#ncillary

His smile extended as his hand traced the pendant of said necklace. Red gem at the epicenter glimmering. Just like his eyes.

He breathed in the night air before closing his eyes. Focusing the feeling at his core. The familiar feeling that had been accompanying him these past years.

*Poof*.

White hair turns to fur. Hands turn to feathered wings. Feet turn to tiny claws.

Red eyes, shines the same.

As bright as the necklace around his neck.

He looks to the half-moon, "What awaits this time."

Mephisto. The adventurer bird. When the sky changes from its soft blue, he explores the vast world to see the beauty of the night. He also befriends the moon.

With the necklace as a gift from both of you, Mephisto is able to have a safe journey yet again.

Those are the stories he told the twins. Tale of Mephisto's Adventure surface once a year. He conjured a handful to keep the twins engaged.

The twinkling in their eyes and the giggles can make him smile the biggest. It soothes him to a degree.

+---------------------------+--------------------------+

Now, that very important necklace is gone.

He was on the way to the Main House, cutting short Mephisto's adventure, after he felt the change of wind indicating possible downpour. He thought his wings were fast but the rain was faster. Every big drop fell on him making his wings heavier and his body temperature dropped drastically.

That is when it happened. It slipped off from around his neck when he is distracted with the heavy gust of wind, trying to stabilize himself.

He tries to fly back to find it, only for the wind to sweep him away farther. What stops him is the canopy that people set up for the night market.

The collide is fortunately soft but the next one won't be so much. Flapping his wings while disoriented, he could only brace for the hurtful impact of the ground as he slides down the canopy.

*BOMPF*

Only to land on a warm and soft thing. Red gems glances at the girl that somehow catches him in her hands. The girl smiles. He huffs out in relief.

He nod to the girl as a thanks and ready to fly away.

Body locked.

Wings are trembling.

His body is shaking, he just noticed.

Being in no condition to fly again at the moment, the girl is his temporary refuge. She talks a lot. Read him story. Asking him a lot. One thing intrigues him.

"Mia name you."

He points to the letters in the girl's book. She writes it out one letter at a time since it took her a few tries to enunciate the name.

"Meeto." A helpless yet fond huff at her.

She plays with him using the paper like one teasing a cat. He stares accusingly at it but follows along and able to catch it with his claw.

"Mia, dear. Can you let dad take the plushie to the Lost & Found?" He reaches but she pulls her hand away with a pout.

"Meeto." The father is confused.

She pulls out the paper from his claw and shows it to him. They are talking while Sylus is in the cup of her hands. Letting his mind drift off for a while, he didn't realize Mia has walked away from her parents.

He blinks in surprise when he is suddenly placed on something. Thin bushes surrounds him, like a nest. It's nice. He likes it. He burrows himself more, surrounding himself in a comfort his mind can't register what but feels right. He succumbs into the unconsciousness. He didn't know he's that tired.

*Srrsss*

"krr" he feels something cold smearing on him.

Then warm.

Hand bigger than the girl caressing him gently. He want to open his eyes out of insecurity but the animal spirits in him seem to feel at ease with whoever is the owner of the hand.

He bore a complicated curse but it also has great instinct.

Sylus stays calm. Listening around. Feeling around. The hand owner is walking for quite a while. Then the air pressure change. He guess he is in a building.

*Click*

Running water soon reverberates around him. The hand is being meticulous, delicately handling him. The heaviness on his body slowly lifts, feels cleaner too.

"......bird......you....."

"krr" He barely hear a female voice with how drowsy he is feeling now.

What did this person do?

He never feel so unguarded like this. Nonetheless, he also want to complain about being surround in something other than the hand until a comforting smell shields his head.

"krr"

He fall asleep.

+----------------------------+--------------------------+

*Poof*.

Sylus opens his blearily eyes. His inner clock tells him it's in the middle of the night. If he's not back in his room on time, a heavy consequence would befall his family.

He eyes around the room as he sits up slowly. A towel fell from his chest and there's something soft on his shoulder. His jaw nuzzles it without a second thought.

He freezes. Clarity kicking in. Gently pulling away whatever he nuzzles. A normal handkerchief.

Since when a piece of cloth able to make me act like that? – A silent confusion.

Shaking his head, he focuses on his core.

*Poof*.

Grabbing the handkerchief securely, he flies to the window. After opening the latch, he looks back to the person who is mostly covered under the blanket except for the tuft of hair and head. Seeing the face of the kind lady that helps him is sleeping peacefully, he chirps.

He never chirped before.

But it all comes naturally to him at the moment.

Whispering with a light tone, "Sweet dreams, my lady." then flies away with a mixed feeling.

+------------------------------+-----------------------+

Being restless all day doesn't sit well with Sylus, mind occupied by the missing necklace. Come night, he continues searching for it. His keen eyes dissecting the bushes until one sparkle caught his attention.

Swooping down carefully, he identifies said item. Releasing a breath, he scoops the chain in his beak swiftly and flies off to the sky. He notices the chain is loosening than usual before breaking all together on one side. The necklace starts sliding off of his beak.

Wings turn in diving motion to chase after it.

"Gah!"

My lady. – Inner smile.

Unceremoniusly, he flies straight to the nest of her head. Making himself comfortable in no time. With her securing his necklace in her grasp, Sylus is able to calm down. She looks confused though so he tries to communicate with her.

