Dawn Seeker

[Xeon Hubaru]

”H-Hello?! Is anyone out there?”

His little lungs letting out the first breath as he cried out urgently for help. He had taken in the air of this strange new world to him. It was fresh and pure. Not to know that yet some of it was polluted with the faint remnants of blood beyond the scent of a human. He didn’t notice, but his worry overpowered that feeling. He twisted his lips as he looked around before cuffing his hands around his mouth once more.

”If anyone is out there, please! Say something!”

He cried out once again, but he let out a saddened mope finding it hopeless. It was only seconds that he found himself dispirited once more. It seemed so hard when he was alone. He wish that feeling didn’t linger. Unfortunately for the young tie-dyed haired little boy, he was finding it difficult to believe that during the past few years, his only family had gone far from his reach because they had become deceased. Mother and Father were left, but not enough to fill that gaping hole within him that he felt. Simply put…he missed them dearly, and it was because of that, he was lured here unsuspecting that it was nothing more than a trap by his desire.

”My brother and sister are supposed to be here, right?”

He had asked in a lowly voice as his eyes filled with a great deal of sadness. Shaken, he had lowered himself to the ground on his knees and placing his hands on the soil. He let his head look left, and then right. From this position and with his gentle voice and appearance, he was as comparable as a lost puppy.

”B-but…where do I find them?” he had asked himself.

Deep within himself, he had the feeling that somehow, someway, he had been deceived. At times like this, he’d ask who would do such a thing, but right now, he just felt like figuring out a way to go home and leave this place. Beautiful it was, but he could never forget as he crawled to the edge of that lake to see his reflection...

This wasn’t where he belonged.

[Sato Koemi]

"My my my.. what do we have here..?" said a soft, lusty voice, as if she had just either just woken up.. or was desperately hungry.

Arising from the shadows beyond the trees, a fox woman appeared, shortly cropped, yet beautiful light blonde hair, slitted green, sly eyes, a white haori that barely covered her curvy body and long, sharp fingernails that most likely doubled as claws, and nine long, beautiful cream-colored fox tails swished behind her as she appeared.

"My my my.. you do look rather beautiful, little one.." she mused softly, eyes practically glittering as she looked upon the boy as she circled him preditorily.

[Xeon Hubaru]

He saw his surprised face in the reflection in the lake, but not the one to follow as he laid eyes on the figure. He hadn't seen a creature this bizarre since the last one he had caught a glimpse of in the graveyard. His eyes went down to upward thinking he was looking at a female, but as he reached her face, it was unusual. It made him think confused between a fox and a wolf, but he could see the details even if it was more humanoid.

He caught his breath and swallowed for a minute as if his life was in danger. Beautiful and tasty were two different things, so as of now, it didn't seem like he was in danger. He simply had to keep the proper distance between them which he was always aware about, but most of the time, it was simply because of fear.

"Uh...umm...hello..."

His reply was stuttering and quite odd as usual for his shy manner. Right now he was alone and vulnerable which he didn't like. He could pretty much go for those strange powers he had developed right about now, but only God knew how he managed to use them in the first place anyway.

"I...umm...I'm sorry if I'm trespassing, but I'm kind of lost, and I was looking for someone." he said with his voice that was ever so gentle and innocent.

"C-can...uh...can you tell me where I am?" he asked.

[Sato Koemi]

The fox woman smiled, a fanged, evil little smile that normally meant bad things for whoever was seeing the smile..

"Oh you poor thing.. You are in Paradise.." she explained slowly in her calm, confident, sly tone. Truly a fox at heart, sly though and through.

The barefooted kaibutsu slowly made her way closer to the boy and smiled once again, this time a comforting, inviting smile "Trespassing..? Of course not.. not yet anyway. Call me Yuzuki.. the Night Fox.."

She gave a semi-low bow as her slitted green eyes looked upon him rather hungrily, though she didn't display it on her face. Soon.. she'll have the boy close and defenseless.. then she'd feast..

[Xeon Hubaru]

Xenneth had seen her bow. She seemed polite enough like any other person. It was comforting...disturbing that he was socializing with a fox, but comforting that he wasn't alone right now. He had drew back during the gesture, but it was considered rude. He was anything but that, so he returned the gesture as he placed his hands in his lap after straightening his form and then bowed his own head while his head was slightly tilted up and eyes keeping to her shadow in case if even it made any sudden movements.

