Bounded Through Time
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance
Summary: She's indebted to the man who saved her life 500 years ago. Protecting his kin till the present, where she meets the current descendant.
***
Reina kept still as she watched the woman applied her makeup. It surprised her how women had barely changed since then and kept these habits. Even now she watched as the woman adjusted her clothing and struggle to hide her impatience.
Despite all this, the woman became disappointed at the end as her date simply led her to her door and walked off without any sort of affection. The man looked down at his phone and hailed a taxi nearby, Reina closed her eyes until she appeared before a large hospital and watched as the same man left from the taxi and rushed inside.
“Becoming predictable.” She murmured to herself, but smiled as she rested against the wall. She waited hours until she looked into the sleeping quarters of the hospital and watched as he laid in one of them. She instead waited by the corner and watched him, the doctors who came in and out of the room were unaware of her presence but felt the chills that they assumed came from the hospital. She continued to watch over him until he woke up and returned to his work. With at final check she left.
“About time.” A deep voice greeted sharply. Reina bowed her head in apology. “We must hurry before the mermen leave.” She nodded as they both headed towards the ocean and waited by the rocks. It didn’t take long before the merman rose from the waters and neared towards them. The two dared not to make a sound until one was right besides them.
The other mermen fled as the two took its captive and devoured it so until only remnants were left behind.
“It’s been too long.” Reina looked up at the man who wiped his mouth of the blood. “Yet if I didn’t need you I would’ve left you long ago.”
“You know of my debt, Nasir.” Reina stated, he nodded.
“Yes, a debt that human did not even ask for.” Reina remained quiet. “He saved you once and for that you’re willing to spend your entire life protecting his descendants?”
Reina’s eyes lightened. “Yusei was the only one who risked his own life to save me, someone he had never met.”
He scoffed. “He committed a good deed. That was it.”
She faced him. “He helped me even when he knew what I was, and he still chose to risk his life and even healed me in his own home. Tell me what human has ever done that for the likes of us?”
Nasir clutched his fist. “Fine, continue to waste your life.” He headed towards the forest when he turned around. “I understand your priorities, yet even after five hundred years you still care for his kin. Haven’t you repaid him enough?”
Reina shook her head; he exhaled as he disappeared into the forest. She remained still for a moment longer before she appeared once again at the hospital.
It always took her off guard how much he had resembled Yusei. A trait that seemed to continue was that each newborn was a son and remained an only child. For that reason alone, she chose to protect each descendant until she was no longer needed.
She watched over him as he walked down the sidewalks to his home. She then noticed a shadow following him, she narrowed her eyes as she drifted towards it. The man remained oblivious to it all until he walked inside a store. She immediately shot towards the shadow, forcing it out of the wall.
The demon laughed, his eyes a dark green that matched his pale skin. “Aren’t you a little far? I don’t think I’ve come across a snow demon in nearly two decades.”
Reina held out her hand. “Leave before I kill you.” He barked his laugh.
“I also recall slaughtering the very same snow demon. I doubt you could put up any more of a fight.” He threw a ball of energy at her but it evaporated against her frozen exterior. He attempted more but none were successful.
“Leave.” She warned, he instead became frustrated and held out a knife in his hand. He lunged towards her but just as easily she shot through his chest. He screamed as he evaporated into bits of black dust.
It seemed even outside of her homeland were there still monsters lurking about.
--
There were very few times that she chose to disguise herself among the humans, though it benefited her in the sense that it conserved her energy it also made it that much more difficult to protect him in times of emergency.
She chose to stay within close proximity of the hospital and kept her guard up as she walked around. She felt a slight shiver run down her spine, a warning that something dangerous was nearby. She turned around abruptly and hit onto the unsuspecting person.
“I’m sorry-”
“No, I’m sorry. Are you all right?” She froze immediately, she recognized that voice. She chose not too look up as she nodded her head.
“I’m fine, thank you.” She tried to leave but the man held her forearm. He flinched and immediately let go, something that seemed to even confuse him. It was natural instinct for the body to keep away from beings like her, something that this man’s own ancestor chose to ignore. She took that opportunity to escape.
