The Cherry Blossoms (Cattail)

[»Míríel«]

The forest seemed to dance in the wind that blew through it's usually silent surroundings. An elf girl meandered around through the passes of the forest. She seemed to be walking in a beam of light, causing it to sem as though she was glowing slightly. Every movement was full of grace and beauty. Golden hair tumbled down her back and her fair skin seemed like polished ivory. Blue eyes like the sky were veiled in thick black eyelashes that gave her an intelligent yet peaceful look. After dropping off Athena by the border she had decided to wander through the swampy forest once again. Near the outer edge of the forest a flash of pink came to her eyes. curious, she walked forward.

Soft pink blossoms, reminded her of the innocent blush of the sky as the sun rose in the morning. Each blossom was beautiful, perfectly shaped and delicately crafted. Reaching up she picked a leaf from the tree and examined it carefully. The veins of the leaf gave the waxy surface a woven look. Tilting her head she looked at the tree and closed her eyes. The wind that moved through the trees changed course. It reached out it's playful fingers, and moved them through her hair, twisting and tangling the golden threads. But still Miriel's face remained peaceful. So many things had happened in just the past days, she felt so much older, yet still very young.

Her thoughts carried her back to when she had traveled through here with her horse Calanon. She had first met Axel here. A smile played on her lips as she thought of him. Flashes of memories played through her mind, him getting kicked into the swamp, coming out with algae in his hair. The time when both had sat on the piano bench together, his fingers dancing masterfully up and down the black and white keys. A warmth filled her soul at these thoughts causing a slight blush came to her cheeks. Never had she felt this way before about anyone. Who would have thought that she would have started to like someone like Axel, of all people?

The sunlight seemed to dance on her hair, glad at making it through the thick foliage of the trees above. As she stood there, a slender elegant form at the base of an orchard of cherry trees. Head tilted up slightly, fingers twirling a leaf nonchalantly, face relaxed and smooth, eyes closed. How good it was to be alive.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel stalked around the swamps, trying to calm down his thoughts. He didn't want to think about this, not any of it. He just wanted to have a day where his mind was absolutely clear, free of worries. He knew if that day ever did come, it certainly wouldn't be when he still had chains on his wings. Something about this place just always gave him that smallest sliver of hope that perhaps he would reach that point of inner silence at some point in life. Peace was the least of his concern. He wished that annoying voice in his head would just shut up for once.

A slight breeze was blowing throughout the swamps, sending the musty smells of the murky water through his nostrils. This place was so silent, yet buzzing with hidden life. He never fully understood why earth had been classified as a "deathly" element. Perhaps it was rocks' fault. Rocks were dead and boring, after all. Yes, that must be the reason.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and meandered aimlessly, humming quietly. Mindless tasks were usually the best antidote to a restless mind. Suddenly, a blotch of pink appeared in the corner of his eye. He peered around, curious. Suddenly he noticed the floating cherry blossoms all around him. It was seemingly random; this wasn't the season for these flowering plants. Then he thought of something. Perhaps it wasn't the season, but an energy that these brightly colored buds were picking up. Things in nature often reacted to the emotions and auras around them. Perhaps it was nature's way of trying to give him a sense of peace. It wasn't very affective, but he was grateful nonetheless.

Suddenly, he caught a flash of brilliant, almost glowing blonde hair. He tilted his head to the side, trying to get a better view. What met his eyes was a slim, ivory-skinned female with beautiful, clear blue eyes. Her hair flowed down her back like a river of gold. Miriel. He breathed through his nose. How was it possible that he always managed to run into her at the most inconvenient times? He unconciously began to straighten up and push his hair from his face. Then he realized what he was doing, immediately shoving his hand back in his pocket. He felt like slapping himself in the head. What, you like her. What's wrong with that? You could use some love, that same annoying voice cooed in his head.
Shut up. I don't need any 'love', thanks, he replied.

After arguing with himself for a few seconds, the other side of him finally emerged victorious. That being the case, he took a few steps toward her through the blanket of little pink blossoms. He stuck out like a sore thumb. From her direction, it would most likely resemble a huge, foreboding black bird emerging from a flowery canopy. Definitely not a common sight.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel felt another presence, tilting her head down she took a step to the side to turn toward the other person. What she saw was something she wouldn't have expected for the world. It seemed as though her thoughts had materialized and there before her was Axel.

