]Another Side of Me[

[Shatan]

]Virtus[
>With just a look<
]They shook[
>And heavens bowed<
]Before him[

Another side of me.

Ignore them, child. I took a deep breath and followed his advice; they were talking, I could hear them all. Talking about me, as usual. My father’s presence beside me was comforting, a shield against their words, but Derio’s presence was even more so. It had always been like this, but as I got older it got worse, and I was glad for Derio’s help. They had never been fond of me, but I learned to accept it; it was their problem they didn’t like me, not mine.

There is nothing wrong with them or you, child; you are a hanyou, and that is why they hate you. In any case, ignore them; they aren’t worth the time. Again Desiderio spoke up; he never did remain quiet for long. That is because I cannot leave you to your own affairs; you’ll do something wrong if I do. That’s not true, I’m a good kid, my parents say so! The opinions of your parents do not count; it is the opinions of others you should be worried about. But you said that the others aren’t worth my time. These ones in particular are not, but there will be others who are not so ignorant who will be. I sighed; I didn’t understand Derio sometimes. Sometimes? he let out a derisive laugh.

Now that’s not nice, and you know it! But it was true. But my mommy says that if you can’t say anything nice, you shouldn't talk at all! And my mommy told me that that’s a bunch of hogwash. I fell silent; there was no use in talking to him if he was going to be like this.

Instead, I looked up at my papa; my papa walked confidently, and no wonder, he was a full demon. He said that the people of this village used to welcome him; Derio said it was because he could control his form and pass as a human. I wasn’t welcomed because I was only a half-breed, and no half-breed had control over their form. When I asked papa about it, he said that hanyous didn’t need to control their forms. Derio said that was foolish, but he said that about everything, so I was content to believe my papa. Derio didn’t like that too much.

I looked around me and saw several village kids playing not far off. I reached up and tugged on my papa’s sleeve, “Papa?” I asked, “Can I go play with them?”

He paused and looked over at them, frowning; I didn’t know why he was so sad. When he looked at me, though, he was smiling. He crouched in front of me as he said, “Of course, Vir,” he ruffled my hair with his large hand, “Just be careful, okay? And remember what I told you: hold your head high.”

I nodded, smiling, “Of course, papa, I always do!”

“I know,” he said, “well go on, then; you know where to find me when you’re ready.”

“Thanks, papa!” I said quickly, then ran off towards the kids where they chased each other around.

I had always been awkward when running; my legs were better at swimming than running, but I did the best I could. When I came near the other kids, though, they merely laughed at me and ran off, faster than I could chase them. I still tried, though; I thought they wanted me to play. When I reached the edge of the village and still couldn’t find them, I finally gave up; it just wasn’t fair that they could run so fast.

Having a pity party won’t make you any faster. Derio advised, and I sighed. I know that, but what should I do, then? Keep running. See that hut over there? I want you to go run and touch it and come back here, and then keep repeating that. I was confused; this would make me faster? It will strengthen your legs and get you used to them, so yes, you’ll get faster. I still didn’t understand, but Derio was older and wiser than me. Ok then, I agreed, and began running.

]Simply a look can break your heart[
>The stars that<
]Pierce the sky[
>He left them<
]All behind[

_{Lyrics © AFI, TRUSTcompany}

[KitsuneMIKO]

A feeling he could not describe ran through him, it was as if a great weight had been taken off his shoulders….even though he was carrying another one at the moment. He did not mind this burden though, for she always managed to bring him much joy even if she was a pain to look after. How long had it been since he last heard her laughter? A fond memory crossed his mind, back to their child hood.

A young little black haired fox girl played alone near the river side. Children from a near by village taunted her near by. Of course he watched from afar, he really didn’t know the girl that seemed to fallow him around when ever she got a chance. At first he had tried ignoring her but, eventually he had snapped and yelled at her. Of course she started crying, he felt sorry and quickly had comforted her. After that he had been watching her more closely; he didn’t trust her yet so he pretended to ignore her most of the time. Secretly he had been fallowing her when he had the chance, she always seemed to be alone. Not once had he seen her playing with another person her age, nor had he seen her parents around.

Now here she was playing alone yet again, she was smiling looking as though she didn’t have a care in the world. One of the children near by one of the ones whom were taunting her picked up a rock and chucked it at her. It hit her in the arm yet she ignored it, the other children joined it chucking stuff at her. She covered her head with her arms yet did nothing else to stop them. He glared at the children and grabbed some rocks of his own and began to chuck them back at the children. Once they saw him they went running, all the while being hit in random places with the rocks he threw.

