The rain was getting heavier by the minute. It had started some moments ago as a gentle shower, but now it was a thick curtain that tapped loudly on the pavement. That was one of the first signs that autumn was approaching to Kouyasan.

Sorata turned his head to the closed shoji that overlooked the back of the temple and sighed. It was during days like this that his character changed completely. He became more serious and reserved and, what he liked the least, melancholic. In those times, his memories of the past awoke inside him with renewed force. That time, the only thing he could think of was the year he had spent in Tokyo. It had been the most amazing experience he had ever had in his whole life. Not even the time he had mastered his power could be compared to that. He had lived his life as a normal young man, without being subjected to routines and rules, he had made true friends with whom he had shared good and bad things, and he had discovered what it was to love someone with all his heart...

The small flame of the lamp next to him spat, taking him out of his thoughts, and his eyes laid on the book in front of him, a thick volume on the metaphysical doctrines of Shingon, in which he should have been concentrating. After all, he was going to dedicate the rest of his life to it, to pray, to meditate and to read.

He sighed and looked around. He was sitting in the middle of a traditional Japanese small room in Kongobuji, the main temple of Koyasan. The subtle smell of wood and rice straw from the tatami, changed the month before, still lingered in the air. The only furniture was a chest of drawers where he kept the clothes he had used in Tokyo and his priest robes, and a folded futon in the corner. His eyes stopped to look at the beautiful painting of the sliding doors. Tall and stylized willows had been drawn along both sides of a river that crossed the screens. The long branches of the trees moved with the soft breeze, touching each others above the calm waters. That had been his room for fourteen years, he had grown up within those walls, among the priests. When he had left Kouyasan, he did not expect to go back there anymore. He had bid farewell to everything and everybody, convinced of it. His destiny foretold that, and he had accepted it with a smile.

"Destiny..." he whispered.

Hoshimi's words repeated once again in his mind, as clearly as the day he had read his fate in the stars.

*When you die, it will be for the sake of a woman. You will probably lose your life... for the woman you love.*

