The World of the Moon

[Kieran]

I haven't seen a drop in quality . . .

So, if I'm reading this right, it's a novelisation (sort of) of Ciel's Good Ending route?

[Rylin]

I have been reading The World of the Moon since the beginning on FFN. And honestly I have seen you grow as an author and your quality go up with every story. To me this is one of your best one shots. You really branched out and tried something a bit different and I think it worked out well.

Most of your stories so far were straight up follow ups to the Arc endings. Here you went with the Ciel Good Ending and while Arc and Shiki are still the focus it showed them in a different light and I think it really paid off.

[Highwayman]

I have been reading The World of the Moon since the beginning on FFN. And honestly I have seen you grow as an author and your quality go up with every story. To me this is one of your best one shots. You really branched out and tried something a bit different and I think it worked out well.

My thoughts exactly. The World of the Moon hasn't lost any of its emotional impact or creativity; thank you for continuing to share it with us.

On the topic of this latest update, Arc's internal conflict reminded me how miraculous it was that she managed to coexist with and become attracted to a mortal human. Arc's feelings for Shiki are fraught with contradictions, and Ciel's presence adds the extra complication of jealousy to the list; nevertheless, love wins out in the end. Perfect.

[Mackus]

Nice - Finalle of Ciel Route from Arcueid perspective. Interesting idea to leave everything between "Don't be ridiculous" and "Shiki" to readers imagination. It works better than one would expect, but I am curious of what was the reason for that solution.

[pureauthor]

I haven't seen a drop in quality . . .

So, if I'm reading this right, it's a novelisation (sort of) of Ciel's Good Ending route?

Yup. Not really a novelisation, though, since well, it was already a novel. More of an alternate view.

I have been reading The World of the Moon since the beginning on FFN. And honestly I have seen you grow as an author and your quality go up with every story. To me this is one of your best one shots. You really branched out and tried something a bit different and I think it worked out well.

Most of your stories so far were straight up follow ups to the Arc endings. Here you went with the Ciel Good Ending and while Arc and Shiki are still the focus it showed them in a different light and I think it really paid off.

Thanks for the praise. I'm glad you liked it.

And yes, I wanted to show a different take on Arc/Shiki than normal. I'm glad it worked.

My thoughts exactly. The World of the Moon hasn't lost any of its emotional impact or creativity; thank you for continuing to share it with us.

Thanks. Sometime, I wonder if my stories in here get a little too samey. I'm glad others don't seem to think so.

Nice - Finalle of Ciel Route from Arcueid perspective. Interesting idea to leave everything between "Don't be ridiculous" and "Shiki" to readers imagination. It works better than one would expect, but I am curious of what was the reason for that solution.

The reason is partly because the focus was more on Arcueid's internal conflicts, everything beyond that point (following Ciel's Good End) has less chance for that in the narrative. That, and I like leaving some things for the audience's imagination.

[pureauthor]

The World of the Moon

(X)

Twenty Four: Under the Moonlight

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

(X)

Nights in Misaki City were starting to get noisy again. The public had more or less decided that it was safe to go out at night once more, and even past the late hours there was a steady flow of people through the city centre.

One of the relatively less populated areas at this point was the park, and so Ciel was grateful for the quiet as she landed there, blowing out a quick breath of air was one thing. Her continued patrols were one thing, but having to do so while keeping out of eyeshot of an increasing number of people was quite another. It wasn’t even like it was a particular difficult task – just an annoying one.

And even then, knowing that it was about to come to an end sent a twinge through her heart.

Standing in the silence of the park, Ciel took a moment to breathe in the cool night air, letting her gaze wander over the bushes and tree illuminated by the brightly burning lights of the lamps.

As peaceful a scene as one could ask for.

“Oh, fancy meeting you here, Ciel!” A cheery voice blasted away her thoughts, and the church executor suppressed a sigh. So much for quiet thoughts and a sense of peace.

“Arcueid,” she turned and nodded once in the direction of the voice. From the trees a figure clad in white emerged, whistling a cheery tune as she strolled up to the Burial Agent. “I didn’t know you were still up.”

