Chapter I
Take Me

Right after the school bell stopped ringing, a buxom young girl with flowing, waist-length black hair peeked discreetly into a nearly empty classroom, looking through a small square window set in the swinging door.

She let out a relieved sigh, and let herself in as other students made their way out.

She made a beeline for a girl still seated in the middle of the room. Engrossed as she was while fixing her things, the seated girl didn’t notice she had company until she heard her speak.

“Rumiko! I’m glad I caught you.”

The girl looked up, and smiled warmly at her visitor. “Hey Leila.”

“Is my dress ready yet?” Leila asked, leaning eagerly over Rumiko’s desk.

“Just a moment.”

Rumiko took out a pink expandable, and from that withdrew a folder with Leila’s name written on the front.

“I’ve included places to buy the materials you’d need to have it made.” She said, handing it over. Leila quickly flipped it open. “They’re pretty cheap, but you can be sure of the quality. Consider it a little extra for referring me to your—”

“It’s lovely Rumi!!” Leila squealed. Several people glanced in their direction while Leila, oblivious, continued looking over the contents of the folder with glee.

Rumiko offered them a grin. She was used to Leila’s enthusiasm by now.

Inside the folder were detailed sketches of a strapless dress in dark, shimmering violet, fitted at the top and wide below the hips. Crisscrossing rows of lavender accented the middle down the front, and more went down the sides of the skirt.

The dress was drawn in three different angles, with little notes written neatly and swatches pinned on the sheets of paper.

“Thank you so much Rumiko! It looks even better than what I imagined,” Tucking the folder under her arm, Leila took out her pink wallet.

Rumiko smiled as she took Leila’s money. “Hey, happy to please. And don’t forget to wear a corset underneath. I made sure the cut would show off your assets.” She winked.

Leila’s eyes actually widened in horror, until Rumiko’s laughter spilled over.

“I’m kidding! But really, do me a favor? If you see Mish or Kat, could you tell them their dresses are ready too? Haven’t seen them all day.”

“I will.” Leila promised, frowning delicately. While Rumiko was still giggling, she looked meaningfully at her rather fat wallet. “You know, with all the money you earn designing prom dresses, you should be rich. Rich enough to treat me to… Napoleon.”

Rumiko shook her head. “This,” She waved her wallet. “Goes to my bills and stuff. Although, since you did get me started on the business, I do owe you Napoleon. For a week, considering the income you’re giving me.”

“Thank you. Still, I didn’t think you used the money to pay for bills. You do, right?”

“In a way. My parents send me allowance from home, but whenever I can pay, I pay for myself. I piggybank the excess for rainy days. Besides,” She unscrewed her thermos and filled the cup cover. “I like the independence. There is satisfaction in getting to pay for myself, and I have you to thank for it.”

She took a quick sip and grinned. “Tell you what. when the whole school commissions me and I’ve stopped eating, I’ll treat you to all the Napoleon you want.”

“I can settle for a week’s worth, thank you. Living alone sounds so fun… but doesn’t it get lonely being alone for so long?”

“I’m not alone.” Rumiko said between sips. “Got Beh.”

“Who’s Beh? Your boyfriend?”

Rumiko sputtered into her cup. “Lei!” She wiped at the corners of her mouth with the back of her hand. “Beh’s my dog! The mini-pinscher! The one so fat you thought she was pregnant? Seriously. I thought we had that clear when I first got here.”

Leila had burst out in giggles when Rumiko choked. “I’m sorry… really! I just didn’t think you’d still be single.”

“Ha. Like I’d get a boyfriend named Beh.” Like I’d get a boyfriend. “Speaking of being single, look who’s talking…” Rumiko narrowed her eyes. “Someone didn’t tell me about her new boyfriend. Someone popular.” She looked pointedly at Leila. “Someone who made me choke.”

Leila smiled. “Where should I start?”

“Beginning. Duh.” Rumiko slung her messenger bag over one shoulder and shoved her thermos inside it. “I want details! Starting with his name!”