The young man smiled bitterly. Life had many ups and downs, and it was the first time the old man's prophecies had failed, although they had been nearly fulfilled. He had miraculously saved his life after receiving several wounds trying to protect a momentary unconscious Arashi from Yuuto's attack...

~~~*~~~

His opponent was a tall and muscular man dressed in army uniform who did not seem to have any interest in fighting him. He only dodged his electricity balls and cast worried glances at his back. Inwardly, Sorata was glad of that since in that way, he could keep an eye on Arashi, in case she would need him. He still could not understand how the Shrine Maiden had ended up fighting the water master of the Dragons of Earth. It was supposed that HE would be the one to confront him, they had made a deal. He eyed his enemy once again as his lips started to recite a Buddhist mantra. The man was watching the battle between Yuzuriha and the invisible enemy who pulled the street's wires like the strings of a puppet. Sparks flew through Sorata's fingers and lightning crackled around him.

"If you don't pay more attention you'll be as fried as curry korokke in a second."

The soldier, perched in a street lamp, turned his head to him. The monk hesitated when he saw the strange light in the other's eyes. It was a mixture of determination, sorrow and... hope?

"I'm not going to fight you, Kouyasan priest."

Sorata frowned. That man was really weird. First, he kept on watching another fight, and now he openly said that he was not going to try to make him small pieces to feed the birds. He took off his baseball cap and scratched the back of his head. He could not understand it.

"But... you belong to them..."

"Someone made me realize that I was wrong, someone I love..." and saying this, the Angel turned his head again to Yuzuriha, who, sword in hand, was cutting the wires that emerged from the ground.

Sorata did not understand the meaning of his last words. He sighed and putting his cap on again, smiled. He had won his battle without effort. He looked at his enemy once again.

*The Dragons of Earth are totally crazy... Oh, well...*

He turned to the buildings next to the Tokyo Tower, where his team partner was fighting. He saw her standing on the roof of a skyscraper, watching her opponent who was gathering a wall of liquid around him.

Arashi jumped and cut the water curtain with her sword only to find that Yuuto was not behind it. He had fouled her. Suddenly, the water closed around her and lifted her inside a liquid column. With a wave of his hand, Yuuto, who had appeared again in the same place, guided the water to the sky, hurling it, then with great force against the floor of a nearby building roof. The priest could only watch as the water crashed and Arashi fell on the floor, hitting her head first. His heart stopped for a moment, started, then...a wild beating. He waited for her to stand up and go on fighting, but the figure did not move. He swallowed hard when he saw the pyramid shaped kekkai start to fade.

*Come on, Arashi. You're a strong girl, you can do it...*

Yuuto, who had landed on the roof of the next building, extended his hand and a serpent of water surrounded him, dancing faster every moment. Sorata did not think twice and, calling his power again, threw an energy bolt to the blond man as he started to run to the place where Arashi was. The civil servant barely could dodge it, and when he alighted on the ground again, the priest was already there, kneeling beside the dark haired girl. The younger man gritted his teeth seeing her pale face, the cuts and wounds in her body. He lifted his head to Yuuto and extended his arm protectively in front of Arashi. He felt rage boil inside him, hatred towards that man who now smiled sardonically at him.

"My, my, if it's the Kansai boy..."

"What's so funny, you jerk!"

The blonde crossed his arms on his chest and looked amused at the scene before him.

"You. You trying to protect the little ice princess who ignores you most of the time." He grinned when he saw the stunned expression in Sorata's face. "Surprised? Yes, I know that you are pining for a girl who doesn't care about you... or your destiny..."

"How...?"

"How I know it?" Yuuto interrupted him. "It's easy when you have a wonderful source of information about the Seals named Beast. Satsuki knows everything about all of you."

Sorata grinned as he stood. He side-glanced at Arashi and then, concentrated on the man in front of him.

"So, she investigated us... Well, let's see if all your 'knowledge' is useful now..." he clenched his fists "... because no matter what you say, I'm going to protect this woman to death."

"How romantic..." Yuuto retrieved the strange weapons he had used in their first battle from around his arms "but I'm sorry to tell you that you're going to lose..."

Sorata walked away from the girl and positioned in front of his opponent. He looked at Kusanagi, hoping that the soldier did not choose that moment to change his mind and attack him. He still was on the street lamp, totally absorbed by the movements of the inugami mistress. Absently wondering the reason of that behaviour, Sorata retrieved his kekkai from that area and set it up again around Arashi's barrier to reinforce it. Then, he studied Yuuto, as he linked his fingers in an intricate gesture. His main aim was to keep the water master away from the place where Arashi was. He summoned his power and energy gathered in his hands. His mouth moved, whispering mantras, and the lightning around him grew brighter. The blond man went on guard against the imminent attack, but that did not wipe away the amused expression from his face.

"You're in a bad mood today, Osaka boy."

Sorata smiled broadly as he threw the bolt to Yuuto, who rejected it with his weapon.

"It's all your fault. I'm normally a quite cheerful guy, and this morning when I got up I was in a really good mood." Static electricity surrounded him and he became serious "But you messed up with the most important person in my life, and that pissed me off."

He jumped avoiding Yuuto's weapon and landed on another roof farther from Arashi's. The water master smiled knowingly and attacked the priest once again, dodging a lightning strike from his enemy. He squeezed the blades tightly and his features hardened a bit, not losing his sarcastic mask, so Sorata could not read him easily.

"Let's see if you can avoid this attack, too."

Sorata adopted a defensive posture, prepared for anything as he watched Yuuto get ready, but the weapon, this time, was not directed at him. It went towards the unconscious girl that lay some buildings further over. The monk started to run to the place, praying to every Buddha to arrive in time, to fulfill his destiny even though it would cost him his life. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to the Shrine Maiden. Desperation seemed to give wings to his feet, and he arrived in time just to grab her by the waist and pull her to him. A second later, the blades broke the tiles of the ground where she had been lying. They rolled on the floor some meters away. Sorata ended up above her, one of his knees between hers and their bodies pressing together.

*Gods, if she could see us like this, she would kill me...*

A sharp pain went through his abdomen. Sorata looked over his shoulder to the figure standing on the edge of the roof, looking at him with cold eyes. The water master had thrown him the strange blades that now were stuck in his waist and his blood had started to soak his yellow sweatshirt.

"You should never lower your guard, boy."

"Bastard..." He breathed deeply trying to soothe the pain that was spreading through his body. "You'll never... hurt... her..."

"So, you rather die than leave her... Then, I shall grant your wish..."

Yuuto yanked out his weapon, eliciting a loud moan from Sorata. The priest looked at the girl under him lovingly, as the blades pierced his flesh again, this time going deeper in his back. He could not suppress a cry of pain, and his fists clenched tightly, but his eyes never left the graceful features of his chosen one.

"I did... what... I could..."

He started to cough blood and although he gritted his teeth, some red drops splashed on her face. His arms started to quiver, not supporting his weigh anymore.

"Arashi..."

As if answering his call, a soft moan escaped through her parted lips as she regained consciousness. Slowly, she turned her head, trying to focus her gaze on her surroundings. Her beautiful grey eyes opened in surprise seeing him above her and they clouded when she saw his paleness and the blood running down his lips.

"So-Sorata...?"

"I told... you... I'd... protect you... I'd give... my life... for... you..."

He smiled at her weakly trying to reassure her. Her troubled face became blurry and his arms gave in. Then all went black.