“Oh, you know how it is,” Arcueid replied carelessly as she flopped onto a park bench. “Couldn’t sleep, decided to take a walk and get some fresh air.”

Silently, Ciel decided that no, she did not in fact know. Arcueid had always struck her as the sort who would have no trouble sleeping like a baby in any circumstances. The idea of the carefree and cheerful True Ancestor tossing and turning in bed, kept awake by worries or stress, was one that she had trouble immediately conjuring to mind.

For a long moment, she simply considered turning away and leaving Arcueid to her own devices. It wasn’t like they had much to talk about at the best of times, and with a shadow of disquiet coming over Ciel’s heart as of late, she didn’t really feel up to a sparring match with the True Ancestor (the match being verbal in nature or otherwise). And so, she drew in a slight breath and-

“You’ll be leaving soon, won’t you?”

Ciel froze for a long moment before turning to face Arcueid again. The True Ancestor’s sitting stance was still entirely relaxed, but the expression on her face as she gazed at Ciel was serious.

Ciel held her gaze for a moment before dropping to one side, a soft nod of affirmation being her response. After a long moment, she lifted her gaze to Arcueid, curiosity written on her features. “How did you know?”

“Oh, you know,” Arcueid waved her hands carelessly. “Your patrols have been getting shorter and shorter. There really aren’t any more Dead about for you to hunt, and the way the Church works, you’ll probably end up being assigned somewhere else soon.”

Ciel sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “You’re right,” she muttered as she walked over to the bench, flopping rather heavily on it beside Arcueid. “In fact, I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.”

A snort of surprise came out from Arcueid. “Wow! That’s… uh, fast,” there was a slight pause. “You didn’t tell Shiki, did you? If he’d known, he’d have mentioned it to me.”

She shook her head once. “No,” her voice was soft. “What would be the point?”

“The point?” Arcueid now had a confused expression on her face. “I mean, that’s just what friends do when they leave to go different places, right?”

Friends. The word flitted about in Ciel’s mind, refusing to settle down nicely and vanish black into the depths.

“Maybe normal people,” she finally said shortly. “But I’m not normal. Now drop it.”

Arcueid sighed and leaned forward, “Well, if I were going to leave Shiki forever I know I’d want to say goodbye first.”

“Don’t you dare.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

“Huh? What?” Arcueid turned to regard her now, a look of surprise on her face.

“Don’t you dare leave Tohno-kun,” Ciel turned to face Arcueid as well, her expression set. “You don’t know how much he depends on you.”

“What are you saying?” an annoyed frown came on Arcueid’s face. “I won’t leave Shiki. That was just speaking hypothetically.”

“That so?” Ciel laughed once, a harsh biting chuckle in the night air. “That’s good then.”

Another silence descended on the two of them, as they sat there in each other’s company. Neither of them could say that they were entirely comfortable with each other, and yet, each other’s presence was something familiar to the other.

That much, at least, was something that was to be valued.

“Do you remember that night?” Ciel finally said.

“That night?” Arcueid repeated.

“The night where everything was settled with Roa,” Ciel explained. “Shiki was in his room with me, and you were outside eavesdropping. Remember?”

“Of course I do!” unconsciously, a smile crossed Arcueid’s face, and Ciel felt a small tug at her heart as she watched him.

“That’s right, so you can remember what Shiki said about him and you.” She turned her own gaze to the heavens above, as her own memories surfaced once more.

Her standing in the room, staring at Shiki. His own eyes were distant, a soft smile playing across his features.

Sometimes, she wondered if what they said about a person being in love was true. Although he had been a complete mess after being brought to the verge of death with Roa, there had been an… intensity about him as he contemplated Arcueid, one that she found impossible to ignore.

"...... I love Arcueid. I love her as a man, I love everything about her.But more than that, I want to make her happy with my own hands. For that, it doesn't matter what happens to my life. I don't want her to die like this. Right now, that's all there is, Senpai."

