Guardian Stranger By Karmin StJean (dedicated to John DeMita) A comet and a shooting star Traversed the nighttime sky The comet said, unto itself, "The world beneath must die, There is no room in my domain for thee, or thou, or thy." The bell rang shortly after dawn They gathered at its cry, To hear the plans made for their days And listen by and by, To speeches about what and when, And who, and where and why? And in their midst the stranger stood, With starlight in his eyes. 'Neath chestnut locks, a face as white As snow fresh from the skies, Holds sorrow deep for his companions' untimely demise. But grief this great cannot be borne And so it must give rise, To anger toward the murd'ring thing The stranger did despise. With foe not far yet not quite near, The stranger then surmised, That for his fate, he'd have to wait And see what leads arised And in the crowd, he spotted her, With sweet and sparkling eye, descendant of his foe's own foe And Princess of Jurai Because these things, this girl knew not The stranger knew she'd die, If he kept not a watchful gaze Upon the winter sky. And if he did not guard her well, And always stay nearby. Behind a desk in hallowed halls The stranger showed no vice, But stare as hard as tempered steel And heart as cold as ice Not daring to form lasting bonds, Ere one he loved might die Refusing to shed any tear Was much too proud to cry. Then in they walked, two students new, From under foreign sky, One regal-proud, one blue of hair Who caught the stranger's eye. And blue-hair eyed the stranger with Suspicion in her eyes. Beside the window, nonchalant, Backdrop of azure sky He kept his gaze upon the girl As blue-hair keep her eyes Upon him, though her purpose there, He just could not surmise. He took his meal in solitude, Although his starlight eyes, Burned fiercely with annoyance as Blue-hair turned her own eyes Of gold to gaze upon him, He departed by the by... The girl he swore he would protect, Stood 'neath the winter skies, Gazing upon an unbuilt house With new love in her eyes, Beside her stood the architect, With tender, loving eyes. The stranger watched from 'hind a tree Keeping a watchful eye On two who chatted, happily He heard the young girl sigh He drew away, quite suddenly, When blue-hair wandered nigh In Tokyo, the stranger sat Apart from other guys, While keeping watch upon the one Who's shining eyes belied A love for her dear architect Which she'd yet to decry. Then blue-hair turned her eyes toward him And gave to tongue a cry And o'er bench, and thickest shrub The stranger passed them by As fleeing blue-hair as she moved As fast as she could fly The streets, still crowded after dark, The stranger drew he nigh To the young girl and architect, Not seeing blue-hair nigh He heard her gasp, then moved along They must have thought him shy Through crowded streets unto the beach To where a temple lie Upon the steps as blue-hair stood Not seeing him draw nigh Until he stood behind blue-hair, And whispered to her "I Know who you are, and what you are But why you've come here I, Am not aware and I don't care, Just listen, now, as I Confide in you the reason That our common foe draws nigh; To destroy she who unknowing holds The Power of Jurai. But he shall not destroy the girl, I swear to you for I, Shall soon defeat the vile shadow Who has drawn me nigh For what he did, I seek revenge!" Then he shed his disguise. The face beneath, which he revealed caught blue-hair by surprise As leapt he to the temple roof She could not turn her eyes, And vanished he, then before she Could make them both allies. The morning sunlight sparkled But never shone into the eyes Of he who now stood vigilant, Now void of all disguise With weapon drawn, as through dark cloth He scanned the morning skies All energy fell silent then, The lift it ceased to rise, The comet circled round them Then it crashed in from the sky And said "Where is it, that I seek? The Power of Jurai!" "I know that it is very close, Its very scent is nigh It fuels my anger and my rage And suffer for it I, have done for much too long now, And revenge shall soon be mine! Whoever wields that power here, I shall cause your demise" He started to move closer, But then something from the skies Perhaps akin to thunderbolts Had caught him by surprise! The comet sped up and away He'd later kill Jurai, Right now he had another task And other fish to fry Someone'd had the nerve to shoot him, Who'd dare to even try? Not comet now, but shadow dark Cold malice in three eyes, A patch of night which blocked the light Eclipsing sunlit skies And those three most vile orbs Perhaps there was surprise "Survivor, brave and spirited, too well worked your disguise I greatly fear, none know you're here It shall be your demise!" The stranger said, "I'll do my best No matter if I die, I'll see you fall, oh foul foe, Before the end is nigh. Though wounded grim, with hope now dim, The stranger had to try, Entangled then, in shadow cold... A last, defiant, cry.