Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Dark Night ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

Into the Dark Night

Nagia

Chapter Three: Hot Summer Nights

"It was a hot summer night and the beach was burning

There was fog crawling over the sand

When I listen to your heart, I hear the whole world turning

I see the shooting stars

Falling through your trembling hands…

We were lying together in a silver lining

By the light of the moon…"

Excerpt from Hot Summer Nights, track 2 of the Bat out of Hell CD by Meat Loaf.

Intro

The ground was so hot that it burned the skin. Fog slithered over it. He was awake. The smell of fog-- a cold, hazy, smell that obscured everything else--always woke him. Her heart was beating rapidly. It had become all that mattered. All that mattered was keeping her heart beating. The stars were unusually bright, as was the moon. Looking past her form to see them made him guilty, sad, ashamed. The moon bathed the white sheets in a silvery light. She looked like a moon goddess in the moon's pale light.

10:52 PM, September 7, 1993

1

Seiji turned to face her. She was awake, an unusual thing for someone who had just been drained of their energy. Her face bore a tired expression. He sighed and stood. She looked lovingly up at him and reached out to touch his face. He couldn't stay the entire night. How ironic that no matter how much he loved her, he could never show her that love in a physical sense. He needed to go to his home realm, register that he would be bonding.

I'm sorry that I can't give you what you need. He regarded her sadly.

She smiled.

"Where are you going? It's not even eleven."

Seiji turned away.

"I neglected to register."

"For what?" She smiled again.

Waves of shame and self-revulsion washed through him.

I swore I would love her always and then I feed off her, make her into this! "Bonding. I must bond to you in the Daemon way or else I will kill you somewhere along the line."

Selfish, selfish, selfish. I'm a selfish son of a curse!

Nasuti gave him a level look. It was vaguely contemplating, somehow analytical. They were both silent for a while.

"You're ashamed," she said at length.

He nodded. There really wasn't much for him to say.

"Why? You've nothing to be ashamed of."

Seiji shrugged. "I very well might have killed you, Nasuti. Have you ever done something dangerous-- something you desperately knew you shouldn't have done-- and then had to face the consequences?"

Nasuti made no reply.

"This isn't something I can 'make up' to you, Nasuti. This is…it's…well, wrong. I say I love you, say I'll love you forever and then I feed off you." His tone filled with bitter irony, he continued his self-deprecation, "Nasuti, you can't even think clearly. How should I feel about what I've done to you?"

They were silent for a few minutes.

"I know a way you can make things up to me."

"No… absolutely not. Don't even suggest it as a joke."

Interlude

Midnight is the witching hour. It is the hour when fog settles, when Demons wake. The moon is in the center of the sky and working its strange mischief. This is what all Daemons tell their children. Never make decisions later at night than ten thirty or earlier in the morning than one thirty. And NEVER EVER make decisions in the fog.

Daemons rarely ignore the warnings of their parents.

5:30 AM September 8, 1993

2

Seiji opened his eyes and groaned. Nasuti stirred. He stroked her head before realizing that something was wrong. She was warm. Warm with fever.

I…we…we didn't…?

She put her head on his shoulder and opened her eyes. He felt her cheek.

Seems like we did.

She looked only slightly rejuvenated.

The only thing I've ever done that was dumber was calling Anubisu a fag at that party.

"You're ill," he said.

She smiled again.

"You understand that a female adult Daemon will be wanting into your home?"

She rolled her eyes a bit. She obviously didn't care.

Someone rapped on the window.

"Told you. Whoever she is, she'll want my hide."

They rapped on the window again.

Seiji opened it with his power. A fully mature woman flew in. She landed and straightened to her full height.

"Have you registered?" She asked.

Seiji shook his head.

"I should introduce myself. My name is Ryoko. I am technically a Demen. This is my assigned area."

Seiji ignored her, instead attempting to heal himself of the bruises he'd gotten at midnight.

"Is the human injured?" Ryoko asked.

"What's a Demen?" Nasuti replied.

"A being that is half-Daemon and half-Demon. I assume you are uninjured?" Ryoko said.

Nasuti nodded. She sat up, and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Seiji told me before…he told me that someone would come and wouldn't be very happy."

"Seiji?" Ryoko asked.

"Me," Seiji replied. He slipped under the covers to dress.

Ryoko seemed surprised when he emerged and stood.

"Fated one…I would have expected this from a Demon or a Succubus-- the light knows how often they obey rules-- but not from you, Fated One."

"I did plan on registering…I just didn't exactly get the chance."

"Will someone PLEASE tell me what Seiji has to register FOR?" Nasuti complained.

"I need to register so that I can bond to you. Bonding is sort of like Daemon marriage."

Nasuti nodded and went back to sleep. He turned his attention back to Ryoko.

"I think we just bonded. I can't tell…wait…yes I can…" Seiji lapsed into silence.

He explored his strange connection with Nasuti. Her fever would pass, he sensed. He almost forgot that Ryoko was waiting for him to complete his sentence.

"A natural bond is very rare. What kind of bond is it?" Ryoko asked at length.

"It's a…" he thought for a moment, "it's an Amor bond."

Ryoko raised an eyebrow.

"Naturally 'married' on your own. You won't have to register." Ryoko turned to leave.

"I can't do much for her fever. Will you be able to heal her?"

"It's a side effect you won't be able to get rid of. I'll see what I can do." Ryoko said.

She spread her hands and a green glow surrounded Nasuti. Nasuti's eyes flew open. They closed again and Seiji could tell that the fever was gone.

__________

Well, this chapter's done! An Amor bond is a bond of love, like human marriage. That little bit about fog will be a rule. If you didn't notice, I interpreted the opening quote into a descriptive paragraph. Re-read the chapter and draw some conclusions. I was listening to Hot Summer Nights (by Meat Loaf) and All Revved up with No Place to Go (also by Meat Loaf. They're tracks 2 and 4, respectively, on the Bat Out of Hell CD) while writing this. Ryoko will play an important part in this fic, just to warn you.