She thought she had found solace once she reached a secluded area, but instincts warned her that something was wrong, she wasn’t sure but she remained cautious. On guard for any potential threat to her or to him.
She heard a scream and transformed slowly into her true being as she appeared at the scene. A human crouched away from the demon who taunted him with his claws. At her presence, the demon turned around and smiled scornfully.
“You’ll have to wait your turn.”
“I’d rather not.” She walked towards him. “Leave and I won’t kill you.”
“Are you strong enough to carry out that threat?” The demon asked as he now focused his attention on her. She knew the human was in critical condition, she needed to finish him off. It didn’t take long before he was destroyed as the previous one, black dust evaporating all evidence of the battle.
She walked slowly through the snow covered alleys towards him, she offered a hand when a ball of flame was hurled towards her. She quickly dodged it but she glanced around for the attacker.
“Get away from him!” Reina raised up an ice storm to quickly overwhelm the senses when she noted a shadow of a woman fighting her way through. A liquid came through and struck her on the chest, and though it wasn’t lethal she felt her powers weaken immediately. She collapsed onto the ground from the lack of energy, she looked up to see the woman rush by the man’s side.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt, tell me-”
“S-she saved me.” The human mustered out as he clutched his chest. “She stopped the demon.” The woman gave a skeptical look as she glanced between her and the man beside her.
“I can transport you to the hospital nearby.” Reina offered.
The woman shook her head. “He can’t be treated at a hospital, it has to be at home.” Reina nodded and obeyed her wish.
Reina remained as still as ice when they arrived at her home, the woman who called herself Eris. Eris came by through the room and handed her a drink.
“It’s an antidote against the potion I’ve used on you.” Reina reached for it but remained just as unconvinced.
“How is he?” She asked calmly. “Are you sure a hospital wouldn’t be more fit?”
“No, he’ll be fine now.” Eris said, she brushed his hair from his face and smiled. Reina watched her caring expression, but it changed once she faced her. “This is difficult for me, but I will say I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Reina asked as she watched the man turn in his sleep from the adjacent room. “You’re protective of him.”
She smiled. “Of course, I’d never forgive myself if anything were to happen to him.” She noticed Reina’s puzzled expression and explained. “He’s my husband.”
Reina slightly widened her eyes. “Your husband? How is that possible?”
Eris walked over to the kitchen and took out her pots. Reina followed and stood in front of the counter between them. Eris began to mix her spices and murmured a few words in between until she spoke aloud. “My family was never proud of it, my own mother is ashamed that I married a mortal. Yet I’m happier than I would have ever been with a warlock.” She backed away as the pot simmered and tiny explosions came forth.
“Have you told him?” Reina asked solemnly.
Eris looked up and nodded. “My husband is observant, a little too much for my comfort. Hiding who I am was only making our relationship difficult, despite my concerns he accepted me.”
“Just like that?”
Eris shook her head. “It… took a while to sink in. I doubt any human can so quickly accept what doesn’t exist, even the ones who have a full belief that do.”
Reina examined the situation when she asked. “Are you happy?”
“Very, at least to me.” Eris commented with a smile. “There are plenty of risks, as you’ve seen today.” She pointed out. “However, when I tried to use that excuse on him he just told me that life was full of them. An addition of some demons or so wasn’t going to change his odds.”
Reina gave a weak smile in return, she felt a gnawing feeling in her heart developing. She recognized it was envy... she wanted what Eris and her husband felt for each other. Their trust, their love, their acceptance, everything she realized she had slowly realized she wanted from the man she was now protecting.
But could she go against it all? Would he even accept her otherwise as his ancestor did once before?
Reina breathed in heavily as he walked through the streets towards the hospital. She realized how much energy she had used up recently, and her own unwillingness to drink the potion seemed to have contributed. Exhaustion was overtaking her as her eyes closed and she felt most of her shut down completely. She couldn’t find back the darkness that overtook her.