After they were gone he walked up to the girl who was pulling some of the sticks and other things that had been thrown out of her hair. She looked up at him with that big goofy smile, he couldn’t help but frown. How could she just sit there a smile after those kids were so mean to her, he couldn’t help but feel his anger returning. “WHY ARE YOU SO HAPPY? Those kids where just jerks to you! How can you just sit there a smile?” At first she looked surprised but then she burst out laughing. That laughter was like a trickling brook and silver bells. It was the first time he heard her laughter and he couldn’t help but think it was one of the most beautiful sounds. He felt his anger melt away and be replaced with slight confusion.

To this day he couldn’t figure out why she laughed, but that didn’t matter. Out of the corner of his eye he looked up at the girl who rode on his back. That same smile was on her face as she looked down at the view below them. Of course now she didn’t look the same as she had, she was missing all her demonic features. Apparently when she disappeared completely she had chosen to become human, which made his job just that much harder. Like most demons he thought humans were defenseless, so he couldn’t fathom why she had chosen willingly to become one.

Yukina couldn’t help but grin, after all what kind of person wouldn’t find it fun to ride on a flying reindeer. She looked down below watching the tops of the trees below rush by. There was a break in the forest and she spotted something strange below. There was a little dot running back and forth. Now this was defiantly strange, and being as curious as she was, she just had to figure out what it was. So she tugged on her best friends ear, causing him to let out a displeased snort. She chuckled and tugged on it again just to annoy him. He snapped out an annoyed ‘WHAT’ and she leaded forward and pointed down to where she saw the dot.

”Can we take a closer look down there, I spotted something strange.”

It didn’t take Blitzen long to listen to her request, figuring something so small couldn’t be that dangerous. Now what site awaited her was even stranger, she couldn’t help but let a small chuckle out at the site. After all it wasn’t everyday that you saw a half otter half human waddling around. She nudged Blitzen to land; she wanted to talk to this young boy. He touched down just a little distance from the boy whom tried running back and forth. Yukina had a kind smile on her face as she looked over at the boy, it was obvious he was a Hanyou. Which explained why he was all by himself, she could relate to the teasing he probably took. She called out to him, hopefully he wouldn’t run away.

”Hello little one, you know otters run faster on all fours. It may look odd but I can tell you, you’d go much faster.

She hopped off of Blitzen whom changed back into his human form. He had a scowl on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. After all he wasn’t fond of strangers, young or old.

[Shatan]

]Virtus[
>With just a look<
]They shook[
>And heavens bowed<
]Before him[

Simply a look.

Stop, child, look up there. I stopped mid-step; what? Where? I don’t see anything. Right there, child, up! I looked up, and there hovered the strangest creature I had ever seen. Strange is relative, child; you’re more strange than it is to most people. But, I’m me; how am I strange? Derio sighed, When you’re less childish, I’ll explain. But how will that help me now? It’s not necessary to know now; just pay attention, I don’t know if these two are a danger or not. But, the girl doesn’t look dangerous, and what could that thing do to hurt me? It’s just a horned horse. Derio sighed again, Looks can be deceiving, child; watch.

I stayed quiet and watched, though I still didn’t understand; the creature landed near me—it was much bigger up close—and the girl smiled and spoke real friendly. I still didn’t understand why Derio thought she might be dangerous. I heard him sigh again, but he didn’t speak this time. My head tilted a bit at her words; is that true, Derio? Would I run faster like that? Perhaps; it works for full-blooded otters, but I doubt your human arms could manage it. But it’s worth a try, isn’t it? My arms could get stronger, couldn’t they? Perhaps, but that is not our concern right now.

I watched, wide eyed, as the girl jumped off the back of the horned horse, which then changed into a very unfriendly looking man. I frowned; he didn’t look very nice, and I didn’t like not-nice people. As I said, child: looks can be deceiving. The girl may not be any more friendly than he looks. But she looks nice, and talks nice; why wouldn’t she be nice? People can act, child; it may just be fake. But why would someone do that? That isn’t very nice, tricking people like that. It doesn’t make any sense, either; why would someone hide what they are? I don’t think anyone should do that; people should be proud of who they are. So why would she be acting nice if she wasn’t? It… Enough, child; just be cautious is all I ask.

By now it have been a few minutes since the girl had spoken, so I guessed I better say something; it’d be rude if I didn’t, “Thanks,” I said, smiling, “I’ll try it some time. What’s you name? I’m Virtus, but you can call me Vir. I’m here to help my father, why are you here? You’re friend should smile; it isn’t very nice of him to scowl like that.”