His form stood out against the soft pink blossoms, a dark shadow in a place of light. Yet as she looked at his dark form the embarrassing tingling of her cheeks told her that her blush had deepened slightly. reaching up she tucked a stray strand behind her ear. A smile twitched on her lips and she whispered, barely able to breath, "Is this a dream?" For indeed it seemed to be that way with the sudden appearance of Axel and the cherry blossoms that filled the air with their sweet scent..this had all passed a a few seconds and she turned slightly away trying to hide her red face and trying to calm her fluttering heart. Why had these emotions flooded her in such this way and all at once?

Lifting her slender hand she tucked some imaginary hair behind her ear again, forgetting that she had already done so just seconds before."You should tell him hey, you are acting like a silly school girl..Pull yourself together!" She turned back to him, hiding her shaking hands behind her back. "Hello Axel, I didn't expect to see you here." Her gaze met his eyes as the blush, which had started to go away, grew deeper yet again.

The world around her seemed to fade out as it became a pink blur around her, the only thing that seemed to be in focus was Axel. Never had this happened before to her. Thus she didn't know what to say, or what to do. It seemed at though her world had been turned upside down, only to find that this was actually the right way up. Little had she known that these feels, though they had started out hard like that of a seed, they had grown and blossomed without her noticing it.

Who would have thought that these two would be standing near each other and acting the way they did. This was almost unheard of. Death and life, darkness and light, they were so different, yet the same.

[Miss Fifi]

When Miriel turned to face him, Axel felt his stomach drop about twenty feet. His eyes grew wide, his facial expression completely frozen like a deer caught in a bright light. The apprehensive look only lasted a moment when he saw the slight pink color on her cheeks. His eyes softened, and he had to smile. It wasn't the brightest and happiest smile in the world, but it definitely was a smile.

He was actually disappointed that she couldn't see it, what with half of his face hiding behind a black bandana. He glanced down a few times, chuckling to himself about his stupidity. With a casual motion, he reached behind his head with one hand, untying the black cloth and letting it fall to his feet. The smile was still on his face, his entire complexion lit up with the moment. The gnarled, dark mark that crossed his mouth was hardly noticable. "Likewise."

He took a few more tentative steps toward her, his heart practically smashing his rib cage. ((That's Axel's way of saying it was pounding out of his chest. ;3)) His smile twisted into a crooked smirk, an expression that was much more of his nature. She was so short. It was cute. He glanced up at the falling blossoms, the way they just seemed to erupt from the pink-leaved trees like an elegant volcano. This place seemed to match her perfectly. Such natural beauty with a sense of surprise and mystery.

He knew that she was fascinated far more by this than he was. She had an appreciation much deeper than his own for all of this natural, flowery stuff. He was still trying to think of something that would draw them closer, without it being unnatural or uncomfortable. "Hmm." He brought his finger up to his chin. "How about..." The smirk was still present on his scarred face. "...A higher view of this rare phenomenon?"

[»Míríel«]

Miriel watched as Axel released the bandanna that was hiding the scar that twisted down his mouth. But as it fell, she didn't notice the scar. Instead all she was was a smile that played on his lips. Her heart pounded within her as she looked at him, mesmerized.

Could this man before her possible share her feelings? It seemed to good to be true. Every moment of it she expected to be woken up by someone. Yet that never happened. Never had her senses been so sharpened, yet so numbed to anything other than Axel.

Her head tilted back as he walked closer to her, keeping contact with her eyes to his as he moved closer to her. With every step he took, her heart just beat faster. It seemed as though her heart would burst with it's furious beating. There was some strange draw that she had to Axel. The way his dark hair brushed into his eyes, how his red eyes gleamed whenever she saw him, his quirky ways of things, and even his quick temper.

As he offered her a higher look at the phenomenon Miriel smiled brightly, a smile that lighted up her face like the sun. “I’d like that!” Then she blushed again and she glanced down for a moment. Before returning her eyes to his she smiled again. Her blue eyes seemed to glow brightly, from the smile, but also from the blush.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel felt his expression brighten at Miriel's enthusiastic response. Everything about her was so different than what he had ever initially expected to be attracted to. She certainly wasn't his ex-wife. He didn't think the two could have been any more of opposites. Right now, however, he didn't particularly want to dwell on that. All he cared about was keeping that bright, pure smile on her face for as long as he could. It was strange, having this urge to make someone else happy. He still could care less about himself, but he had never actually had a need to bring happiness to anyone else.

