An Untouchable's Love

Asara glanced sidelong at Tomaru as he spoke about the Guardians. She saw his face twist in what was most likely a subconscious manner.

He has a vested interest in this... Far more than just trying to survive the Guardian onslaught like the rest of us. There's something deeper there with him...

She blinked as she realized she was now openly staring at him, her eyes narrowed, as she tried to speculate on what could have caused his reaction. She hurriedly glanced back down at her stew and stirred it around some more. She forced herself to eat it, even though her appetite had left her. She brushed an errant strand of hair from her eyes absentmindedly, as was her custom when she was in an uncomfortable situation.

She finished her stew quickly, scorching her mouth a bit but ignoring the unpleasant sensation. She sat quietly, listening to the conversation, saying nothing. She preferred to listen and take it as much knowledge as she could. She only spoke when she had something of real merit to add to the conversation. She kept glancing at Tomaru, though... Watching how his chest rose and fell as he breathed... How she wanted to curl up against that chest and just...be...

Woahhh, now, missy, slow down. you just met this guy.

Her brow furrowed and she looked down at her hands, clasped in a death grip on her lap.

ooc: runs in and bows. omg I am so sorry I have been away for so long. I apologize. I got a virus on my computer and am having trouble irl. Im so sorry!

bic: Mari watched the two. Asara looked like she was hiding something with Tomaru and that they didn't want her ether to be disappointed or scared. She glared at Tomaru as if to say"out with it ". Then she stared at Asra as she finished her stew.

Hanato finished her bowl and picked up the one's that had finished as well and walked to the sink. Mari rose and went to the other room, unsure of what to do. She grabbed a book from her shelf, Alice in wonderland, and lay on her bed reading it. tring to ignore that she had guests and that Tomaru and Asara were falling for each other.

Hanato watched her young one walk away to her bedroom and turned to the two young ones in the room."Tomaru you have forgotten that I can see when you have something your not telling me. ever since you were a boy I was able to tell. And....." she turned to Asara,"You have to admit to your feelings young one. I can also read people. Now kids talk to me. I want to know who has hurt you Tomaru and what is in your heart Asara. That way the air isn't full of all this hatred and frustration." Hanato sat down again at the table and looked at them both before taking Tomaru's hand as only a grandmother could and said" I have to let you know something Tomaru after we talk. Now spill kids I'm getting tired and would like to go to bed."

ooc: like her? hanato rocks!

OoC: haha! I love Hanato!

Asara sat, a bit shocked, as Hanato ordered them to open up to each other. She decided to let Tomaru speak first, as she was unsure of what to say... She was afraid of rejection and the heartache that came with it. She wAtched him with guarded eyes, her heart twisting in her chest in a nervous way.

Hanato smiled in a kindly way at the two youngster's"Tomaru I know about your father's death. they told me a day after you disappeared. I was shocked but I'm okay now with his passing. Your father was like a son to me you know. A very old friend. I had a feeling that you were hiding something from me when you didn't pound down my front door and try to find me. Remember that we all loved and admired your father,dear one." She rose and walked to tomaru as she took his shoulder, she had a steady but shaky grip and she smiled as she said " You are a strong brave young man...." then she leaned into him to whisper."I know that your still hiding something from me. You can't fool an old lady like me."

Hanato rose back to a standing position and waited to hear anything the kids wanted to say.


ooc: and the story keeps twisting and twisting lol

Asara simply sat and listened to this exchange, rather confused about what was going on, until Hanato announced that she knew Tomaru's father was dead. Her eyelids fluttered as she blinked in surprise. She was instantly filled with pity, even though she was sure that was the last thing Tomaru wanted. Nothing made one feel more pathetic than someone's pitying stare. Without even thinking about it, she reached out and took Tomaru's hand that was resting in the table and squeezed it gently but firmly.

Asara's jaw dropped a bit, her mouth slightly ajar. She couldn't believe the story she had just heard... That someone could be so heartless as to kill their own father in cold blood that way.

As far the part about her, she was thanking her lucky stars that she had cone along past that alleyway when she had; that she had stopped this cruel Guardian, Izrael, from killing Tomaru. She couldn't even fathom how someone could be filled with so much hate and evil. She clenched her teeth together and squeezed Tomaru's hand once more, her eyes hard and cold with her anger toward this Izrael.

I won't let him kill you, Tomaru... If it's the last thing I do. I'll kill that bastard first.

Hanato nodded simply and said"You father told me of most of the family history, so yes dear I knew of your mother. Never mentioned your brother until a month before he died. I was shocked then to know that your half guardian, but I do not judge by color of wing. Your brother must have so much malice in him because of his upbringing inside the guardians that his soul is tainted with the evil that has consumed the white winged ones." She held Tomaru's shoulders in a grip that would surprise anyone. "Tomaru you act as if I have never seen death among my family. You forget the guardians slaghtered my parents when I was young. Then my husband died fighting them."

