out of the bath tub..." He realized how stupid that sounded as he spoke. But that was the truth. he had just turned around and there she had sprung up from the water like... well a goddess he supposed.

"Well, people don't just appear in bath tubs, Raye." Kimmi had settled her hands on her hips, as most women tended to do when they wanted answers. She wouldn't have him dodging her questions just because there was a woman in his lap. She demanded he tell her what was going on, and demanded it now.

"Obviously. I know this, but I don't know where she came from." He worked at drying her hair, but was foiled as the blanket soaked up less than he would have liked. Perhaps he should have grabbed the towel after all.

"Well who is she?" Kimmi didn't realize how dumb the question was until after she'd said it and huffed in embarrassment.

"Never mind that, we can just ask her when she wakes up." As if on cue the woman sitting in her brother's lap roused.

There was confusion in those eyes, more than had been when she'd seen Raye for those brief seconds before her consciousness had faded. She realized quickly she was cold, wet, and wrapped up in something she was unfamiliar with; but it was slightly warm and comforting somehow. She stared up at the man who held her, who looked down at her with the most curious of expressions. She thought his hair reminded her of the night and she wondered what it might feel like. His voice halted her thoughts entirely and she turned her eyes back down to his.

"Do you understand me?"

"Aye, who are you?" She stole his words from him.

"I should ask you the same thing, since it's my bath you came through. I'm Raye, and that's my sister Kimmi."

She followed his gaze to the almost mirror image of him, blinked. Who were these people and what was this bath he spoke of as his? She knew of bathing, but that was done in rivers and such things belonged to no one. She realized when she tried to train her thoughts on herself things became a blur. He had asked who she was and she was finding there was no answer within her to give him but a name. Yes, her name she knew, perhaps that might satisfy him.

"I am known as Clair, or so that is the only name I can remember." She felt at a loss now as she tried to recall any memories at all.

"Great, so she's got amnesia?"

"Kimmi behave." Raye frowned at his sister, helping the girl in his arms, Clair, to better sit.

"What do you mean behave? Some girl comes through our tub from nowhere, can't remember anything but her damned name and you expect me to behave?" She huffed, no patience to deal with her brother and a temper that could tear paint from the walls. She decided to cook, perhaps it would calm her some while her brother tried to figure things out.

"I did not mean to insult her..."

"No that was me, don't worry. She gets like that." Raye offered the woman who now sat beside him a reassuring smile. It didn't last long, his face turning crimson as the blanket fell to pool around her waist. He had of course seen his share of breasts but with the fabric she wore tight and all but transparent it was a little hard to keep his control. So in an attempt to keep his dignity and his hands to himself he cleared his throat and looked at the floor.

"So, you don't remember anything? Where you come from, how you got here?"

She shook her head at his questions, she was trying desperately to remember something but all she could come up with was her name. It was as if something were blocking those memories on purpose. As if they were only a hand's reach away but she had to push through some great iron gate that remained locked to her as of the moment.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help to you."

Raye waved her off and she thought his hand gesture odd until he spoke.

"No worries, I'm sure it will come to you, just take your time. Smells like Kimmi is cooking something. I bet a nice meal and some warm clothes will help." He smiled again and she found the sight a little intoxicating. He was a pleasant young man, she thought to herself.

"I would much like that."

Once she'd taken the time to gather her surroundings, Clair noticed she didn't know what just about everything was. The clothes Raye had given her had come from his sister's room. They were much too tight and she had the hardest time pushing in what he called a button. When she had dressed, Clair opened the door to the room and peeked out. He had waited for her, leaning against the wall in the hallway. He smiled at her when she joined him and she couldn't help returning the gesture.

"These clothes are very odd, I had a terrible time with the skirts." She pointed to her legs when he looked confused and blinked when he laughed.

"Oh, those are called pants. Kimmi doesn't wear any skirts, she's a bit of a tomboy." When Clair stared at him in confusion he rephrased, "She acts and dresses like a man."

This confused Clair, who would purposely want to act like the opposite sex, she much enjoyed being female after all. She did not ask about it though, just nodded as if she understood the reasoning. She followed behind Raye when he pushed off the wall and headed toward the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled now as the smell drifted around her. Whatever reasons Kimmi had for acting like a male apparently didn't hinder her skills in cooking.

"Don't ask any questions yet, just let her be." Raye held a hand up to his sister when she turned from her task at the stove. There was another huff from her and she went back to her work.

