A/N: There you go, another scene with the crimson beast and his love. This takes place about 30 years earlier. I like the first one better, but I hope this one isn't downright terrible either.

Got another story idea with "supernatural" creatures (called "Little Black Fox"), and after that probably writing another one with Natsuo and Kousuke.

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There was a human scent in the air. A taint in the otherwise pristine atmosphere of his wilderness home. He wasn't particularly fond of humans. All they ever did was sprout some garbage about an immortal, man-eating beast and then attempt to slay him. Of course he killed and ate them before they could.

He dropped from the tree branch he had been sleeping on and landed in a crouch. Eyes even darker red than the fur that covered his entire body slowly surveyed the intruder in his territory.

Lean, but young enough that he might not be too stringy. Flowing sandy brown hair down to his shoulders and dark chocolate eyes. Clothed in simple cloth pants and shirt, with a cloak over them. No weapons other than a plain traveler's staff decorated with carvings of ivy at the top.

A mage. He could smell the magic around him.

"I assume you're here to slay the man-eating beast?" he huffed.

"Hmm? No, just wandering around. But please do tell me about this beast. Should I be careful?"

What? That was not the reaction he had expected. "...You're looking straight at it."

"Really? Are you going to eat me?"

He didn't know.

"No? Then I'd say you can't be the beast you mentioned."

He sat back on his haunches. "You're strange."

The human followed his example and took a seat on a fallen tree trunk. "How so?"

"You just are."

"Hn." He took a small wooden...stick with holes carved on it out of his bag. "Mind if I play?"

The beast cocked his head to one side. "Play?"

The human smiled. Then he brought one end of the stick to his lips and softly blew on it.

It was a lot like the sound of birds singing, perhaps even more beautiful. He watched, mesmerized, as the slender fingers danced on the instrument.

He didn't even notice he had moved closer until the music stopped and the human slowly caressed his cheek and onward up his ear. "I finally found you..."

He instantly scampered back and bared his fangs.

The human looked puzzled. And sad. "Why?"

"You said you weren't looking for the man-eating beast," he growled. "You lied!"

"I did not. I'm looking for an ancient creature I've seen in my dreams as long as I can remember. One with the intelligence of a man, and adorned by fiery crimson fur." He smiled again. "And quite a fondness for music."

He growled again. "You're lying. All humans do is lie and kill."

The human slowly stood up and placed one hand over his heart. "If I'm lying, then feel free to eat me. I won't mind. All I wanted was to see you with my own eyes at least once."

Why did those words make his heart ache this much? He didn't even resist as the gentle hands guided him to stand up. "Why..." he whispered.

"Because I fell in love with you before even knowing for certain you existed."

"No," he shook his head. "Why do I feel like...I don't want you to go away?"

The human chuckled and kissed him softly on the mouth. "Perhaps you remember me from a dream too."

He had thought that always being alone was normal. That no matter what, humans would always fear and hate him. That the only place he'd have in a world belonging to them would be hiding in the small spots where they didn't venture.

Those hands were caressing his ears now, and he definitely didn't want them to stop.

"Perhaps we heard each other cry out in loneliness," the human spoke. "Please come with me."

He shook his head again slightly. "I can't. Even if you don't, others will scream out monster the moment they see me."

The human embraced him tightly without a word and he could feel magic washing over him.

He looked at his own arms in puzzlement. The fur was gone.

"If they can't appreciate your beauty, they shall not see it. If hiding you in a human guise is what it takes to keep you near, then that's fine." He kissed him again. "No matter what you look like, I will always love you."

"I don't know this 'love' you speak of," the beast murmured to his shoulder. "But...I'd like to stay with you."

He smiled. "I guess that's good enough for now."