Angel of Twilight

    Tenshi sat, huddled in the darkness of the Citadel’s lower levels, gazing solemnly out the window at a world she could not be a part of. One of the aerial servants of the place passed her by in a wisp of wind. She paid it no attention. She was tired... very tired and wanted to curl up in the shadows of her hidden room, but something held her here. 

     A soft patter of feet... like the whisper of a moth’s wings caught her attention and she turned to see the familiar form of Tivao walking towards her, arms clasped behind his back.  She smiled despite herself to see him; he always seemed shrouded in light, even in complete darkness. The calm of his holy aura soothed her, pushing back the depression of her inner night. The waist-length silver locks and long tails shining platinum in defiance of the absence of any illumination to set them off. He tilted his head at her quizzically.

     “What are you seeking out the window, Tenshi?” he asked, looking concerned over her reddened eyes.

     “Seeking, Tivao-sama?” she pondered that. “Not seeking... remembering. Looking at how bright the world is... how beautiful under the sun.”

     “I thought vampires couldn’t look at the sun.”

     Tenshi smiled. “They cannot.”

     Tivao considered that then sat down on the floor below the window, the single beam of light reflecting back from him until he seemed surrounded in a starlight glow. 

     “You know, Tenshi, you have never told us much about you. We accept you as you are; you are part of our family. But beyond your name, I know nothing of you.”

     Tenshi frowned and turned from the window.  She too sat on the floor, but out of the range of light. “Your question has no easy answer, Shifu. My existence is a mystery even to those who dwell in the night.” 

     Tivao spoke not a word, but watched her with keen eyes of winter blue, fox ears turned forward to listen. Tenshi sighed.

     “I am a Dampyre... half-breed spawn of a vampire and a human. For many years my dark blood lay dormant and I lived as anyone would. I was born under the family of the Koga Ryu and found out that my mother took great pains to conceal the truth of my birth. Be that as it may, there were whispers about me from all sides. They knew I was somehow different, for no child is born in the old country with eyes of jade.”

     She glanced up once at the silver fox, revealing eyes of purest green... a startling contrast to her ebony hair. “Even with this, I determined not to shame my family. I trained hard in the arts of war to earn my title of Kunoichi. That my mother named me Tenshi was a cruel joke and yet an omen. That’s how things were for many years.” Her eyes gazed off into the distance as the pain of her memories started to grip her. Her voice became softer as she recounted the night her life changed forever.

                            ****************

    “It’s too quiet...” 

    The voice that hissed out softly was of her teammate. Tenshi glanced at him in the silver of moonlight and nodded. Indeed it was too quiet here. They had been sent to guard the castle of a wealthy Damiyo just in case the war went wrong. No one was certain of anything in these days and this final battle will determine the new shogun. As an extra precaution, many of the Damiyo hired ninja to guard their castles... but even now there should be sounds of the servants or the few guards left.

    One hand on her short sword, Tenshi signaled the team and jumped down to the courtyard below. Running through the halls with the lightness of a cat, she caught the sickening sweet scent of death nearby. Uneasy, she crept along and opened one of the sliding doors. The sight before her was so gruesome she backed out immediately, struck dumb with terror. There were beasts in there... monsters... feeding on the bodies of the slain. Several looked up at her with red eyes... dragon eyes.

    “Youma!!” Tenshi screamed and raced out as fast as she could go. She could hear the panting of the demons behind her, right on her tail. Sounds of fighting and death was heard all throughout the castle. She passed by the mutilated bodies of her teammates... her family... and bit back tears of anger because she was unable to help them. 

    She rounded a corner and halted before a tall figure that held one of the ninja in his hand.. their neck snapped like a frail twig. The eyes... the face... 

     “Kyuuketsuki....” she whispered, shaken. 

     “Yes... I am, as you say, a Vampire. But to you I am much more." the figure spoke with a smooth voice, musical almost.

    Tenshi looked frantically for escape and the figure laughed.
    "You know me. As I do you. I have come for you at last...aijou.”

    “Daughter?” Tenshi looked at all the youma around her, sniffing her but not harming her. The air was thick with death, with blood. Something in her stirred then, gazing at this handsome, powerful figure. So cold the face, so very dark and yet. She felt drawn to him, pulled by a bond she couldn’t understand.

    “Blood of my blood.... my finest creation. Banpaia and yet not. A soul of light, burned by darkness. Aijou...  my daughter. Can you not feel it? I am within you.”

    “This cannot be so!” Tenshi backed away terrified more now than ever she had been.  “Liar! Who are you?”

    The figure smiled. “Who am I? You father... the one your mother tried to hide you from.  Jinnai...” he smirked as Tenshi stood prepared to attack. He held out his hand.

    “Awaken my daughter. Revel in the darkness, forsake the weakness of light. Feel the power I have bestowed on you...”

    Tenshi let out a scream that shattered her soul as a blackness seeped into her heart, bringing with it a coldness and pain that she will never forget and will soon learn to live with. She watched the very rays of light turn from her in distaste and knew. Never again would she be able to stand under the light of the sun.

                                  *****************

    Tivao stared wide-eyed, totally engrossed in the tale. “This is when you became a Dampyre?”

    “Hai...the transformation hurt like I could never describe. Part of me died that day and yet I didn’t become a true undead. I live like a vampire, because the light will not allow the curse to dwell under it. But still... I can look out the window and see the lands that I cannot walk under. Sometimes I think the beauty will kill me...”

    “Amazing.”

    Tenshi shrugged. “Now you know. I am a creature mixed with those who cherish life and that which destroys it. Neither light nor dark, but walking a path down the middle.  That’s why I later took the name Tasogare.”

    “Tasogare.... twilight.  How fitting. Your soul may be cloaked in darkness, but the inside it is still filled with light.” Tivao nodded satisfied and smiled at Tenshi. “Well, regardless you are home now. If you need anything, just call.”

    Home... 

    Tenshi watched the youko walk away whistling a tune. Hai... this is where I belong.