Enough, child! You’re about to talk my ears off, and I don’t even have ears of my own. I fell silent, still smiling all friendly-like, waiting for the girl to talk; I wanted to say more, but Derio had told me not to, so I didn’t. I just stood there nice and quiet. These people seemed alright to me; I still didn’t know why Derio didn’t trust them, even if the guy didn’t look so nice; maybe he was just having a bad day. I’ve had bad days before, and I didn’t look so nice when I did; so maybe he really is nice. Derio sighed, Child? Yes? Be quiet.

]Simply a look can break your heart[
>The stars that<
]Pierce the sky[
>He left them<
]All behind[

_{Lyrics © AFI}

[KitsuneMIKO]

She had almost forgotten that Blitzen was one of the only reindeer demons left, not to mention the rest of them use to be her families guards so it wasn’t very likely that many of them would be left. That would explain the awed look that the child had had when he saw Blitzen take his landing. After all who would expect something like Blitzen to be flying. Yukina waited for the young boy to speak but he seemed to go off into a world of his own. She looked over at Blitzen whom had an eyebrow raised, this kid was slightly strange. Yukina looked back at the child and just couldn’t help herself. She had to know what was going on in that little mind of his.

Blitzen watched the little boy, he was defiantly a strange child. Yukina looked up at him and he just raised his eyebrow as if to tell her he didn’t know anything about the child’s strange behavior. He watched Yukina now; for she got that strange glint in her eyes. He knew exactly what she was doing when here grey eyes turned white, she was tapping into somebody’s mind and hopefully it wasn’t his. Another memory from the past came to his mind, he could remember the first time they both found out she could read minds.

They had both gotten into trouble yet again, Yukina had talked him into pelting the guards on duty with snowballs. His father was currently giving them this boring lecture about something he wasn’t really listening. Though he had heard this conversation before in fact he could recite the whole thing in his head. He could tell Yukina wasn’t listening either she had this spaced out look on her face. At that he couldn’t help but think she looked cute like that. She suddenly looked at him with a surprised look on her face, yet she didn’t say anything.

After a while of ignoring his father, he finally got fed up with the two not listening and left. Actually he left once the two started playing gold fish right in the middle of his lecture. Now that he was gone Yukina looked up at him questioningly. ‘Blitzy, why did you suddenly say I was cute?’ Now it was his turned to look shocked, as a blush stained his face. ‘What do you mean? I never said anything like that…I mean not to say that you arnt I just….ummm…ya…’ She tilted her head to the side with a confused look on her face, she just looked so adorable. She suddenly pointed a finger at him ‘Now you just said I was adorable without moving your lips! How did you do that!’ He blinked….he hadn’t said anything he was sure of it. Yes he thought….wait ….’Yukina, I didn’t say anything, I think your reading my mind or something…’ His eyes grew wide, if that was the case he was in big trouble…HE DIDN’T WANT A GIRL IN HIS HEAD. It was just to much for him to handle at once and he fainted.

When he woke those big grey eyes were staring down at him, and that little devilish smile was on her face. ‘soo…you really think I’m cute?’ and out like a light he went again.

He never lived those thoughts down, and she constantly used that knowledge against him. Why did she have to be so darn adorable, a sly look was pointed in his direction. d**n…he was caught again, he scowled and turned around.

She chuckled, it was so easy to mess with Blitzy, but now back to the matter at hand. Now this was certainly interesting, it seemed the child her voices inside of his head. Split personalities were something she had always found interesting, in fact it could be debated that she had one as well. Though she didn’t have full conversations with hers, and she didn’t think it was actually another person. It seemed it would be a while until the child answered so she just plopped down on the ground and waited. By the time he did speak it seemed he was a very polite young boy. A smile crossed her face when she heard the boy still had family, and it sounded like his was around most of the time. Being a Hanyou was always tough but it really didn’t matter much as long as your parents were around. She laughed as he commented on Blitzen.

”Hmm what to answer first, well first off its very nice to meet you Vir. I’m Yukina Hijikata, and the guy with the icicle up his butt is Blitzen. He’s always like this when around strangers, he’s not the most trusting person in the world. You see Blitzen protects me, so its his job to make sure nothing happens to me. He wouldn’t be very good at it if he trusted everyone at first site. For the reason why we’re here, we’re just flying through and we saw you running back and forth and I just wanted to find out why. So why were you running back and forth like that?