“It’s Alan, and I know you’ve already seen him…”

* * *

By the time the two made it outside the school main gates, Leila still hadn’t finished telling her story.

“Oh dammit. Tell me the rest tomorrow, okay? I got to go finish the other dresses.”

“I’ve got a better idea. How about we have some Napoleon tomorrow after school? Don’t worry, I won’t make you pay.” She grinned. “Dutch treat!”

Rumiko frowned, thinking of all the dresses she still had to finish. “I’m not so sure… Dresses don’t ink themselves.”

Leila pouted. “Come on! When was the last time we went out for cake? It will not hurt to give yourself a break once in a while. I bet it’ll help the art block you keep complaining about.”

After mentioning that, Rumiko suddenly couldn’t find a reason to say no. Art block had been more of a problem lately. “You got me. Napoleon tomorrow it is.”

“Great!” Leila stopped in front of the gate. “This is my stop. I’ll wait for my driver here.”

“You sure you don’t want to get picked up at my place? It’s not that far.”

Leila shot her a knowing look.

“So it’s not so near.” Rumiko shrugged, gave her a hug, and made her way down the sidewalk. She paused, and made a show of looking shy. “But hey, if ever you want some exercise… if you think you need it… you know…”

“I think I do.” Leila laughed. “Bye Rumi! And thanks again for the dress!”

Rumiko grinned, waving before she continued walking around a corner.

* * *

As she lazily made her way down the fairly crowded sidewalk, Rumiko looked up at the dull orange sky and let her mind wander.

Her conversation with Leila drifted into her thoughts, and before she knew it she was thinking of how lonely living alone was at first.

Then she thought of Beh, and smiled. Once again, she agreed that adopting a dog was one of the best decisions she ever made since deciding to pursue her  high school scholarshipin the city, even if it meant being somewhere where she didn’t know a single soul.

Living alone was a tough adventure on its own, but having even a puppy to rant to helped.

Of course there was the minor bout of homesickness, puppy or no puppy, but she went home for the holidays and called her parents every week to assure them she was enjoying herself, despite the inevitable adjusting required. Her parents were well aware enough of their daughter’s independent streak to know she was fine.  

Unfortunately, they were also aware of her tendency to spread herself out too thin, which is why they were initially against the idea of her living alone in the first place.

It wasn’t until Rumiko repeatedly promised to stay out of trouble and maintain her grades did they let her go, with the nonnegotiable condition that she immediately return home if she broke it.

She had managed to stay out of any kind of trouble in her three years, only associating herself with a few people, Leila especially.

Rumiko knew she wasn’t popular; quite the opposite, really. And she didn’t mind it in the least.

She didn’t even start drawing dresses for other people, only selling designs to private companies until Leila encouraged her with her persistent enthusiasm to show and sell her designs to her many friends.

Forced, actually; Leila honestly thought it a sin not to share her talent, especially with prom coming up.

Her parents weren’t so sure of her new dress designing venture though, and promptly began to get worried, especially when Rumiko happily told them she was getting so many commissions.

However, Rumiko made sure she gave them no reason to be. Her grades were well maintained.

A cool breeze picked up, and played at her short, dark hair. She tucked a few loosened strands behind her ear, when a little shop across her caught her eye. From what she could tell, no one was going in.

No one on the sidewalk even seemed to notice it.

Crossing the street to get a better look, she saw what looked like several ornaments behind the tinted glass. From the way they were decorated, they looked like antiques. Curious, Rumiko looked up.

The sign on top of the huge window simply read Oneiros, written in flowing script.

Interesting…

Pushing the door open made an old-fashioned bell tinkle sharply overhead, and led Rumiko to a small, cozy shop. A few glass shelves with neatly arranged items lined the walls, while a few stood freely in different positions around the cozy-looking place.

Rumiko quietly began exploring, one shelf at a time, all the while feeling as if she was in a library.