He looked up at the canopy of pink blossoms, trying to figure out how he was going to manage this. The trees weren't all that high, so it wasn't as if they could fly more than a few feet off the ground. He scratched his head in thought, trying to work something out. When it came to him, it slammed into him like a ton of bricks. He knew exactly how he was going to make this work. She was a brave soul, after all. She wouldn't mind going just a bit higher. A scheming look came over his face as his scythe appeared in his hands.

He padded over to the nearest blossoming tree, tapping it ever so slightly with the tip of his scythe. "Elements of Life, lend me your power if only this once," he muttered, almost as an enchantment. A bright, pale yellow light encased the cherry tree. The tree suddenly grew almost double in height, the amount of blossoms doubling on its branches. The light then reached out to other trees around it, until the whole forest was covered in the golden spell. They all grew to a towering height. Instead of fading away when the spell was completed, the trees stayed encased in the golden light. Their blossoms changed to a bright golden yellow, making the whole swamp filled with small, floating spots of sunlight.

Axel smirked, knowing that he was not the only one who had involvement in this transformation. It appeared he and Miriel had had a secret supporter all along, one who was willing to lend a bit of power without even being recognized for it. Why, however, was the question. Maybe even the elements of nature wished for a truce between Life and Death. They longed for the joining of their kind, the unity of the world of Eldarwin as a whole. Were they the key, the link between the two sides that could bring them together?

Axel turned back to Miriel, the smirk growing to a grin. His wings fluttered as if they were impatiently awaiting their time to take off. He held out his hand to her. "Shall we?"

[»Míríel«]

The world around Miriel seemed to be full of life all of a sudden. Her eyes grew wide as the trees grew to heights that only hundreds of years could grant them. Light seemed to fill this place like there hadn't been in many years. A childish excitement came to Miriels face as she watched the pink blossoms turn to a bright yellow.

Yellow, that reminded her of the sun, or the deep sunsets that filled the sky with a spectrum of colors that seemed impossible. Ribbons of red, gold, purple, all interwoven perfectly in the sky, making it look like a master had painted it. The blossoms seemed to hold their own light as they drifted through the forest, giving color and beauty to it that it hadn't seen in a long while. So many blossoms fell from the trees, it seemed as though the heavens had burst forth, but instead of raindrops,, these blossoms had come tumbling out.

Blue eyes turned to Axel as Miriel smiled at him. Reaching out her hand she placed it in his. His hand seemed warm and gentle, holding hers. Yet so strong and calloused. Now that her hand had been in his, she didn't know if she ever wanted to pull it out. Shyly looking up at his grinning face she couldn't help but give a little laugh of pleasure. Never in her wildest dreams did she think of this, for not only did it surpass her dreams, but it also had a hint of surprise that made it all the more enjoyable.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel squeezed Miriel's hand for a moment, glad to feel her soft skin on his. A dark, shadowy fog trailed around Axel's feet, inconspicuously winding its way over to Miriel. It morphed into a small, childlike hand that flowed up like steam and gripped Miriel's hand, just as Axel did. While still looking at their hands, held together, he said quietly, "The hands of Death will hold you as long as I hold you. Therefore, I only have one word of advice." A crooked smile came to his face. "Don't let go." His wings spread as far as his back woud allow. The chains wrapped around their black feathers didn't make a single sound. It was like they, too, were at peace.

Axel looked upward and held onto Miriel's hand even tighter as he prepared to take off into the golden blossoms. A gentle, carrying breeze began to blow, sending the blossoms in every direction. It looked like a golden snowstorm had struck the swamp. With the gentlest movement, Axel flapped his massive wings a single time, lifting both of their feet off the ground by a foot. He flapped them again with more power and confidence, sending them higher. It was like the wind itself was supporting them; he was hardly mustering any power at all. As Axel felt less wary, he began to pound his wings in a rhythmic beat until they were a short distance from the top of the now towering trees.