---
She heard strange beeps, clicks and patters of people’s shoes.
“She seems to be waking up.”
Reina stiffened, the more she observed her surroundings the more she realize where exactly she was. After all, she had been there nearly every day, enough to know when she was in a hospital.
“How are you feeling?” The voice asked, she felt herself mentally cringed. She even knew that voice, it was impossible not to.
“I’m fine.” She murmured as she forced her eyes open, the doctor shook his head.
“No average person with these many cuts and bruises are just fine.” She realized he meant the scars from her battle earlier on, how she wish she could tell him that she could hardly feel them in all honesty.
“I’m not average.” She countered as he checked her vitals.
He smiled. “As they all say, but no one’s invincible.” He checked her vitals. “Looks good, everything seems to be-
“Fine?” She finished, his smile grew.
“Was going to say in order, but I guess fine is a good term as well.” He said cheerfully. She found it comforting how earnestly he sounded when speaking to his patients. She had heard other doctors with their mock concern, but he was always part of the few that genuinely said as how he felt.
“What is your name?” He asked, she shifted her eyes towards the ceiling.
“Reina, Sato Reina.” She replied, her natural defenses to maintain her secrecy have now lowered themselves.
He nodded as he wrote down her information.“If you’re curious, I am Yosuke Jun.” He chuckled.
She smiled as she locked eyes with him, though unintentional it seemed neither could truly pull away.
“I don’t feel as if you’re a stranger.” He said softly, he seemed to realize what he said and looked away shyly. “Sorry, didn’t mean to say that out loud. Wait, I mean.” He struggled to find the right words, she chuckled.
“I understand.” She replied, he paused and looked at her. “I feel the same.”
Yosuke smiled as he hesitantly placing his hand over hers, though by doing that alone had he overstepped all boundaries between them. It was enough for her to realize that she could herself walk past those boundaries she had set upon herself. To see a future beyond that of protection and along the lines of the things she realized she had always truly wanted.
And that just maybe, that undetermined future they shared was now connected beyond that of mere simple obligation.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Summary: She's indebted to the man who saved her life 500 years ago. Protecting his kin till the present, where she meets the current descendant.
***
Reina kept still as she watched the woman applied her makeup. It surprised her how women had barely changed since then and kept these habits. Even now she watched as the woman adjusted her clothing and struggle to hide her impatience.
Despite all this, the woman became disappointed at the end as her date simply led her to her door and walked off without any sort of affection. The man looked down at his phone and hailed a taxi nearby, Reina closed her eyes until she appeared before a large hospital and watched as the same man left from the taxi and rushed inside.
“Becoming predictable.” She murmured to herself, but smiled as she rested against the wall. She waited hours until she looked into the sleeping quarters of the hospital and watched as he laid in one of them. She instead waited by the corner and watched him, the doctors who came in and out of the room were unaware of her presence but felt the chills that they assumed came from the hospital. She continued to watch over him until he woke up and returned to his work. With at final check she left.
“About time.” A deep voice greeted sharply. Reina bowed her head in apology. “We must hurry before the mermen leave.” She nodded as they both headed towards the ocean and waited by the rocks. It didn’t take long before the merman rose from the waters and neared towards them. The two dared not to make a sound until one was right besides them.
The other mermen fled as the two took its captive and devoured it so until only remnants were left behind.
“It’s been too long.” Reina looked up at the man who wiped his mouth of the blood. “Yet if I didn’t need you I would’ve left you long ago.”
“You know of my debt, Nasir.” Reina stated, he nodded.
“Yes, a debt that human did not even ask for.” Reina remained quiet. “He saved you once and for that you’re willing to spend your entire life protecting his descendants?”
Reina’s eyes lightened. “Yusei was the only one who risked his own life to save me, someone he had never met.”
He scoffed. “He committed a good deed. That was it.”
She faced him. “He helped me even when he knew what I was, and he still chose to risk his life and even healed me in his own home. Tell me what human has ever done that for the likes of us?”