One shelf was dedicated to several wooden pieces, most of which were carved into quaint little drawers and cabinets. Another had what turned out to be ornate incense burners after she sniffed one too deeply and sneezed.

There was even a display of daggers with lavishly decorated hilts and sheaths, all gleaming as if new. Rumiko unsheathed one, and after nearly cutting her thumb when she tried to test how sharp it was, moved on to another shelf.

She was staring closely at the carving of a large, very expensive looking grandfather clock she was sure would appear in horror movies when she noticed a black rectangle reflected faintly in the glass.  

She turned, looking for it, and found a dark enameled box.

It was curved at the corners and adorned with embossed, silvery wolves.   

Despite having a soft simplicity everything else in the shop lacked, the box looked interesting. Rumiko couldn’t resist taking it in her hands for a closer inspection.

She turned it on every side to get a good look at every wolf. The box was covered in them, and from the way they stared out of slitted black eyes, they gave Rumiko a  vague feeling that they were waiting. Or guarding something.

The weight of the thing told her it wasn’t just some empty jewelry box. She ran a finger across the smooth surface, examining the lid.

On it was a single wolf, its entire body suspended in mid-air with all four of its paws hanging underneath its arched back.

Unlike the other wolves, it had what looked like a thin silvery shard of crystal on a black, curved  line around its neck. While the other wolves looked alive and alert, this one looked asleep.

And you get to be on top. She mused. Lazy thing, aren’t you.

When she opened it, a haunting melody began to play in soft, clear chimes, much like a sad lullaby.

A music box… She thought, realizing what the box’s weight meant. As she listened more, she found herself frowning. The song playing was both familiar and not at the same time.

Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and tried to remember where she could have heard it. The music played on, but instead of ringing any bells, it made her head fuzzy, as if it were underwater.

She didn’t see the sleeping wolf open its single eye.

“Do you like it?”

Rumiko quickly spun around to see a tall, pretty lady looking down at her, dressed in simple, non-descript clothing.

Unsettled, Rumiko opened her mouth, and closed it again. She looked at the box, and held it out. “Is this something…” she groped for words. “Made by hand?” Immediately she regretted asking such a stupid question. No way this thing is hand—

“Of course.” The lady smiled warmly.

Rumiko felt herself relax.

“All the items here are made by gifted hands. It’s what makes them special. That music box you are holding is designed entirely by hand, from the wolves decorating its surface to the wheels playing its music.”

Rumiko now wondered whether the lady meant it, or was desperate for a sale. “Really. How much is it?”

The lady appeared to think about it. “For you? Well…” She stated her price. “A bargain, I believe.”

Rumiko looked at the music box again, and argued with herself. Literally.

That much? A tiny voice said disbelievingly. But it’s so… tiny.

“What the heck. Leila’s dress covers it anyway.”

You worked your ass off that dress! Know what else? It’s impulse buying. It’s impractical. It’s…  just… bad.

“I’ve never heard a song like that before, and besides, the art is handmade!”

Whatever.  It’s still just a useless little music box.

“Handmade!”

Listen, you moron. Do you really think this is worth all those sleepless nights? All those times you nearly broke your pencils in frustration? Do you really think your sanity’s worth a bit of music in a pretty piece of wood?

Rumiko smiled crookedly. “There wasn’t much left of my sanity anyway.”

Why you little—

She held out the box, resolute. The voice in her head faded into a stream of profanity.

“I’ll take it.”

The lady took it and walked towards a small counter. “Very well. Over here please.”

Rumiko dug out her wallet as she followed the lady, careful not to bump into anything.

So pricey… She narrowed her eyes. But this music box is just calling to me…

She imagined the box calling out to her, whispering, Take me. Take me. Take me.

“Thank you for taking it.” The lady pushed a small paper bag towards her, snapping Rumiko out of her daydream. “I hope it makes you happy.”

Rumiko carefully packed it in her bag, and smiled back. “Thank you too!”

As the tinkling bell sharply announced Rumiko’s departure, the lady allowed herself a little smile.