Those words, delivered with a quiet conviction, from the bottom of his heart.

Back then, Ciel hadn’t yet been sure how she had felt about the enigmatic boy – the one she’d suspected might have been her target and might have been the one she would have to kill. But his words had confirmed one thing for her.

“Don’t ever let Shiki down, Arcueid.” She said softly. “Don’t ever abandon him.”

“…” She might have expected some sort of heated retort or remark from the True Ancestor about Ciel’s lack of trust in her or something, but instead Arcueid simply nodded once, a distant expression on her face.

For a long while, the two of them simply sat there in silence once more, broken only by a soft chuckle from Arcueid.

“Hm? What is it?” Ciel glanced curiously at her as she shook her head.

“I was just thinking about how much the two of us are like each other.”

What’s that supposed to mean? The words were on the tip of her tongue before she reined herself in. She knew very well what Arcueid meant, and in some ways she couldn’t really disagree.

She sighed. What was she doing here? It wasn’t like her to do things on the basis of sentiment or emotion. In fact, the last time she’d felt like that was… well, after Shiki had made that confession to her, and she’d decided to bring him along to the fight with Roa for no good reason.

She was feeling uncommonly like that now, too. Maybe it was the thought of leaving the place that she’d come the closest to feeling comfortable in.

“Hey, Arcueid.”

“Nh?”

“… If things had been different…” Ciel swallowed, her throat suddenly feeling uncommonly dry. “If we had met under different circumstances… do you think we could have been friends?”

Another silence that descended upon the two of them like a thick blanket. Unconsciously, Ciel flexed her fingers, feeling the rough skin of her palm tighten. What was she thinking, asking something like this? Showing her Arcueid her vulnerable side…

“What are you talking about?”

“H – huh?”

Arcueid stood and took a couple of steps forward before turning to face Ciel, a gentle smile on her face. “We are friends, Ciel.”

Ciel sat staring stupidly at Arcueid for several long seconds before she chuckled and nodded her head once. “So we are.” She murmured. Very strange friends, apparently, but… well, friends nonetheless.

With a sigh and a grunt, Ciel stood. “Well, I should be heading back. I can’t leave Seven to herself for too long.”

“… Hey, Ciel.”

“What is it, Arcueid?”

“You should tell him. Shiki, I mean. He’d want to know.”

Not meeting Arcueid’s gaze, Ciel nodded once. “I guess. I’ll find him tomorrow,” and with that she turned away. Somehow, it didn’t feel right to leave Arcueid behind like this, probably the last time they would meet for several years, but… well, what else was there to say? “Hey, Arcueid, I-“

She turned to face an empty park.

“…”

With a shake of head and a sigh, Ciel took a flying leap herself, leaving the moonlit square behind. If there had been anyone to watch, there would have seen a small smile etched on the Burial Agent’s face.

And then there was only silence and stillness in the park.

(X)

Just a bit of character study. Hope you enjoyed reading it.

Little short, though...

Next: Once Upon A Time

[Kieran]

. . . How could I not enjoy it?

[pureauthor]

. . . How could I not enjoy it?

... It was too short?

Don't wanna play devil's advocate with my own work, though.

[Highwayman]

I quite like character studies like this, so once again, thank you. Don't worry about word count at all, since this chapter definitely provided food for thought.

It's as if this were some sort of unreleased scene that Nasu couldn't fit into the original VN:

Arc, appreciative of Ciel's help, wants to find her and wish her farewell, but she isn't quite close enough with her former enemy to say so outright.
Ciel, with Shiki's sincerity as a catalyst, comes to see Arcueid in a more approving light. They've shared a common cause and have known each other for years, and that alone is sort of extraordinary.

Who "won" or "lost" isn't the key. Rather, Arc and Ciel's shared affection for Shiki allows them to realize that yes, the best word to describe them now is friends.

Also, I've said this before about your work, but the dialogue and character interactions are pitch-perfect!

[Kieran]

... It was too short?

Don't wanna play devil's advocate with my own work, though.