"Uh...umm...m-my name is Xenneth Hikari. It's nice to meet you."

He was lying somewhat. He wasn't sure if it was nice, bad, or if anything a bad omen. He was still confound about exactly where he was and if it was safe. The name rung in his mind as he had to say it himself.

"Umm...this is...Paradise?"

It was beautiful, yes, but then again, he still wasn't sure what "this" was. Was all of Paradise like this, or was this the only place filled with tranquility at the moment. He had looked about with his eyes averting around the area and his right foot pulling back. He was curious to know exactly what this world was like, and it's residents. This strange fox seemed good enough as he let his attention drift back to her.

[Sato Koemi]

The woman straightened and gave a broad smile, hand reaching out slowly to caress his cheek "You.. don't smell of shinigami.. or white shinigami.. nor of my race.. What.. are you exactly..?"

Genuinely puzzled at the new scent that intoxicated her senses, her hunger was starting to wane on her and begin to take its toll. She hadn't eaten in a couple of days.. not ever since she had that terrible dream with that horrid witch of a kaibutsu, Kurakouhi.

The mere thought of that woman brought anger bubbling to the surface of her eyes, but it boiled back down as she was brought back into reality with the scent of Xenneth, to which Yuzuki smiled once again.

"Yes. It is Paradise for those who live here.." she said comfortingly, hand still extended to lightly grace his cheek.

[Xeon Hubaru]

Shinigami? White Shinigami? Puzzling terms to him, but that didn't matter right now. At the moment he was busy trying to keep his attention on this figure. He had blinked thinking if she was clueless to what he was, then did that mean that he was the only human in these lands? His eyes had kept on her hand, but then to her once again keeping eyes on that expression. For some reason it seemed "fast" and by fast it was speeding by something he was missing.

"W-well...I'm a human."

His answer was simple, but her words and questions more complex bringing nothing but questions to his mind as the last one brought a horrid question that he was feeling that he shouldn't ask. Curiosity would kill the cat, but at the most slaughter it since in truth he was mystified as he asked...

"Paradise...for those who live here..." The emphasis was too hard to not ask about. "What do you mean?" he asked.

[Sato Koemi]

Yuzuki smiled, drawing herself closer to the boy, standing less than an arms reach of him now as she peered down upon him with a hungry look.

"Yes. You don't live here, do you?" she responded to his question with a question.

She placed her lithe, gentle hand upon his shoulder and grasped tightly "Then.. that means no one here knows you.. nor will they know you are missing.. I am here to guide your way, little one.."

Her grip tightening a little more, such a gentle hand that belied such great, hidden strentgh. It was almost crushing.

[Xeon Hubaru]

Xenneth had looked at her a bit unsure now. Her tone the same, but her aura giving off in a more threaten way. It was as if she had gotten close enough being a snake in the grass and himself the prey. She had listened unsure how to answer. The grip tightened a little as his mind mistakened it for concern, but hearing her further made it seem like it was less compassionate by the minute and more selfish. Even the part about guiding him felt more like a monster holding as mask in front of his face obviously.

The grip was tighter and his doubts had become more solid. His teeth cringed slightly as if he was resisting for the sake of not being rude, but now his fear clouded those manners as he was feeling more uncomfortable once again.

"P-please...you're hurting me."

He had whimpered the note in his low voice. His heart crushing as much as his arm was being. If there was anything he couldn't take over this torture, it would be the deciet of emotions that he'd felt overall.

Why does this stuff always happen to him?

[Sato Koemi]

"Oh? I'm sorry.. Let me take away the pain that hurts you so.." she whispered, as if speaking to a lover, but was suddenly knocked away rather viciously to the side, releasing the boy from her iron grip.

"What the hell?!" she yelled, glaring at the figure who tore her away from her meal.

"..."

Nothing but silence came from the tanned, blonde woman in white, arms crossed underneath her massive cleavage. Her deep eyes bore boredly into the fox woman's "Don't touch him."

[Xeon Hubaru]

He was tossed back on his hind as he was suddenly torn away. He was a bit scared for a moment as all he could think about was him possibly dieing and joining his brother and sister, and now he was staring at his death as she seemed surprise at something. He turned looking where she was only to find a strange figure close by as she commanded for him not to be touched by her. He reached for his own shoulder thinking that was a good idea as he straight face had sat on the fox now. He was somewhat aware that she was dangerous.