* * *

The bright yellow streetlamps were already on by the time Rumiko got home, although streaks of orange still slashed the darkening sky.

Her home didn’t look like much from the outside, but the single-story building was cozy; she didn’t need much space living alone.

The rent wasn’t bad either, since the space was quite small and didn’t have hot water.

“I’m home!” Rumiko called, pulling her shoes off while holding her bag’s strap in place.

A black blurry blob scrambled into view, and took the shape of an immensely fat black and tan mini-pinscher as it heavily set both paws on Rumiko’s knees.

Rumiko knelt down and, with a little difficulty, lifted the dog. Cradled like a baby in her arms, Beh promptly began licking her face.

“I missed you too.” She kissed her on the head, then set her down again before locking the front door.

Ever since she adopted the once scrawny puppy from the local shelter, abandoned for being too nippy, she found herself a sweet roommate who liked being scratched on the tummy and running off with socks.

The nipping, Rumiko found out, was simply because she wanted attention, something she was too happy to give.

How Beh got so fat was beyond her, but the  dog never lost the energy her breed was known for.

Walking five steps into a small white dining room, half of which was turned into a living room with a couch and a small coffee table, she set her bag to the side, dropped her thermos off in the kitchen, and went into her room.

A few minutes later, she reappeared in the living room half, dressed in a tank and a pair of sweatpants. She managed to hold a mug of pencils and brushes and a box of paints in her one hand, a plastic container of chocolate-dipped pretzels in the other and a sheaf of scratch paper tucked under her elbow.

After she set them all on the table, she took a CD case from her collection, and popped a CD into a player she brought from home.

Soon the room was filled with the soft, soothing voice of Astrud singing Over Time.

As Rumiko took a chair from the dining table, Beh waddled to the chair next to her and propped her front legs against it. She scratched loudly, and looked at Rumiko with wide eyes.

Sighing, Rumiko bent and hauled the dog up onto the chair. Beh gratefully settled in.

“Time to work.” Rumiko took her expandable envelope and took out five different drawings, one of which was almost done. Three others were lacking color, and the last two were sketches demanding ink.

She took a brush.

Beh closed her eyes.

* * *

A while later, Rumiko found herself staring at a still undone sketch with half-open eyes, brush still in hand. The hand twitched, and the brush fell to the floor in a clatter.

Rumiko's eyes followed it blandly. Then let her head fall onto the table. Hard.

In the background, the soft, cool tones of Bossa Nova music seemed to be mocking her.

She turned to look at Beh, who had looked up at the loud thump. “Why Beh… why? Why can’t the paper color itself like… like…” She shook her head, and snorted.  

“Like some bloody magic paper.”

Beh’s ears flattened against her head, which innocently settled back on her paws as if to say, Well, duh.

Sluggishly, Rumiko got out of her chair and fell on the soft couch. She stretched as far as she could, trying to make the frustration go away. Didn’t work very well, but she felt slightly better.

A disheartened glance at the clock told her that she should be preparing dinner soon.

Dinner already… and still haven’t finished a thing. She sighed, covering her stinging eyes. It’s going to be a long night… Just me, Beh, and a mug of coffee…

She sighed again, and turned over.

Then a goofy grin spread over her face.

Reaching over, Rumiko took her small music box from its paper bag and settled back on the couch. She ran a finger along the smooth lid, admiring the design of the wolves again.

She thought she noticed something slightly off about the lone wolf on the lid, and blamed it on bad memory. Eagerly, she opened the lid and let the chime-like melody drift across the room.

Again, she tried to place where she could have heard it, and again, failed.

Instead of feeling frustrated, though, she felt as if her head was pleasantly submerged underwater.

Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it a yawn cracked her jaws.

Checking the clock, she decided a nap couldn’t hurt. She wasn’t feeling too hungry anyway, she decided, swaying in and out of consciousness. Not hungry at all. And Beh was fat. She can handle it.