He glided with ease alongside her, diving and swooping here and there. He glanced over at her, smiling genuinely. He hoped she wouldn't be too frightened; flying for the first time for anyone was often unnerving. He circulated the entire swamp, reaching his hand out to touch the falling blossoms. He held tightly and protectively onto her hand the whole time, knowing she would not fall as long as he kept his hand in hers. Axel shot straight up like an eagle, laughing at the air rush that whipped him in the face. He burst right through the canopy of leaves into the clear blue skies. He took her other hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. He then spun her around, as graceful and light as a feather. He didn't believe he had ever felt so carefree and relaxed in his life.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel smiled brightly up at Axel. It seemed slightly ironic that the hand of death would hold her from crashing to her own death. But this was lost on her as she squeezed his hand tightly when he talked about not letting go. "You don't have to worry about that." She whispered shyly. Taking her hand out of his was unquestionable.

Looking at Axel she studied every line on his face, every curve. How bright his face was, how it softened and relaxed the harsh and angry feeling. He seemed, so peaceful, if only others could see the Axel she saw when she was near him.

As her feet started to come off the ground it was barely noticed, for she was to busy looking at Axel of the wonders of the golden blossoms that swirled magically around her. But as soon as they were a couple feet in the air she made the mistake of looking down. Suddenly the realization that she was no longer on stable ground went through her mind. A gasp escaped her lips and she tightened her grasp on his hand. As her eyes closed tightly.

It was the most pleasing, frightening, wonderfully confusing experience that she had ever been through. Here she was with someone she cared dearly about. She was falling for Axel like a raindrop falls to the ground, it was out of her control, yet she looked forward to it. Perhaps they would start a new life, a new way at looking at things together. Yet she also felt like she was on the brink of falling to her death by being this high.

Suddenly she felt another hand grasp hers. Opening her eyes she looked into the face of Axel. Just the sight of his happy face made hers light up. Just the touch of his hand reassured her that she was safe, as long as he was around. The world around her started to turn into a golden blue as he spun her around. A laugh escaped her lips as her golden hair flew out behind her. "Stop it!" She laughed playfully as her soon lost all knowledge at which was was north, south, east or west, all she knew was that Axel was before her, he was her center. Quite frankly that's all she wanted to know at the moment.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel smiled mischeviously. "Oh, please, miss. That's nothing." Still holding both of her hands, he took a deep breath and twirled her around him like a ballerina in a music box. He then held her hands in such a way that it was as if they were engaging in a waltz in the very air. He allowed his wings to drift, being blown here and there by the huge gusts of wind. They were slowly and gently lowered beneath the canopy of trees again, the golden blossoms still falling around them. Everything fell in perfect harmony. In, out, left, right. They were following a pattern only the forces of nature understood.

A melody, so pure and soft, filled his thoughts as they danced together, ever so gently gliding towards the forest floor. It was so prominent, it was almost as if he could hear the music reverberating through the towering, pale yellow cherry trees. Closing his eyes, he began to hum along with it quietly. It brought such a sense of peace to his senses that he could hardly begin to understand why. When the very tips of his toes were finally brought to the swampy marsh, it did not break the smooth, graceful dance he was engaged in with his dearest Miriel. Nothing could break him. Every will was within him to make this moment last as long as he possibly could.

His eyes still remained closed, his focus never unnerved. Everything about this was so overwhelming, yet frighteningly calming all at once. It didn't seem right for him to be here. It wasn't natural. It almost felt wrong, yet he couldn't care less. He could feel nothing but Miriel's warm skin against his own, her wavy blonde hair as the wind playfully tassled it. Such a feeling of security she gave him. Such compassion she poured out, not caring about where he came from or what he had done. She was the mother, the lover, the friend that he had never had. He had never realized how important and vital she had become to him. Such a feeling of love and warmth. Such warmth...

Axel suddenly found himself burying his face into her silky hair, kissing her forehead as he did so. The warm, salty tears rolled down freely and exceedingly, as if they had been waiting for a moment to be released. He knew not where they came from. Perhaps it was this new, wonderful feeling that she had opened him to. He had never known that he could feel this way ever in his life. It was the type of thing you only read in cheesy romance novels where by the beginning of the book, the ending was already extremely predictable. And yet, it didn't feel cheesy or overrated. It felt like a necessity. It was something he craved.