Clair followed Raye's lead, sitting down at the table. It was oak and was smooth beneath her fingers and she wondered how it retained such a shine. She felt Raye watching her and looked up to catch his eyes. He refrained from asking any more questions, simply smiled as she watched him in return. He was saved from starting up conversation when his sister did it for him as she set plates and silverware on the table.

"So, Clair, huh? I don't know what kind a cooking you're used to but you'll eat mine and like it."

"Kimmi, don't be rude." Raye shook his head, sending his sister a disapproving glance.

"Oh, it's alright, I'm sure I will enjoy it." Clair could understand Kimmi's aggression. Here she was, some mysterious woman who knew nothing but her name, intruding on their family and their dinner. Clair hoped she would remember something soon, she didn't want to continue to impose on the kind Raye and his family. That thought made her curious.

"Is it only the two? Ah, that live here I mean." She wasn't sure how to ask or if it was even her place.

Raye held a hand in silence to his sister when he saw the smart remark form on her lips.

"Yea, just Kimmi and me. Our parents died when we were sixteen."

"Oh, that's dreadful, I'm terribly sorry." Clair felt awful for asking now, she would have much rather heard the insult Kimmi had lined up.

"Don't worry about it, shit happens. It's in the past." He smiled, waving her sorrow off until she grabbed that hand and held it firmly in her own. The affection in her touch made him just barely pink in the cheeks.

"It is horrible, you must have suffered so." Clair gasped as Kimmi set a pot of noodles between them, forcing their linked hands to disjoin.

"That's not the kind of thing to talk about at the table, and the food's ready anyhow." Kimmi's voice was beyond aggravation.

Raye frowned, he had forgotten what a touchy subject their parents were for her. His sister hadn't always been so grouchy, but he'd always been able to take things in better stride anyhow. He reached over to serve Clair, thinking for a brief moment how his hand still felt warm. She was a wonder, this unknown woman before him.

It had been an interesting dinner. It had taken some time to teach Clair how to properly eat spaghetti with a fork, something she had apparently never seen before. It was further proof she probably wasn't from his world. As it always was, he gathered the dishes and began to rinse and wash them. Kimmi, not in the mood for more frustration from unanswered questions retired to watch a box called a television. Clair had a hard time not wandering into the room to watch it as well. She'd never seen so many people trapped in one little box, it was frightening in a way. So to keep herself from disturbing Kimmi she offered to help Raye in the kitchen.

"You do not have servants for this kind of thing?" She tilted her head as Raye laughed. She was being serious after all.

"No, we don't. We can't afford things like that, though it would be nice." He handed her a towel and a dish to dry with it.

She had wanted to try it, washing a plate that was. Despite the feeling people should be doing this for them, she did indeed want to know what menial labor was like. It was easy, as she'd expected, but the plate proved to be slippery and she dropped it despite her best efforts. It shattered on the floor, causing her to jump back in surprise.

"Don't worry, I'll go get something to clean it up with." Raye turned and tried to grab the broom from the closet but Clair's hand gripping his shirt stopped him and tugged him backward.

The whole thing was a bit of a blur and as soon as he had managed to turn toward Clair he found himself slipping in the water on the floor. He didn't want her to be crushed below him, and he managed to hastily turn and pull her on top of him as they fell. The sound he made when he hit the floor was loud and painful. His mind was in a haze for a moment but he felt an odd sensation and a warmth against his lips. When he opened his eyes they went wide as he noted somehow he had end up kissing her, but that wasn't what really shocked him. Lying on top of him, rousing slowly, was a girl with large furry gray ears that twitched with her shocked squeak. His face grew pale and he could just barely make out his sister shouting at them.

"Wh-what the hell are you?" Raye kept the urge to throw her off of him back, he wasn't so surprised he would be so rude to a lady, no matter how alien she looked.

"That's what I'd like to know Raye! What the hell are you two doing on the floor? And you're bleeding, you idiot, get up!" Kimmi pulled at Raye's arm as Clair stood. It was even worse than he'd thought when he saw not only those huge rodent like ears but a furry tail as well. This was just a little too much even for him.

"Do you see that?"

"See what?" Kimmi blinked as he pointed in horror at Clair. All she saw was a shocked woman whom had annoyed her beyond belief for the past hour.

"Her.. she... she has a fucking tail!"

Now her brother was going crazy.

"She doesn't have a tail."