“Night Beh…” she mumbled.

Letting the song wash over her, Rumiko closed her eyes.

* * *

Beh lifted her head up at the sound of the faint mumble, and then set it down again, drifting back into to her previous nap.

She didn’t notice something glowing steadily on the box’s lid. Neither dog nor owner noticed as the air rippled in the middle of the room.

Neither noticed as it imploded into a darkness that seemed to swallow the light.

It took form, and soon a shadow cast itself upon Rumiko. It didn’t bother her sleep in the slightest.

However, Beh did open an eye as her doggy nose caught a very different scent in the air. Both eyes popped open when her loyal doggy brain registered someone else in the room. She held her head upright, growling deep in her throat.

The stranger met her eyes, and raised its finger to its lips. After a few moments, Beh curled up again in the chair.

She knew the stranger wouldn’t hurt her clueless mistress, who had begun to scratch her tummy.

* * *

Vaguely aware, Rumiko adjusted her position on the couch. Remnants of a dream blurred the edges of her mind. The song played in it. She thought it had words, but couldn’t remember. What she did remember was feeling safe. Safe and happy.

She wriggled, and snuggled against something hard and warm underneath her.

Both eyes snapped open.

Rumiko slowly sat up, and turned around in her place to see what she had been lying on.

Looking away from her and seemingly undisturbed, lay a sleeping young man.

Jumping off the couch in a rush of instant adrenaline, Rumiko sought clarity in the mental turmoil residing in her head while trying to smother her heavy breathing.

Calm Rumi… calm… dammit, calm down! She held her breath and let it out in one slow whoosh.

Stranger… cops… should I call the cops? He might wake up so should I bash his head in first? Should I just run for help? Should I… what should…

Her heart pounded in her ears.

Wait wait wait… Why is he just lying there? He’s not supposed to be lying there.  What is he doing here? Why is he napping with me?  How’d he get in—Why was he under me? Under… me… while…

Rumiko sharply drew in a shaky breath, nearly choking.

HOW IN THE HEL—

She shot a hand behind her, and grabbed a chair.

At that moment, the man’s eyes open lazily, relaxed yet wide and alert, as if he hadn’t been sleeping at all.

He looked at Rumiko, who had the chair in a grip strong enough to lift and throw it at him when necessary.

With grace Rumiko didn’t think was possible after sleeping, he stood, all the while looking as if he had every right to be there.

She took that moment to examine the stranger with the all the clarity of a numbed brain, and felt one coherent thought surface from the dregs.

Need… bigger… chair…

Long, thick jet-black hair fell in intervals across his strange eyes and trailed under his ears, in which four gleaming silver hoop earrings pierced both, two in each. Straps with silver buckles hung heavily from the turned-down collar, waistline and slit sleeves of a long trench coat made of what Rumiko’s dress-making mind registered as the blackest leather she can imagine. Underneath the open coat, he was dressed in an dark, fitting shirt and pants, the former covering the tops of black boots.

But it wasn’t just all that had her doubting if the chair, no matter how big it could get, would be enough.

The man’s eyes were so light Rumiko thought he didn’t have irises. His skin was ivory, as if to offset the black.

To top it all off, she thought she saw a sword hanging from his waist, exposed from under the cloak when he rose.

Yet despite every detail telling her it should be otherwise, Rumiko couldn’t help but feel a familiarity between them. Something about this poked at the edges of her mind, but was currently at the bottom of her priorities.

He took a step towards her, and she bumped her hip into the chair so hard she cursed.

She saw Beh sleeping, and lost whatever shred of calm she had.

“You! A stranger got in here, and all you do is sleep your fat butt off?”

Beh opened sleepy, innocent eyes and gazed at her, ears flat against her head.

“What kind of guard dog— you fat little— no food for you!”

“It isn’t her fault. I told her to keep quiet so as not to disturb you.” The stranger’s voice was a deep timber, low and unexpectedly rich. At any other time, it would have made Rumiko melt.