Oh, you'll never stop doing that - writer's curse.

. . . And when I'm dealing with a writer I like, anything that ends is defined as "too short."

[RanmaBushiko]

Pureauthor, trust me, I feel that one ALL the time with my own stuff. Glad to see your stuff, though, and I hope to see more later. I've always enjoyed reading your Arcueid and Shiki snippets, after all.

You always wonder if it's too short, or too long, or not quite long enough... it's irritating.

[pureauthor]

The World of the Moon

(X)

Twenty Five: Once Upon A Time

I know that I said I was updating with ‘Hunters in the Dark’ last time, but I got this idea for a story and it refused to let me go. Here’s hoping I can do that idea justice.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

(X)

Once upon a time, there lived a princess.

The princess lived in a high castle, alone and aloof from everyone else who met her. For as long as she could remember, no one would approach her.

She was special, was what they said.

She was unique, was what they said.

She was holy, was what they said.

She was different, was what they meant.

And because she was different, she was alone.

Every day, every night, in her high castle.

Alone.

And although she did not understand it, she was desperately lonely.

And so one day, she decided to leave the castle. She didn’t tell anyone she was leaving, but neither did she attempt to sneak away in darkness.

She simply left the castle behind, and ventured out into the world.

She wanted to see what it was like for herself.

She wanted to have adventures and fun.

But most of all, she wanted to no longer be alone.

She ventured through many places, wandering to and fro, observing people as they lived their lives, watching a world she had never known and did not understand.

But she remained alone.

She travelled through quiet country villages, through bustling metropolises, through riverside towns and through cosy hamlets.

But she remained alone.

She observed their wild festivals and customs, days of song and dance and laughter, days of celebration and days of remembrance, and she wondered what was the purposes of it all was.

But she remained alone.

People who saw her praised her for her beauty.

People who viewed her admired her for her elegance.

People who knew her feared her for the strength.

But because of her beauty, her elegance, and her strength, no matter where she went, she remained separate.

Distant.

Alone.

Until one day, in a city in the far corner of the world, she met a boy.

The boy didn’t care that she was different. The boy didn’t care that she was powerful.

The boy did care that she didn’t know anything about the world around her.

He laughed at her and made fun of her for not knowing things, even as he decided to teach her about them.

At first she was angry that he laughed at her.

But then she decided to be grateful that he was helping her to learn more.

And she was grateful that he had agreed to be close to her, and that he didn’t care that she was different.

And so the two of them continued to be together, the boy teaching, and the princess learning about the world outside.

And eventually the princess grew to love the boy, and the boy grew to love the princess.

One moonlit night, they confessed their love to each other under the stars, and for a brief, endless moment, all was right in the world.

But then, like an ill wind blowing in from the door, a darkness came to tear the two of them apart.

For you see, the boy was not as alone as he seemed. Several people had sought him out, and they wanted the boy for themselves.

One night, as the princess and the boy slept, four women came upon the house they were staying in, and peered inside.

“That boy would make a good subject for my experiments!” said the Amber-Eyed Witch.

“That boy is my brother, and belongs only to me!” said the Crimson-Locked Demon

“That boy is too good for the princess!” said the Mistress of Curry.

“…” said the Silent Maiden.

For a while, they argued about who should get the boy, for all the women, being selfish creatures, all wanted the boy for herself. But finally, as dawn began to break, they formed a hasty alliance to spirit the boy away before the princess awoke.

As so it was that the princess opened her eyes to an empty bed, and a silent house.

Frantically she searched, but the truth of the matter soon became apparent – that she was alone in the house.

For a time, she wept bitterly, believing that he must have abandoned her while she was sleeping. But then common sense reasserted itself, for she was currently in the boy’s home, and he would not have his own home just like that.

And so, steeling herself, she set out once more to look for him.

But despite her efforts, she could not find any trace of the boy she loved. Finally, she decided to seek the help of her grandfather.

Now her grandfather was a mighty wizard, skilled in all manner of magecraft and lore.