He began to sob unstoppingly, choking on his tears and feeling them drip down onto his tongue. Yet, he refused to stop holding her hands, dancing with her, keeping her close. He didn't want to lose the feeling. He didn't want anything to interrupt it, especially his own unpredictable emotions. He just wanted to kiss her. He wanted to feel that sense that someone could love him, knowing who he was and what he came from. But that was just it. She didn't know where he came from, what he had done, all that he had seen. Maybe that was the most upsetting. What would she do, once she knew the entire truth of what was his past life? Would she push him away, reject him, scorn him, be full of hatred towards him?

He buried his face into her shoulder, her hair, her neck. He choked out, multiple times, how sorry he was, how awful he felt. He shouldn't be doing this to her. He shouldn't be making her carry the weight of his tragedies and hurt. And yet he felt so comfortable doing it that it sickened him. Had he no shame? Was this his idea of how to deal with his hurt? It was ridiculous and childish, but yet he could not bring himself to stop. He had a desire to shoulder his weight on anyone who would be willing to take it. Miriel just happened to be that unlucky soul. "I shouldn't... I shouldn't be doing this to you," he managed to say, his throat burning and his voice cracking awfully.

What did he believe he was accomplishing by doing this to her? What did it help? What did it improve? He was still going to go back to his chamber and get drunk out of his mind. He was still going to harvest lives without a second thought. He was still going to have a burning hatred towards Raphael. He certainly still was going to have his past, full of bloodshed and murder. Perhaps he just needed someone who would listen without judging him. He hoped Miriel would be the one to do that. He hoped with all that he had left to hope with.

He loved her with all the heart he had to love with, an amount that had decreased as he was forced to harden with age. He wanted to gain that back. He wanted to feel a sense of compassion again, just because of her. It was amazing to him; the realization had only come because of this beautiful, kind woman. That was all he needed for it all to come to the surface, and he wanted to give her all that he was for it.

(( www.imeem.com/mylinnie/music/eHQZx3aL/yiruma-spring-time/ This is the song I always imagine him humming :3 ))

[»Míríel«]

Miriel was pulled into a dance, guided right the left the twirled with a grace and certainty that only those in love could. His arm that guided her was strong, firm, yet gentle in every way possible. All she had to do was to listen to where he wanted her to go and her feet followed. Listen she did and she heard the most wonderful things. A tune came from his lips, one with such emotion, such beauty that it only added to the surroundings. To Miriel it seemed as though she had died and gone to heaven. With her face bright with a smile she noticed that they were slowly drifting downwards, until her foot touched the moist surface of the swampy ground.

Golden blossoms flew past her her, and seemed to dance around her as she moved from one place to another in Axel's arms. The world seemed to be full of something that she had never known that she was missing, but now that she had tasted it, she knew that she would never be able to go without it again. It was as if she were looking at the world that surround her with new eyes. Brightness and cheer filled her heart as it seemed to be overflowing with love. Her slightly tanned skin glowed with the dancing, causing a soft pink to appear on her cheeks and a bright flashing to her blue eyes. Though the world around her seemed to be filled with a strange magical beauty, this did not even come to her attention.

All of a sudden she found herself close to him, so close it was as if she could hear his heart beat. His lips touched her forehead and the dance seemed to come to a stop. Yet to her it felt as though the world had stopped spinning instead of the other way around. Taking her hand from his she wrapped them around his bowed neck and drew him closer. Resting her golden head on his chest she reached up and played with his black hair gently. His sobs caused her own tears to tumble down her cheeks, not for her own sake, but for the wretched soul before her. A wretch that she had come to love with a love so unconditional, so pure that even the whitest lilly's seemed to be stained and marred in comparison.

Her heart ached for him, what a life he had lead, so terrible, so sinful, yet she still loved him. It was something that sounded crazy, that didn't make any sense at all. Yet to her, it didn't matter that many would think her out of her mind. For her heart told her that it was right, and so she followed it. She listened to each of his outcries about how he shouldn't be doing this to her, and how sorry he was, like a mother listened to a child that was confessing that he had broken her most precious vase. Silent was her voice and tearful were her eyes as she also buried her head on his chest.