Rumiko whipped around instead, ready to unleash her fury. “And you! What the hell are you doing in my house?”

The man moved so quickly, so fluidly towards her that Rumiko didn’t have time to move away.

Her hand shot out in reflex, catching him in the chest. She tried not to think that she’d been sleeping on it moments ago, or how firmly muscled it felt underneath the fabric.

“Don’t come any closer or… or I’ll scream!”

Without breaking eye contact, his gloved hand came up to grasps hers, holding it firmly against his solid chest.

Rumiko’s scream came out a strangled whimper. She could only shiver in fear when he stepped closer, her hand still pressed on his chest.

With him nearer, Rumiko realized his eyes were a striking shade of light gray. Strangely, his pupils were but slightly widened slits of black.

She craned her up to look at them, because he towered a full head above her.

“I came because you called me.” He murmured, his strange eyes holding hers steadily. “You opened the box. You heard the song, and you accepted.”

This was the last thing Rumiko expected to hear. “Accepted what?”

“The bond between me and you.”

He closed his eyes without loosening his hold, and raised his free arm, gloved in more black to the elbow.

Without warning a shadow — it was the only way Rumiko could describe it — flew from nowhere and landed lightly on his forearm.

It looked like puppy, only with pupil-less eyes of the same gray and black wings folded against its shoulders. It glanced at Rumiko, before hopping gracefully on the ground.

The man then gestured to the music box, which Rumiko just noticed had fallen silent the whole time despite its being open. “The music box led me to you.” He continued. “Don’t you remember?”

With a pit forming in her stomach, Rumiko remembered how her dream felt. But it couldn’t be. “It was just a dream…” She shook her head, trying to shake off the nagging feeling that she knew what he was talking about.

“B-bonded?” She stuttered, utterly bewildered. “You and I are bonded? What does that mean?” She closed her eyes, and tried to take a calming breath. It didn’t work.

She yanked her hand free, unable to control her voice from rising. “Listen here, I did not call you, okay? I only bought a music box! A little, insignificant music box!”

Before she knew it, her voice grew loud and hysterical. “Who are you kidding, anyway? What are you? And what is that thing?”

She pointed at the black puppy, who had settled on the couch and was now staring at her.

Vaguely she wondered if this was how hyperventilating felt like. Her chest constricted, and it took all she had not to run away screaming. Which might have been wiser.

“Just get out of my house… I didn’t know any of this… I didn’t say I wanted to be—”

The man laid a hand on her shoulder, cutting her off. Surprisingly, Rumiko felt calmer. She sighed without thinking,  and felt her heart slowing as a wave of lethargy washed over her.

“My name is Ryuji, my lady.” He began to stroke her shoulder soothingly but lightly, kindness on his serious face. “He,” he looked fondly at the black puppy, who lowered his head submissively under his master’s gaze. “Is Ban.”

She didn’t notice him produce a necklace from his coat pocket while keeping his other hand on her shoulder. “Yes, you called me.” He lifted his other hand to place the necklace around Rumiko’s neck. “Though you say otherwise, I belong here with you.”

Rumiko tried to say something, but was stopped by a gloved finger on her lips.

“I am a Warder, and I’ve been waiting for you to find me.” He lifted her hair around her neck with one hand, and locked the necklace around her silently.

“And now there’s only one thing left to do.”

As his hands left her neck, Rumiko slowly held up the small pendant with dread. She wasn’t surprised to see that it was the same crystal shard she’d seen on the lid of the now silent music box.

The shard suddenly lost focus, and she stumbled back as a wave of vertigo hit her head. Everything around her blurred. She leaned on the table’s edge, trying to blink everything back.

I can’t… think… straight… Rumiko fought to keep standing while her knees begged to give way. What’s happening to me?

She tried to concentrate at the hazy black shadow of a man standing in front of her, her teeth gritted from the effort.

“You… get the hell out… of… my… my…”

The last thing she felt was falling, before her world was blanked by darkness.

* * *