~~~*~~~

He stood up and walked to the shoji that led to the outside of the temple, opening it. The clouds were darker than before and the rain fell with renewed force. He sighed and his fingers gripped the wooden door-frame. There was a void in his memories only filled with darkness and vague images of dreams that he could barely outline. The next thing he remembered was the white room in which he had woken up, the veil that covered the bed, the frantic beeping of the machines sensing his awakening, and the sudden feeling of breathlessness for having a tube down his throat. Kamui was shouting something he could not understand in the background and then, his friends' faces surrounded the bed, telling him to calm down until the doctor arrived. He had spend there a few weeks, seeing his friends, and his former enemies leave the hospital and come to visit him almost every day. Yuuto had entered his room the first day after he had awakened. He wanted to apologize to him and the Shrine Maiden. Sorata still remembered the irate expression in Arashi's face when she, who was keeping company to him that afternoon, had seen the water master and Satsuki open the door.

After being discharged from hospital, he had come back to Kouyasan to recover his health and go on with his life. The first had been an easy thing. His wounds were healed when he had left Tokyo, and it had been only a matter of time to recover completely. As for the second, he still was trying to find the way. Until the moment he returned he had not worried about the future, because he did not have one. Surviving was something that he had not planned. All he had lived and felt during his stay in the city had marked him deeply, and he had realized that being a priest for the rest of his life did not fill the emptiness inside him. But he also knew that what he truly needed was an impossible thing to reach.

He took out of his sleeve the last letter he had received from Yuzuriha. It was a light green envelope with black fox terrier dogs in the borders. They had been corresponding since he came back to the temple. She had written to him first, asking about his health and explaining to him everything she had done since he had left Tokyo. He was very fond of the youngest Dragon of Heaven and got along really well with her. He re-read the letter again and smiled softly. She had recently graduated from secondary school and was now in high school. She wanted to study either Biology or Veterinary Medicine.

Sorata put the letter back in the dark sleeve of his priest robes and leaned on the frame, watching the rain fall. He could not deny it, he missed his comrades, from the reserved Kamui to the sensual Karen. He would have given anything to stay in Tokyo with them, but after the Promised Day there was no reason for being there. He closed his eyes. In his mind, he saw Seiichiro walking with his family in a park. He had introduced his wife and daughter to them when they came to visit the Dragons admitted in hospital. Aoki Shimako was a sweet and caring woman, and Yuka, their daughter, was a lovely child who spoke with everybody and got smiles out of almost all the members of the Seals and Angels.

He smiled, he was seeing Yuzuriha now, dressed in the Clamp Campus black and white school uniform. She was having ice-cream with Kusanagi and Inuki. He had been surprised to know that his opponent in the battle was the mysterious friend Yuzuriha had been seeing behind their backs, understanding then, the words of the Dragon of Earth when they had been fighting. He was referring to Yuzu.

