THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE EVANESCENT MAIDEN

The maiden of his dreams was a vivid representation of a heavenly lord. Graceful and bewitching. Her skin the color of sand and her hair, the vast ocean depths. Sometimes her eyes matched her dark hair with a color that was similar to violet. Sometimes they were a golden that was reminiscent of the armor of Himiko-omikami, Jinsei no Mikoto.

In this particular dream she spoke to him after urging another man to leave him alone. Who was that man? She brushed off her dress and scoffed. "hmph, honestly, he's getting annoying. He always thinks and insists that he's right," she laughed, flicking her hair back. A silky sea that he would pay to drown in. "I can't believe you're related to someone like him"

His eyes never left her, as if entranced. He gave chuckle, "distantly related,"

"still," she sighed a hollow sound, tilting her head to the side. Then she pushed the end of her fan to his chest. her eyes sharp like a fox toying with its pray. "I can't believe you're jealous of such a man," she giggled, walking around him in circles. The fabric slowly wrapping around him. he wouldn't mind if they even strangled him.

He was jealous? "what can I say? You're just worth than much"

"oh please," she rolled her eyes, resting her elbows on the railing overlooking fumetsuhi. fireworks soared into the sky. They burst into shining flowers behind her. the maiden with forlorn eyes. the blossoms of the sky doesn't compare. Their colors tries but they're not as kind on his eyes.

He approaches her, placing his hands on the same wood. she was now sandwiched between them. trapped and somehow she didn't try to escape. "so you're still angry?" he asked her, his lips moving by themselves. she's angry? He couldn't tell. Her smile seemed always ever present.

"no," Her face said yes. the pout and her averted gaze. She threw her face elsewhere despite it being the very thing that enchanted him. he gave a pitiful chuckle and brushed a hand on her head. "here," she pulled him back, placing a golden brooch on the red banner that goes across his chest and over his shoulders. The very thing connecting his long sleeved haori aside from the golden ropes.

"you don't owe me anything"

She huffed, resting the top of her head on his chest. "we've been friends for a while, so it... should be okay" her voice was sweet. Though a hint of desperation danced in her tone. Her hands formed to fists as she held his clothes.

"so... we're friends?"

She pushed him away, forcing him to stumble back. Her hair was flowing upwards. Her face a kind of embarrassed that matched her cheeks. Her eyes however seemed to be glaring at him. he laughed, after regaining his balanced. She's adorable too. "did you forget that my loyalty is to the empire? You should be more wary of who you trust, especially me, missy"

"yeah well, you're not awful to be around... you're aren't really a bad person and... you've been helping me all this time" her face only reddened further as she pointed her finger at him, a furious yet embarrassed expression on his face. "but I'm still keeping an eye on you!"

"..." was her loyalties not to the empire? Yet her golden eyes matched the banners of Jinsei. When has he helped her? then again of course he did. "right, I can't possibly reject a gift from a friend now can i?" she laughed.

The sound she made was sweet and echoed off the air. The night's air, cold and balmy. A stinging kind of bliss. The moment froze along with it. Her hair tangled with the stars. Along with those glittery things, the moon was in a dance that didn't go any faster. The bright fireworks that littered the welkin were stuck blooming forever. "so? are you going to tell me your real name?"