Two pecks, It's mine.

"Ah, no. Don't eat it." She moves it away.

I agree it's not food.

Hiding it more in her palm makes Sylus jump on her hand to try to make her understand.

Holding the chain in his beak, he tugs it gently – It's mine.

Peaks at the broken part a few times – It's broken.

"It's broken."

He almost says "Yes" out loud. A chirp is better.

"Yours?" *Chirp*

"Want me to help you fix it?" *Chirp*

"What an intricate collar you have."

A necklace. Not exactly a pet, my lady. – Amused chirps will do.

She chuckles, "Someone's happy."

He remained silent on the way to her hotel room. Not exactly sure if he's happy the necklace is in good condition or seeing her again.

She is quick to solve the problem, attaching the pendant to a black rope. Sylus stares at her finish work then the chain.

What should I tell the twins?

"This is a trade." He turns to her.

She explains about the rope, hair tie, and how she'll treasure the broken chain in his stead. He is amazed by her, nodding unconsciously. She didn't even know the significance it holds for him. To her, it was just an ordinary chain. But she decides to keep the chain as something special even to call it a treasure.

"....smart girl."

Really, my lady? – Disapproving chirps.

"...boy..."

Male but yes.

"...like peacock."

A scoff, Your comparison is astonishing to say the least.

The window latch opens, shooing him out.

That's a little cold of you, my lady.

He flies on top of the pillow with his new 'necklace' and settles down.

Let this poor bird rest for a while. It's a long journey back.

She sighs and lets him stay. As she occupies the other pillow, his fur flutters in anticipation. Minutes pass, he slots himself on her neck. Deep asleep.

Hours later, his eyes open in the dark room. Her being is clear as day to him. Perching on the open window, he stares back at her. Content. Reluctant.

I wonder what this mixed feeling means?

He wisphers, "My lady." with all of his to her.

+-------------------+----------------+----------------+

*Kreik* *Kreik*

"Leave."

A jolt. Pause.

The feet walked away from the door.

The rigidness gradually lessen.

Flapping of feathers caught the voice owner's attention. A smile. Then a frown.

Harsh whispers, "You better prepare me a good compensation this time."

A bird, shines by the natural light of the night, perches itself on the wooden divider. It plops down, ignoring the stare of a certain someone who was sulking on the other side of the divider.

*Poof*.

A small shriek with full body turning away even though the divider is already blocking the view of a being behind it.

"I'm still impressed that you can freely transform any time you want- "

A pair of eyes shine in the dark.

Clothes on in seconds like an expert.

"Sylus."

He walks out then pats the hair of a person clearly smaller than him.

"You really excel in covering for me, Tara."

She grumbles, "I think we need a new strategy rather than saying I have a nightmare and absolutely need only your presence to fall asleep." She playfully punches him, he chuckles, "I'm a college student for goodness sakes me. I want to sleep on my own."

"Well, you're our master in this life. It's your duty to be responsible for our wellbeing."

"Correction. I'm your guardian. Each of you has your own master as you called it. Don't you agree 'soulmate' sounds more romantic." She wriggles her brows to the suggestion.

He crosses his arms, unimpressive face. Tara grins.

Then she continues with a hint of sadness, "The Head Maid is just being stubborn to uphold the sacred promise blindly. She didn't realize her actions caused the bonds to wane throughout the years."

Sylus hums distractedly, "We'll think of something."

Her eyes land where his eyes are focusing.

A bracelet in his palm with his precious pendant attached to it.

"Thank goodness you found it. What happened to the chain?"

"I trade it."

Confuse, "With... a bracelet?"

"A hair tie."

An obvious grin creeping in wider and wider as she keeps looking at Sylus who's clearly ignoring her.

"Stop grinning and go to sleep like a good girl."

She scoffs, "Who's fault is that?"

"There's a festival on the side of the river. Tomorrow night is going to be the finale with fireworks and parade. So, I've heard."

Her eyes are shining, "Really ~! I'll ask Simone and Cece to come along. Head Maid won't say much if those two are with me."

She fidgets, "Another adventure tomorrow?"

Sylus shakes his head.

"I can still help cover-"

"Thank you kindly, my guardian. You should enjoy your college days too." He smirks.

She shakes her head with a small smile, "Good night, Sylus."

"Good night, Tara."

After she steps out of the room, Sylus stares at the door for a while. Thinking of the cages they both had to stay in. Proudly, she's stronger now to set herself free.

He turns toward the open window. Breeze greets his white locks as if whispering on her wellbeing. Caressing the hair tie loosely, the event hours before replaying in his mind.

"Soulmate... huh..."

The word feels foreign on his tongue. Yet it's familiar to the ears from countless times his guardian spoke of the words fondly. She implemented the word into stories as old as times and what the future it upholds.

The present?

Being alive in this gilded cage is his part of the bargain to uphold. Having a soulmate is not exactly what he thought entrails along with it. Astounding and amusing at the same time.

He chuckles, "I don't mind the twist but to think the Zodiacs really adore her is truly something?"​

He hums absentmindedly, all the while thinking about a certain lady.

Will we meet again the next time my wing takes me through the sunset?

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Masterlist LaDS x Furuba

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A/N: The hums is in Japanese Dub

#ncillary's writing