Then lifting her head back she pushed her self away a bit from him, so that she could look him in the eyes. Unwrapping her arms around from his neck she reached up and gently brushed his black hair from his deep red eyes. Eyes that usually seemed so tortured so beaten, so hard. Yet now, now they were just shattered pieces on the ground, now they were soft, gentle, pleading eyes, eyes that needed her, just as she felt that her heart needed him. A gentle smile came to her lips as she looked him in the eyes, her hands resting on his chest. "No.. you shouldn't" She answered him, "But don't you dare stop Axel, don't you dare stop." With that she threw her arms around his neck and pulling him more down to her height, brought her lips to his. The world seemed to stop from a moment and it seemed as though the blossoms that had been flitting through the sky like butterflies had frozen in mid flight. Time, what was the use of that any more. Time was no more in Miriel's mind, the only thing that was left was life, living it to the fullest, as long as Axel was by her side.

[violet]

The whole scene, to the very last kiss, had been seen by piercing blue eyes of Violet. Everything that the two, miriel and Axel, were experiencing together, broke her hear, it was as if someone was stabbing it with needles, one after another. Every movement, every touch, every word they said, another needle, another dull pain. Yet she didn't blame Axel, she blamed, Miriel, for wooing him away, for taking him away. Yet more than that, she blamed herself. She was in a dark shadow.. unseen, for she had called the darkness close to her.

A golden blossom had flitted into the shadow that she was in and she had felt it's smooth petals against her cheek. Reaching up she had taken it, examined it, and then tore each petal from the stem. Tears welled in her eyes as she glanced up once more, to see the two kiss. She shrunk back against the tree and closed her eyes. Yet she kept herself from interfering. She had ached to make Axel happy, and she had failed, though she still had that want, she knew that if she really wanted to love him, to leave him alone. And that is what she did. Her hand rested on the black mark that he had left when he had touched her. The touch that had broken her heart, and her spirit. From beneath her thick black lashes a tear struggled out and speed rapidly away, down on the ground below, already soggy from water.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel held Miriel in his arms, his hands wrapped around her waist. He returned her kiss so strongly that he could feel every curve of her lips. He could hear her steady heartbeat thumping rhythmically; it was the only sound he could hear. It rang in his ears and blotted out everything else. He closed his eyes and blocked all else out, only wanting to focus on one thing. The trees, the falling blossoms, all turned to blurs in a mixture of an abstract painting that was once the natural scenery surrounding him. He ran his hands down every curve of her body and kept her as close as their bodies would allow.

The actual kiss lasted mere seconds, but he hadn't been more engrossed in any other moment. At last he pulled away with the utmost of hesitance, only because he was running out of oxygen. He pressed his forehead against hers while taking in her sweet scent. He smiled wanly, the sincerity running away from his scarred lips. Happiness was not a dominant emotion, but he certainly was enjoying this. "I hope you understand," he said, his voice solemn and deep. "This is what it means to be here. I am... an unpredictable individual. Even with that said, you must promise me you will never let me hurt you. In any way." He never wanted her to suffer because of him. He never wanted her to suffer at all. He could never let her give up her own welfare just because she wanted to be with him.

Aidyn strolled into the swamp, a smirk growing on his face at the sight of gold filling the usually dank area. A sense of enlightenment engulfed him as the magic of the elements touched his soul. What an odd situation. It certainly held his interest. He wondered why his feet had brought him here, what the purpose was. Suddenly, he thought he heard a deep, dark voice farther off in the swamp. He peered around the corner of a now golden cherry tree to see two figures embracing and kissing each other.

Ah, young love. How sweet, he thought with a crooked smile. An almost electric feeling of recogniton washed over him at the sight of dark wings protruding from the male's back. It was a huge shock to feel this without reason. Who was this man? he thought. A strong wave of dark, deathly power was emanating from this stranger. Something within him resonated with it, something fierce. He took a hesitant step forward towards the pair.

Axel suddenly felt something hit the side of his conciense. It was familiar, yet antagonistic. He wanted to get as close and as far away from it as possible at the same time. He looked up from Miriel for only a moment and spotted a flash of firey red hair. Who..? he thought, a look of wondering come over his face. Something within that stranger hit his very core, and it was not in any way a pleasant feeling.

[»Míríel«]

That kiss had made her feel as though she was in the sky once again, soaring high in the warm clear air as the world shone with a brilliance of beauty. Her eyes fluttered close as the intensity of the passion was breathtaking. Her arms clung around his neck holding him closer and closer, as he himself brought her own body closer to him. Such warmth flooded her senses, it was a great emotion, this love and it was overwhelming.