Nasir clutched his fist. “Fine, continue to waste your life.” He headed towards the forest when he turned around. “I understand your priorities, yet even after five hundred years you still care for his kin. Haven’t you repaid him enough?”
Reina shook her head; he exhaled as he disappeared into the forest. She remained still for a moment longer before she appeared once again at the hospital.
It always took her off guard how much he had resembled Yusei. A trait that seemed to continue was that each newborn was a son and remained an only child. For that reason alone, she chose to protect each descendant until she was no longer needed.
She watched over him as he walked down the sidewalks to his home. She then noticed a shadow following him, she narrowed her eyes as she drifted towards it. The man remained oblivious to it all until he walked inside a store. She immediately shot towards the shadow, forcing it out of the wall.
The demon laughed, his eyes a dark green that matched his pale skin. “Aren’t you a little far? I don’t think I’ve come across a snow demon in nearly two decades.”
Reina held out her hand. “Leave before I kill you.” He barked his laugh.
“I also recall slaughtering the very same snow demon. I doubt you could put up any more of a fight.” He threw a ball of energy at her but it evaporated against her frozen exterior. He attempted more but none were successful.
“Leave.” She warned, he instead became frustrated and held out a knife in his hand. He lunged towards her but just as easily she shot through his chest. He screamed as he evaporated into bits of black dust.
It seemed even outside of her homeland were there still monsters lurking about.
--
There were very few times that she chose to disguise herself among the humans, though it benefited her in the sense that it conserved her energy it also made it that much more difficult to protect him in times of emergency.
She chose to stay within close proximity of the hospital and kept her guard up as she walked around. She felt a slight shiver run down her spine, a warning that something dangerous was nearby. She turned around abruptly and hit onto the unsuspecting person.
“I’m sorry-”
“No, I’m sorry. Are you all right?” She froze immediately, she recognized that voice. She chose not too look up as she nodded her head.
“I’m fine, thank you.” She tried to leave but the man held her forearm. He flinched and immediately let go, something that seemed to even confuse him. It was natural instinct for the body to keep away from beings like her, something that this man’s own ancestor chose to ignore. She took that opportunity to escape.
She thought she had found solace once she reached a secluded area, but instincts warned her that something was wrong, she wasn’t sure but she remained cautious. On guard for any potential threat to her or to him.
She heard a scream and transformed slowly into her true being as she appeared at the scene. A human crouched away from the demon who taunted him with his claws. At her presence, the demon turned around and smiled scornfully.
“You’ll have to wait your turn.”
“I’d rather not.” She walked towards him. “Leave and I won’t kill you.”
“Are you strong enough to carry out that threat?” The demon asked as he now focused his attention on her. She knew the human was in critical condition, she needed to finish him off. It didn’t take long before he was destroyed as the previous one, black dust evaporating all evidence of the battle.
She walked slowly through the snow covered alleys towards him, she offered a hand when a ball of flame was hurled towards her. She quickly dodged it but she glanced around for the attacker.
“Get away from him!” Reina raised up an ice storm to quickly overwhelm the senses when she noted a shadow of a woman fighting her way through. A liquid came through and struck her on the chest, and though it wasn’t lethal she felt her powers weaken immediately. She collapsed onto the ground from the lack of energy, she looked up to see the woman rush by the man’s side.
“Are you all right? Are you hurt, tell me-”
“S-she saved me.” The human mustered out as he clutched his chest. “She stopped the demon.” The woman gave a skeptical look as she glanced between her and the man beside her.
“I can transport you to the hospital nearby.” Reina offered.
The woman shook her head. “He can’t be treated at a hospital, it has to be at home.” Reina nodded and obeyed her wish.
Reina remained as still as ice when they arrived at her home, the woman who called herself Eris. Eris came by through the room and handed her a drink.
“It’s an antidote against the potion I’ve used on you.” Reina reached for it but remained just as unconvinced.
“How is he?” She asked calmly. “Are you sure a hospital wouldn’t be more fit?”