And so it was that desperate, she returned to him, throwing herself at his feet and begging him to help her find the boy she loved.

"Hm," the wizard said as he stroked his beard. "Finding him will be the easy task, my granddaughter. Bringing him back to your side will be much more difficult, I fear."

"It is no matter," the princess declared, "For I am resolved on this matter."

"Very well," her grandfather nodded. "Then I shall begin my spell."

And thus, when the spell was completed, the princess had in her mind a destination - a dark kitchen hidden from sight, where all manner of strange brews and concoctions lay.

With a word of thanks to her grandfather, the princess departed.

And thus, she came to the Dark Kitchen, and within the confines of the place was the Silent Maiden, stirring a pot filled to the brim with vile things.

“Where is the one I love?” the princess demanded as she entered the chamber.

“… He is no longer here,” the Silent Maiden replied. “He has been taken from me.”

“Then where is he?”

“That I cannot tell you,” the Silent Maiden turned to face her. “For though they are my enemies in love, so you are one too.”

“I do not ask this for my sake,” the princess declared. “I ask it for his.”

And so as the Silent Maiden stared at the princess she came to understand the princess’ heart, and she found herself ashamed that she should have sought the boy for herself when he already loved another.

“I shall tell you,” she said. “But only if you agree to face my challenge, for I would test your devotion to the boy.”

“I accept,” the princess said confidently.

And so it was that the Silent Maiden placed a cauldron on the table in between the two of them. As the princess looked, the lid of the cauldron rattled, as if something within were seeking to get out.

“Consume this meal I have prepared for you,” said the Silent Maiden. “Many have tried, and none have succeeded. If you surpass this challenge, I will tell you where the boy has been taken, and I will also offer you my aid.”

And so the princess sat down at the table, a spoon in her hand as a portion of the meal from the cauldron was placed before her.

And she began to eat.

The first bite was full of vileness, a bitterness that lingered on the tongue long after it had been swallowed.

The second bite was filled with a sour flavour so powerful that princess thought her lips would curdle.

The third bite was spicy beyond measure and the princess had to resist with every ounce of her being the urge to cry for water.

The fourth bite was dry as chalk, and no matter how much she licked her lips and swallowed, a dusty, scratchy feeling lingered in her throat.

By this point the princess’ will had begun to flag. The portion she had consumed was so tiny, and there was yet so much in front of her.

But as she despaired, she thought of the boy she loved, and the horrors he had to be enduring, and her face grew determined.

Quickly, she continued her meal, and before long the plate stood empty.

The princess gave a look of triumph to the Silent Maiden, while at the same time fighting the urge to retch.

The Silent Maiden bowed once. “You are indeed most devoted. As promised, I shall tell you where the boy has been taken.”

And so she told the princess of a laboratory, filled to the brim with all manner of fantastic devices and technology. And after that she nodded and said that if the princess allowed it, she would accompany the princess and see that she and the boy were reunited.

The princess was happy to accept her aid, and so the two of them journeyed to this laboratory.

And thus, she came to the Laboratory, and within the confines of the place was the Amber-Eyed Witch, standing at a bank of computers and typing too fast for the eye to follow.

“Where is the one I love?” the princess demanded as she entered the chamber.

“… He is no longer here,” the Amber-Eyed Witch pouted. “He has been taken from me.”

“Then where is he?”

“You would continue to track him?” the Amber-Eyed Witch laughed. “Such foolishness! If he is gone from your life, then he is best forgotten.”

“Sister, you should not mock the princess’ devotion,” the Silent Maiden said. “It was enough to let her overcome my trial.”

“Oh ho! You have enlisted the aid of my sister, have you?” the Amber-Eyed Witch laughed. “That is interesting. Dear princess, you may have impressed my sister with your display of devotion, but I am afraid I find such things rather dull.”

“Well then,” the princess said confidently. “What would you have me do instead?”

“I would test your cunning,” the Amber-Eyed Witch’s eyes gleamed with delight. “If you wish to seek the boy out, then solve the puzzles I set for you.”