*I wonder how the others are doing...*

Surely, Karen would be successful with the lingerie shop she had decided to open. He remembered her broad smile when she announced that she was going to leave the soapland to have her own business. She had saved a good amount of money and was planning on asking the bank for a loan. He had to visit her the next time he went to Tokyo, if he returned to the city any time.

Subaru had returned to Kyoto just after the battle. He had left a note addressed to him, wishing him a swift recovery. Sorata smiled. The young onmyouji had always been sparing in his words, and they had not spoken much for the time the Seals had been living together, but he hoped to see him again some day.

As for Kamui, he was staying at the Imonoyama mansion in order to finish his studies on recommendation of Subaru, to whom he had been very close. Yuzuriha had told him in one of her letters that their young leader was recovering his happiness, and that he had started to make plans for the future. He wanted to be a doctor, and save lives.

His face saddened when the image of the last Dragon of Heaven appeared in his mind. And Arashi...? He sighed. The young priestess had returned to Ise when he was still in hospital. Three days after he had awakened, she had announced that she was going back to her Shrine that day. She still had a bandage around her head and some scratches on her cheek, but she was as beautiful as always. It had been the first time he saw her wearing trousers, probably to hide the bruises in her legs. He had hoped to see her smile, or take her hand for a moment, but she had bowed slightly to him and had spoken a few formal sentences, then, she was gone.

He sighed. It did not hurt him to think of her as much as at the beginning, but his feelings were still alive inside him. He loved her and knew that that affection would never disappear. She had given a meaning to his life, and just knowing that she was somewhere in Japan, gave him the strength to go on and the hope...

A soft rap at the door took him out of his reverie. When he turned, one of the monks was standing at the door, looking at him with a solemn expression. He smiled sheepishly, hoping he would not reprimand him for his lack of interest on the reading.

"Sorata, Benjiro the cooker needs someone to go to the storehouse and bring a rice bag to the kitchen."

The younger priest made a face and tilted his head to the door at his back, seeing that the rain did not stop.

"And he needs it now?"

The man frowned.

"Yes, and since you're the only one who seems to have nothing to do..."

Sorata sighed in defeat and walked to the door.

"Fine, I'll go..."

As he made his way to the main entrance, he grabbed an umbrella and put his wooden sandals on.

"I don't know what's worse, the rain at Kouyasan or a fight with a Dragon of Earth..."

"It's done as you said, Hoshimi."

"Thank you, Shigematsu." he said watching his protégé walking in the rain towards the storehouse.

The monk made a bow. Then, he looked hesitatingly at his master.

"May I ask you... why...?”

A soft smile touched the older priest's lips when he saw a lithe figure step into the paved enclosure that extended in front of the temple.

"Sorata's destiny is not here with us. He must follow the path designed for him by the stars. We're only helping it a little..."

Sorata grumbled as water splashed on his feet. The storehouse was just a few meters from Kongobuji but the rain was making the walking more difficult than ever. His mind was far ahead, thinking about carrying the rice bag and the umbrella in his way back to the building.

"Great, just great that they caught me when I was thinking about her..."

He got up the few steps that led to the house. It was a small pagoda where the priests kept the great amount of food they needed for them and the people who stayed at Kouyasan in the lodging temples. He fumbled with the keys looking for the one that opened the store, but fate was against him in that too.

"Excuse me..."

Sorata froze in the place. He knew that voice very well. Feminine, calm, with a soft accent, a voice he had listened to above the others in Tokyo, learning its inflexions and shades.

"I'm looking for someone..."

He swallowed hard and turned his head slightly. There, behind him, stood the person he expected to see the least. The visitor's eyes widened slightly and her hand squeezed harder the handle of the small suitcase she carried. The rain slid down the borders of her cream coloured umbrella, forming small waterfalls around her. Sorata studied her features incredulously, barely recognizing the girl he knew in Tokyo in that woman.

"Arashi..."

TO BE CONTINUED.....

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Chapter 2