Always and Forever ~ Thoma x Ayato

Chapter 1

Thoma's POV~

"Thoma, wake up. We're almost there." My mother's gentle voice was paired with a shake of my shoulder. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes; I was still tired. Mom opened the airplane window, letting dim gray sunlight filter through the thick glass. In the distance, I could see a chain of islands, dark shapes against a vast blue ocean. Inazuma: Land of Eternity. 

My parents had divorced a couple years back, but I don't understand why Mom still liked my dad; the guy had been a total jerk. Still, my father had died recently, and here we were, headed to his funeral in a private jet (which cost a lot, by the way). 

I can't say I'm glad he's gone, since it hurts to see Mom so sad. But at least he's not in my life anymore...

Wait. Did I really just think that? No, that's too cruel, I can't think things so dark! 

Ahem. Back to the story, please and thank you. 

Glancing to my right, I noticed that Mom was already in mourning clothes: a long black gown embroidered with golden windwheel asters. The silken gloves that went up to her elbows didn't hide the way her hands trembled. Was the shaking from grief, or was it fear?

She caught me watching her and tried to put on a smile. "You'd better get changed too, Thoma. As soon as we get off the plane, we'll have to catch the bus to the funeral home." She tugged on my hair, which I had put into a short ponytail, the golden strands shining in the artificial light from the jet ceiling. "We should've given you a haircut," she giggled, although I could tell it was fake. "Its getting so long."  

"Mom! I like my hair this way!" I tried to return the smile she gave me, and I stood up. "Alright, I'll get changed now." Stretching, I moved out the aisle and headed for the back of the plane to grab my funeral clothes. 

The jet shook, and I fell forward, catching myself on the seat in front. 

"What was that?" My mom's voice was panicked and strained. I sat down in the nearest seat. It didn't feel safe enough to stand up yet.  

A gravelly voice came over the intercom: "Attention, passengers. We are experiencing some turbulence, so please return to your seats and secure your seatbelts." I felt the plane jerk, and instinctively grabbed the armrests. It definitely felt more than 'some' turbulence. 

Risking a peek out the window, I saw lightning flash, tearing the stormy sky in two. Weird. I could've sworn it was just a clear day a few minutes ago. I heard that the weather in Inazuma changes based on the Almighty Shogun's mood. If that's actually true, then she's probably really angry right about now. And a grumpy Archon was the last thing I needed. 

The plane tipped dangerously to one side. Just as the pilot was trying to regain control, a streak of lightning hit the left wing. At least, I assume that's what happened, cuz if I had been looking directly at the thing, I would've been blinded. The craft buckled and fell toward the sea. 

Someone was screaming, and the sound made me wince. The sudden change in air pressure made my ears pop painfully. It became harder to breathe -- or was that me hyperventilating? 

I saw a large estate looming up ahead, growing bigger with every second as gravity took hold and dragged the plane down...down...down...

~ *~

Did the plane...crash? What happened? Why is there sand in my mouth? Blinking hard, I saw a girl about my age staring at me, her silvery eyes wide. 

"He's awake! Yoimiya, hurry, find help!" She turned back to me, grabbing my arms and trying to lift me, which definitely didn't work. "C-can you stand? Or maybe sit up, at least? Here, maybe if we work together you might be able to...Hello, can...hear me? Oh no...I..." 

The girl's words drifted in and out of focus, a lot like her face was doing at the moment. Rain poured from the sky. Everything blurred together, and my brain decided my body could use some more unconsciousness. 

A/N -  Kinda short but it'll do for now. -_-

711 words