At this the princess found herself alarmed, for though the boy had taught her much about the world, he was nowhere near done, and she found herself wondering if she could truly surpass this challenge.”

“Do not be alarmed,” the Silent Maiden bowed. “For I know my sister. And though she is indeed cunning, she is also predictable. Together, we shall solve any question she may set for us.”

With a flourish, the Amber-Eyed Witch activated one of the many computers in the laboratory, and told the princess to solve the questions within.

And now the princess despaired, for the questions were many, filled with all many of clever wordings and large numbers, and she found herself quite unable to solve even a single one of them.

“Are you defeated so soon?” the Amber-Eyed Witch mocked. “How shameful!”

“No,” the princess insisted. “I am not!” And it was true, for in that instant, the answers to all the questions laid before her began flashing on the screen, and the questions were soon solved without incident.

“But how?” the Amber-Eyed Witch gasped.

“You were careless, Sister,” the Silent Maiden said. “You left all the answers on another computer, and I simply had to send them over.”

“But that is cheating!” the Amber-Eyed Witch declared.

“It is not,” the Silent Maiden shook her head. “It is cunning; simply one of a manner you were not expecting.”

And though the Amber-Eyed Witch was angry, she remained true to her word.

And so she told the princess of a church on a hilltop, its doors barred to all but with the scent of curry forever wafting about the vicinity. And then she laughed and said that she would accompany the princess too, for even if the boy could not be hers, she could find others on their journey to serve as test subjects.

And so, with two companions in tow, the princess set off once more.

And thus, she came to the Church, and within the confines of the place was the Mistress of Curry, sitting silently on a pew, tucking into a bowl of spices and vegetables.

“Where is the one I love?” the princess demanded as she entered the room.

“… He is no longer here,” the Mistress of Curry said angrily. “He has been taken from me.”

“Then where is he?”

“I have no reason to tell you, princess,” the Mistress of Curry declared angrily. “For you and the boy do not belong together.”

“That is not for you to decide,” the princess replied. “If he desires to be by my side, then who are you to say otherwise?”

“Say what you will,” the Mistress of Curry declared. “I shall not reveal his location to you.”

At this, the anger in the princess’ heart was inflamed, and she stepped forward clenching her fist. “You would dare test my strength?” she demanded.

“I do not fear you!” was the reply, and the battle was joined.

Later, as the dust settled around the ruins of the church, the princess stood, breathing heavily as she beheld her defeated foe.

“Now, tell me where he is!” she demanded.

“Defeating me changes nothing,” the Mistress of Curry said sourly. “I will not tell you.”

And now the princess found herself at an impasse, for she could see no way to coax this information out of the Mistress of Curry.

“Worry not,” came the cheerful voice of the Amber-Eyed Witch. “For I have divined where the boy was taken!”

“What?” sputtered the Mistress of Curry. “But how!”

“It is a simple matter for one as cunning as me,” said the Amber-Eyed Witch. “I merely stole your cell phone and read through the messages within. Within it you had detailed your plans to venture to a certain mansion only just recently. Do you deny that the boy will be there?”

The Mistress of Curry could only sputter in anger.

And so it was that the princess learnt of a mansion, grand and elegant, where none ventured. And so she made to leave for the mansion. Meanwhile, the Mistress of Curry grumbled that she refused to trust the princess to be left to her own devices and would come along to ensure that nothing untoward occurred.

And so, with three companions in tow, the princess set off once more.

And thus, she came to the Mansion, and within the confines of the place was the Crimson-Locked Demon, arms folded, eyes glaring at the intruders.

“Where is the one I love?” the princess demanded as she entered the room.

“He is with me,” the Crimson-Locked Demon answered. “But you cannot have him. No one can. He is mine, forever and ever.”

At this statement the princess’ heart leapt, for now she knew the boy she loved was here, and she would soon be reunited with him.

“If you do not give him to me, I will simply take him back,” the princess said confidently to the Crimson-Locked Demon.