The moment was tense. He dared not to speak as he looked for an explanation about what was happening. His heart was racing with the fear he felt from the moment as he wasn't sure what to do now. Was he to get up and run away not knowing where he was, or was it that he was to stay in ths safety of this stranger. Both of those ideas sound risky.

[Sato Koemi]

The tanned woman in the white, risqué shikhakusho stared down the pale fox-woman with her arms crossed underneath her large, buxom chest, which half of it was peeking out from underneath the top of the oddly styled haori she wore. All of her middriff was showing and so were the sides of her wide, curvy, silky hips, the black sash holding up the skirt-like pants by will and hope alone it seemed. She had bright yellow-blonde hair and thick, equally blonde-eyelashes, yet deep, scary, peneterating blue eyes. The rest of her mysterious fave couldn't been seen because of the uprised collar of her haori top.

The angry, hungry fox kaibutsu glared and growled out "Damn you white shinigami.."

Still silent, the intimidating woman merely continued to stare, either very boredly, or very angrily at Yuzuki. Apparently.. she wasn't much of the person to exchange words.

The fox woman folded her ears back, as an instinctual sign of submission to the dark-skinned woman and turned, quickly disappearing the way she had come with an angry growl and fetid curses underneath her breath.

"... Coward," she said rather bluntly. Looking to the boy, the woman stared at him with an equal gaze, either extremely bored, or uncaring.

[Xeon Hubaru]

This girl was a giant...

Well, at least from where he sat and her gaze looking down upon him. At first it caused him to sit afraid for his life, but he knew if he wanted that life, he'd move...NOW!

He stood up as he had slapped his palm across the ground and kicked up as he snapped a short distance between himself and the figure. Now that he thought about his quick action, he felt so rude. This female just saved him from an actual threat, but yet, he hadn't said a word of thanks. It wasn't like him, but what that fox had said had crept upon him like a prejudice fear now. If they lived here, then they were targeting someone like him. A non-resident, but this individual seemed to close as human as he did. Those robes were unique, but it didn't stop him from being thankful as he nodded his head while swallowing slightly.

"Umm...th-thank you. I...I'm sorry, but I was just a little scared I guess." His right hand reached to his left arm rubbing the soreness he felt from that creature's crushing presence, only reminding him that right about now that he should be on his knees and looking up towards this figure like she was the heavens that saved him. Still, he wasn't sure if he was out of the fray yet, and because of that, he only sat with the distance between them and head turned slightly in a bit of shame, but his eyes shifting to keep a lock on her own uncaring ones to make sure they didn't really mean that.

"Umm...m-my name is Xenneth Hikari. I'm pretty sure...that now...I owe you." he had said before turning his full attention to her with an easy expression on face. "P-please...can I have your name?" he asked kindly putting a weak smile on his face to hold casual conversation. Probably to delay whatever she had in mind, which was maybe what to do with him. Good or bad, he rather get to know this person a little first before she done anything to him.

[Sato Koemi]

Staring at the boy still with the same expression, eyes scanning him over slowly, taking in his whole image, then back up along his figure, locking back onto his face rather respectively and spoke in a soft, yet serious voice "Halibel. You only owe me if you feel like you do."

A woman of short words, indeed. She at least was to the point when she spoke. The white-robed woman came down from a seemingly floating position and stood lightly atop a rock, flat footed and uncrossed her arms slowly, seeming to relax a little.

That was the eighth time I ran into a stronger than average demon-looking beast.. she thought to herself, looking aruiond int he surrounding area. Her eyes fell upon the boy once again and she thought for a moment.

"Can you fight..?" she asked calmly, as if she were talking to a baby.

[Xeon Hubaru]

He'd remember the name respectfully as well as acknowledging to owe her. It was his privillege as long as she let him live to honor it. Though as she had sound those next words off, his eyes slightly opening as if he was awakened by the word.

"F-fight?" he had said it in a stammer as if asking if that's what she said. Only...he wished she didn't say it.

His expression shifting between shy, timid, and ashamed. The common faces of the closed love child. He wasn't one to act violently, but he was a protector when the time called for it. Because of that, he was hesitant with his answers. His lips parting to let out a musing "Umm..." before they sealed back together as if silencing that unsure chaotic melody. His eyes reflected the innocence, but his heart locked away his strength that was a danger to him as he didn't know of it.

"I...I rather not." He had brought himself to answer. He'd rather not fight this person...he'd rather not fight anyone.