The kiss had left her gasping for air, though all she could seem to manage were deep, short breaths after after pulled his lips from hers. Her eyes opened, the black lashes revealing the blue depths beneath. They seemed to have a fever over them, for they gleamed so brightly. A bright pink color had slighted on her cheeks, making it add to the feeling that she was sick. for sick she was, she was sick with love.

His deep voice came to her senses and she hung on every word, listened to his caution and warning, and his direction. Looking up into his red eyes she nodded. When she was about to say something he yanked his eyes up and behind her at some ones presence that she had just detected.

Sliding from his neck to his chest, her arms rested there as she turned her body slightly to see the interference. The man in the distance seemed so pale and lifeless, yet his bright amber eyes stood out like blazing flames. There was a cocky smugness in his face that resided behind his stoic appearance. Something that you could detect, yet not understand why. His red hair seemed to match his fiery eyes. A long scar drifted down one eye and only added to the mystery that swarmed around him. He seemed to stand out as the blossoms swirled around him, but Miriel didn't know why. There was something.. something that couldn't be explained about him. The crooked smile only added to the feeling. "how strange.."Miriel thought to herself.

Axel stiffened and she took her gaze from the man to look up at Axel. Her blue eyes held unasked questions. She didn't want the warmth to part, she didn't want to have this moment stop, yet she had a feeling it was going to. Resting her head against his chest for a moment she seemed to be absorbing the feeling. Storing it away for a rainy day, for some time when she felt lonely. Taking a deep breath she took in his warm smell and then dropped her hands to around his waist and took a step to the side. Letting him to have more room to see the man that had appeared, yet still being in his embrace.

[Miss Fifi]

Axel kept his grasp tightly on Miriel, his eyes, however, were focused on something greatly different. His gaze ran up and down the firey figure several times, trying to convince himself that there was nothing behind that crooked smirk except pure smugness. And yet, no matter how many times there was plenty of plausible evidence behind his theory, he still couldn't shake the feeling. He decided to take a risk and called out, "You there."

The stranger whipped around and bored his eyes right into Axel's. It almost made him want to shiver. "Who are you?" he asked, giving him most prodding of looks. He didn't trust him to tell the truth, but at least he would have something to settle his worries.

A deep, throaty laugh came from Aidyn. He eyed the winged stranger suspiciously. "Do you expect me to just reveal myself to a total stranger? That is typically not the human nature." He sauntered toward them, swaying like a cat on the prowl. He examined his sleeves absentmindedly, then inconspicuously eyed the elf woman that clung onto him for dear life. He sniffed with amusement. "Quite a lovely lady." With the twisted grin on his face, he came closer to her. "What is it that a captivating beauty like you is doing with a man like him?" He raised an eyebrow as he glanced between the two. "Did he pay you?"

Axel made a deep, growling-like sound in his throat signaling as a warning for this cocky man to shut his pot hole. He took a step between him and Miriel. "I said, who are you?" he repeated, his voice much more forceful and threatening. He was about to slap that sly grin right off his pale face.

Aidyn held up his hands defensively. "Woah, woah. Sorry, didn't mean to offend. Learn to take a joke." He smirked and examined Axel's face again. Something clicked immediately at the sight of the gnarled scar that ran across his lip. He took a tentative step back. "Wait a sec... I know you! Ah yes, the reaper of souls, the harvester of hearts, the bringer of death! Ha, yes, you must be Axel. Am I correct?"

Axel just stared at him with the weirdest of looks. He was thoroughly freaked out. He didn't even bother answering. He figured the look would be enough. What a strange person. Thoroughly annoyed and impatient with this arrogant redhead, he grabbed him by the collar and demanded, "I'm only going to ask you one more time. Who are you?"

Aidyn just chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Ah yes, most definitely Axel." He managed to wriggle himself free of Axel's grasp, then finally said, "Alright, I'm Aidyn Delfer. Son of Marique and Delik. You know, the rebellion group?"

Axel just stared at Aidyn incredulously. "That's not possible! There were no survivors of that incident!" Were there? He didn't remember seeing a single person emerge alive.

Aidyn just shrugged. "Hey, I thought I was dead too." He walked around in a small circle, brushing the cherry blossoms with his foot. "Stranger things have happened, I suppose."