The air around the Crimson-Locked Demon began to heat as the two prepared for battle – only for them to be interrupted by a shout from the Mistress of Curry.

“Would it not be best to let the boy decide?”

At this, both the Crimson-Locked Demon and the princess paused, for both of them believed in their hearts that they would be the one chosen in the end.

And so they agreed to bring the boy out and to let him decide.

But when they threw open the door to his room, he was not there!

There was panic amongst them, for the boy had disappeared, and he was nowhere to be found.

All through the night, they searched, with the Mistress of Curry accusing the Crimson-Locked Demon of being careless, and the Crimson-Locked Demon accusing the Amber-Eyed Witch of having ferreted him away.

Only the princess stood silent, looking at the room the boy she loved had been kept in. She noted the cut ropes, and the open window, the lock severed with a neatness only the finest of machines could replicate.

And then she left the mansion.

And so it was that she returned to a house in a city in the far corner of the world. And as she threw open the door, she beheld a boy, head bowed from exhaustion, resting in the centre of the living room, an old knife clutched in his hand.

“Where is the one I love?” the princess demanded as she entered the room.

And the boy looked up and smiled. “He is here,” was his answer.

And with a glad shout, she leapt forward, drawing him into a hug and a kiss, which the boy joyfully returned.

And from then on, they were never to be parted again.

And the boy and the princess

Lived

Happily

Ever

After

(X)

“The end,” she concluded as she sat back in the chair, patting her lap.

“Mm…” a soft sigh came from the bed beside her. “Mommy?”

“What is it?” Arcueid turned to look down at her daughter.

“You tell the best bedtime stories.”

A soft chuckle came from her throat and she leaned down to kiss her daughter on the forehead. “I know,” she whispered. “But don’t let your father know you said that.”

A sleepy smile was her only reply.

“Good night, sweetheart.”

“Good night, mommy.”

And standing, Arcueid turned and left the room, pausing only to flip the light off on the way out.

(X)

Well, what do you think?

Next: Hunters in the Dark (for real this time)

[Kieran]

I've often thought about writing something like this - now I don't see the point. You've done it too well.

[reborn214]

daw. Arcuied has the best fairy tales.

[Kratosirving]

That was very fun indeed.

[Flere821]

I had thought it was going to be a fairy tale that has some shred of seriousness in it (Hansel & Gretel came to mind, locked inside a witch's home and pampered to become food), so it felt jarring when it suddenly became 'bedside-story'-esque.

This was still good though I d'awwed at the end bit. Great work =D

[pureauthor]

I've often thought about writing something like this - now I don't see the point. You've done it too well.

Nooooo, write it, write it! I want to see others' take on this! (Also I want to see more Tsukihime fanfiction in general.)

daw. Arcuied has the best fairy tales.

More like Arcueid is the best fairy tale!

... That made more sense in my head.

That was very fun indeed.

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

I had thought it was going to be a fairy tale that has some shred of seriousness in it (Hansel & Gretel came to mind, locked inside a witch's home and pampered to become food), so it felt jarring when it suddenly became 'bedside-story'-esque.

This was still good though I d'awwed at the end bit. Great work =D

Well, given that it was Arcueid telling the story, veering off on tangents should be all but given.

I'm glad I made a d'awww. Thanks for the review!

[Chojomeka]

Isn't it sad Sacchin? you weren't even in the story.

[pureauthor]

Isn't it sad Sacchin? you weren't even in the story.

Arcueid: Sacchin? Who's 'Sacchin'? Hey, Shiki, you had another girl after you I didn't know about?

Shiki: N - no, I don't think so...

[Rylin]

Good story as always. Still Arcueid as a mom, Arcueid pregnant. Let us all pause for a moment to think what that would be like and how thoroughly screwed Shiki would be. In fact there is an idea for a fic someday. Pregnant Arcueid. The lulz might just be endless as well as the Daaawwwws.

Also in the case of Sacchin.

Arcueid: Geez Shiki. Another vampire chick? What is it with you. You are like a roach motel for vampires.