"But she does! It's right there, and ears..." He shook his head, trying to put some control on himself. If Kimmi didn't see it maybe he had just hit his head really hard and was imagining things. She had magically appeared, but when he'd first seen her she looked normal as any other human. Raye sighed, rubbing his hands over his face and looked back up at her. The tail and ears were still there, but her confused and hurt look pained him.

"Maybe I'm just going crazy..."

"Obviously." Kimmi snorted, grabbing the towel they had been using to clean the blood on her brother's arm.

"You are not crazy... I do have a tail, could you not see? Is that not normal?"

Now Kimmi stood in the same shock as Raye had, but with less hysterics. What the hell were they both talking about? She didn't see any damned tail. Just a petite woman she damned well wanted answers from. Kimmi rubbed her temple, as if her headache hadn't been terrible enough.

"I don't care.. I don't care! Deal with it yourselves I'm..." Kimmi cursed as the doorbell rang, throwing the door open with a little more force than she'd intended.

"What the hell do you want... oh, Naksumi? What do you want... What's wrong?" She noted the tears in the woman's eyes. Kimmi didn't have to guess that they were caused by something her friends idiot boyfriend did.

"Brian... he... he.." Naksumi choked through sobs, wiping at the tears trickling down her face.

"Oh geezus, come in. Go back to my room, don't ask any questions, just go." She pushed Naksumi along despite the woman's confused look at the girl with Raye in the kitchen. When had Raye gotten himself a girlfriend? From what she understood the man was damn near celibate.

"Who is..."

"Shush. I said no questions." Kimmi shoved her friend into the room, slamming the door behind her. She wasn't in the mood for any of this but tried hard to calm herself so she could listen to her friend. "Alright, talk."

"Well I... when I came home from work today I found Brian.. I found him..." Naksumi choked through sobs, trying hard to talk but it came out a garble.

"Stop crying. Let me guess, you found him with another woman.. again?" Kimmi groaned at the hoarse 'yes' that shot out of Naksumi's lips. Kimmi had no idea why Naksumi put up with that guy. There was no way she could love a guy enough to deal with his cheating.

"Why don't you just break up with him? It's not like you're married... or engaged even."

"I could never do that... I.."

"Yea, yea, you love him and all that crap." Kimmi shook her hand, irritation lined on her face.

"So who-who was that girl?"

Kimmi raised an eyebrow.

"Well, don't you bounce back quick?" Kimmi wasn't about to tell Naksumi that Clair had come through a bath tub and supposedly from Raye's point of view had a tail. No matter how great of friends they were that was damned near unbelievable.

"A friend of Raye's. A little annoyance like someone I know."

"That's not nice, Kimmi." Naksumi sighed, but when was Kimmi ever nice? Oh well, at least Raye was finally growing up. They had worried he never would.

Kimmi's eyes shot toward the hallway past her bedroom as the doorbell rang.

"Damnit all to hell, now who is it?"

"I'll answer it, it's probably Brian." Naksumi's attitude perked up and she jumped off the bed to race toward the front door. Perhaps he was here to apologize to her. When she passed by the two in the kitchen she vaguely noted the conversation seemed a little heavy but she shrugged it off as their business. When she opened the door she threw her arms around the man, closing her eyes and without even thinking, kissed him.

The blond's eyes went wide with surprise, his wings ruffling behind him. Well this was certainly a surprise. He had expected to find Clair, not a mysterious woman who'd decided it best to kiss him. When she pulled away he watched her face shift from confused to horrified.

"Y-y-y-y you're not Brian... Ah! Wings?!" Naksumi jumped back, hand to her mouth as she stared at the blue-eyed wonder.

Raye shot around, eyebrow arching.

"Another one?" He took a closer look and noted not one... but two. And they both had enormous wings protruding from their back.

"You even have admirers in other worlds, Ciel." The woman behind him stepped forward into better view. Her hair was a fiery red that matched the color of her strong wings. She had the tail of a bird and deep yellow eyes that seemed to survey everything around her.

"I did not ask for her to do that... ah! Clair!" Ciel moved forward, all but pushing Raye aside and wrapped Clair in a big hug, arms and wings both.

"We have been searching for you. I am so glad we've found you." He let her go when she tried to push away, staring down at her in question. "What's wrong, Clair?"

Clair's eyes darted between the four people standing in front of her, and to Kimmi who had just joined them. Her gaze settled on the man called Ciel again, a slight terror in her voice as she spoke.

"Who are you?"