“No, he’ll be fine now.” Eris said, she brushed his hair from his face and smiled. Reina watched her caring expression, but it changed once she faced her. “This is difficult for me, but I will say I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Reina asked as she watched the man turn in his sleep from the adjacent room. “You’re protective of him.”
She smiled. “Of course, I’d never forgive myself if anything were to happen to him.” She noticed Reina’s puzzled expression and explained. “He’s my husband.”
Reina slightly widened her eyes. “Your husband? How is that possible?”
Eris walked over to the kitchen and took out her pots. Reina followed and stood in front of the counter between them. Eris began to mix her spices and murmured a few words in between until she spoke aloud. “My family was never proud of it, my own mother is ashamed that I married a mortal. Yet I’m happier than I would have ever been with a warlock.” She backed away as the pot simmered and tiny explosions came forth.
“Have you told him?” Reina asked solemnly.
Eris looked up and nodded. “My husband is observant, a little too much for my comfort. Hiding who I am was only making our relationship difficult, despite my concerns he accepted me.”
“Just like that?”
Eris shook her head. “It… took a while to sink in. I doubt any human can so quickly accept what doesn’t exist, even the ones who have a full belief that do.”
Reina examined the situation when she asked. “Are you happy?”
“Very, at least to me.” Eris commented with a smile. “There are plenty of risks, as you’ve seen today.” She pointed out. “However, when I tried to use that excuse on him he just told me that life was full of them. An addition of some demons or so wasn’t going to change his odds.”
Reina gave a weak smile in return, she felt a gnawing feeling in her heart developing. She recognized it was envy... she wanted what Eris and her husband felt for each other. Their trust, their love, their acceptance, everything she realized she had slowly realized she wanted from the man she was now protecting.
But could she go against it all? Would he even accept her otherwise as his ancestor did once before?
Reina breathed in heavily as he walked through the streets towards the hospital. She realized how much energy she had used up recently, and her own unwillingness to drink the potion seemed to have contributed. Exhaustion was overtaking her as her eyes closed and she felt most of her shut down completely. She couldn’t find back the darkness that overtook her.
---
She heard strange beeps, clicks and patters of people’s shoes.
“She seems to be waking up.”
Reina stiffened, the more she observed her surroundings the more she realize where exactly she was. After all, she had been there nearly every day, enough to know when she was in a hospital.
“How are you feeling?” The voice asked, she felt herself mentally cringed. She even knew that voice, it was impossible not to.
“I’m fine.” She murmured as she forced her eyes open, the doctor shook his head.
“No average person with these many cuts and bruises are just fine.” She realized he meant the scars from her battle earlier on, how she wish she could tell him that she could hardly feel them in all honesty.
“I’m not average.” She countered as he checked her vitals.
He smiled. “As they all say, but no one’s invincible.” He checked her vitals. “Looks good, everything seems to be-
“Fine?” She finished, his smile grew.
“Was going to say in order, but I guess fine is a good term as well.” He said cheerfully. She found it comforting how earnestly he sounded when speaking to his patients. She had heard other doctors with their mock concern, but he was always part of the few that genuinely said as how he felt.
“What is your name?” He asked, she shifted her eyes towards the ceiling.
“Reina, Sato Reina.” She replied, her natural defenses to maintain her secrecy have now lowered themselves.
He nodded as he wrote down her information.“If you’re curious, I am Yosuke Jun.” He chuckled.
She smiled as she locked eyes with him, though unintentional it seemed neither could truly pull away.
“I don’t feel as if you’re a stranger.” He said softly, he seemed to realize what he said and looked away shyly. “Sorry, didn’t mean to say that out loud. Wait, I mean.” He struggled to find the right words, she chuckled.
“I understand.” She replied, he paused and looked at her. “I feel the same.”
Yosuke smiled as he hesitantly placing his hand over hers, though by doing that alone had he overstepped all boundaries between them. It was enough for her to realize that she could herself walk past those boundaries she had set upon herself. To see a future beyond that of protection and along the lines of the things she realized she had always truly wanted.
And that just maybe, that undetermined future they shared was now connected beyond that of mere simple obligation.