Chapter 2 - Candles

Lighting the last of three candles she stepped back from the altar looking at Shinjitsu who had watched her whole ceremony from the back of the temple.

"You know... even a god feels lonely sometimes..." she spoke softly with a grain of sadness and regret. As she stood a few steps above him her short white hair looked like it was floating in the air through the gentle breeze coming from a broken pair of broken doors. She wore a black dress covering herself completely and two long white stripes, on the back of her dress, accompanied the nun-like looks of hers. Hotaru slowly stepped down to where Shinjitsu, who had not spoken yet, waited for her to finish what she wanted to do. Her green with grey shaded eyes focused on him waiting for some reaction, she stood there in front of him, her hands folded behind her back giving Shinjitsu a warm smile. He slowly stepped forward to her:

"It is a place where one should not be lonely." Shinjitsu said as he reached out with his right hand and she gladly accepted his offer, quickly both of them interwined hands.

"It was deserted long ago and not many people visit this kind of places any more..." she sighed glancing back at the candles which illuminated the altar behind her: "This temple has become a place of solitude, silence and void..."

"And those candles let the old ways live besides that." he added glancing at the colourful ornamented windows with various images of men on them.

"Yes." she replied sheepishly: "Let us head out Shin. There is another place I want to show you." Hotaru linked arms with as they left the ruin together. The light of those three lone candles flickered behind them as the soft breeze tickled their flames.

Her touch stirred a surge of emotion in him. Hotaru's gentle attitude and her warm smile made him feel strange. Shinjitsu still had not grown used to her touch. The warmth she was radiating around him was incomprehensible still, but like with no one else before he could ease against her. Build up tension seemed to melt away when her tender hands were caressing his cheeks.

The young couple had been walking for just a few minutes before Hotaru stopped. After leaving through the rotting wooden doors a quick turn right had led them to a disappearing path. Raspberry plants slowly were claiming the unused looking trail, that both of them were following. Nature slowly reclaimed what belonged to it. Summer was buzzing sound with life in full bloom. Insects were humming through the air, which was heavily scented by those late-blooming flowers in the last days of summer. A fragrance heavy but also gently entangling your mind, inviting to lean back against a tree but she still head pressed to go further until they had reached a small clearing. Raspberry plants were ever-present all around the clearing and just a couple of trees were not trapped by their gripp. Hotaru securely led Shinjitsu to one of those trees.

Hotaru leaned a little more of her weight onto Shin subtly telling him to sit down and lean back against the tree. With a smile he complied and allowed her to nestle in his lap. As her head rested on Shinjitsu's chest the warmth of her body began to seep through his clothes. As if drawn by magic his head was directed down until her green- and greyish eyes were locking with his brown ones. Hotaru's hands slipped upwards a little until she playfully could tangle his short brown hair with those delicate fingers of hers. Shinjitsu bend down slightly more and their lips touched. A rush of tingles went through his body as she tightened her embrace around him and deepened the kiss.

Hours later he opened his eyes sleepy. Shinjitsu had lost track of time as he lost himself in Hotaru's warmth and slowly had drifted off to sleep. He shifted a little noticing Hotaru still was comfortably sitting in his lap as his senses slowly came back to him. Afternoon already was nearing it's end and the sun slowly drenched the sky in a growing orange.

"Oh! Awake already?" she asked in a teasing voice and the continued: "I was looking forward to see your sleeping face a little longer." He wanted to reply but was quickly silenced as her lips crashed on his greeting him with a sweet welcome and becoming fully awake he responded happily. Minutes later their lips parted with the slightest feeling of regret to leave the others company for just a few breathes of fresh air. Glancing down he saw she was holding an old and torn looking book, he asked:

"What kind of book is that? They do not have this kind of book binding her in Dalian."

"This?" she asked and at his nod she continued: "It contains the teaching religion and the wisdom of God. I feel that his words should be preserved through time and be taught to future generations as they convey kindness and tolerance," Hotaru's voice darkened a bit: "but people in these years have grown distant to spirituality and have forsaken their being to other deities in this world. It is sad but they have not only forgotten about God's teaching but also burned everything that belonged to him."

Her voice had grown hollow while she spoke and a single tear ran down her cheek. Shinjitsu brushed it away and pulled Hotaru in a tighter hug: "Shhh... do not cry Taru. It is ok."

"Shin!" she cried out as she buried her face in on his shoulder.

The sun's light already was replaced by that of the star's until finally Hotaru's tears had dried and she looked up to him. She gave him another gentle kiss and whispered:

"No one may know of this book or the last of this book's teaching will be lost forever."

"If this book means so much to you I will protect it like I protect you." Shinjitsu said firmly but was cut of by Hotaru before he could finish his last sentence: "I swear by the honour bla..."

"No! You cannot do that any more. You promised to never use that sword again." she said sternly, nearly glaring at him as she scolded him.

"Taru..."