Mari heard the yelling in the other room as the three talked and she rose from her book and bed. Wlking on silent feet, she went back to the wall of the kitchen, just looking beyond it to watch and listen better.

Asara gasped when Tomaru took off through the door.

Tomaru! Wait!

She jumped to her feet but stopped. He was already too far away for her to ever hope to catch him on foot. Besides, he needed some time alone. She exhaled heavily and ran a hand through her hair before looking at Hanato, unsure of what to say. She bit her lip and looked down at the table, Tomaru's half finished stew abandoned. She set her brow and started clearing the empty dishes and carrying them to the sink.

Asara was starting to worry. Tomaru had been gone for hours. She had run out of pointless tasks to occupy her restless hands and mind and now was just sitting on the couch, staring at the wall in the front room of the house. Her face was a mask of indifference, something she had perfected in the military; her insides, however... They were another story.

Why has he not returned? What if his half brother finally put the pieces together and found him? Tomaru... You should know better than to go out alone!

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She snorted and stood up, bolting for the door. She didn't care if Hanato or Mari tried to stop her, she was going to find Tomaru, if it took her all night.

She stepped out into the cool night, spreading her wings out wide. It felt good to stretch them after leaving them folded for so long. She simply stood there for a moment, stretching out, reveling in the powerfulness of her wings, before she crouched low and started flapping. The next second, se was in the air, her white hair catching the moonbeams and scattering them in glorious ways. She scanned the streets below in what light she had. For a while, all she could see was her shadow on the ground. Her panic was mounting by the second.

And then.

Her eyes zeroed in on his form, his shoulders hunched, his eyes on the ground. She sighed in relief, letting out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She swooped down like a mutated bird of prey, her wings foldedback a bit, streamlined for speed. She landed nearly silently in front of him, her eyes burning intensely.

Tomaru!

Her voice was thick with relief. She stepped forward to embrace him without thinking. She pulled herself in close to his chest, she relieved he was safe. Her panic had melted away so quickly into giddy relief that she was quivering.

Asara wasn't sure what to make of this feeling... This safeness she found in his arms. All she knew was.... She never wanted it to go away. She wanted to keep the feeling forever... And then he pulled away, saying he had yo leave. At first, she felt horrible rejection. Her face crumpled, thinking it was something to do with her. But then logic kicked in. She had done nothing; he wasn't upset with her. He was leaving out of a sense of duty. She squared her shoulders.

Then I'm coming with you.

Before he could open his mouth to protest, she placed a finger over his mouth.

I am a trained military fighter, you know I could help you. Screw the danger.

Her eyes were burning like blue fire, snapping ferociously. She would protect him. She'd promised herself she would.

Asara nodded, her resolution formed in stone. She would go with him and protect him.

Tomaru... Your lineage doesn't make you who you are. You choose your own destiny... You make your own life. I don't care who your parents are. Hell, I don't even remember my parents. They could have been mass murderers for all I know. They didn't have anything to do with the person I am today, just like your parents actions do not define you.

This was probably the most she'd spoken in a long while. She bit her lip, feeling like she was rambling.... But she pressed on.

So, yes. I would like to accompany you... To help you. If you would allow me to.

Asara smiled softly against Tomaru's chest. She loved the feeling of resting her head there... Like his chest was formed just for her head specifically. She could hear his heart beating... Take in his intoxicating aroma... and then when he spoke, she could hear the strange way his voice reverberated through his chest. She smiled and looked up at him, a single white eyebrow raised.

I'm sure you can. But when it comes to the Guardians -- espcially this one, from what you say -- you can never be too careful. It always pays to have someone watch your back. And that someone... Is me.

She knew she was being much bolder than she probably ought to be... But what did she have to lose? Her smile broke a bit wider, her blue eyes sparkling.

Asara gasped slightly as Tomaru's lips touched hers. She had never felt this sensation before, this...oneness. She had never been kissed before... But she couldn't imagine anyone else's experience had been like hers. Heat flashed over her face, but not an unpleasant heat... She never wanted the warmth to go away. Then he pulled away and whispered those words to her. She sighed a bit.

I'm not going anywhere.

Asara reached up with one hand and caressed the side of Tomaru's face as their foreheads were pressed together. She felt safe there with his arms around her... Safeness she had never truly felt. She'd always been on the fringe... Never really a part of anything or important to anyone. And now... Now that she had someone who cared for her... And she had someone to love... She never wanted to let go. She kissed the tip of his nose and grinned, refusing to let anything else into her mind except thoughts of the man who was before her.