A/N: A full summary is in my profile. The one here really sucks 'cause of the limited space... Anyway, it may take a few chapters before the ToS characters really come into the story, so just bear with me for a while, okay? And sorry if it's a bit confusing at the moment, but things will be explained later on in the story. Please send me a review! I'd appreciate it!
Forever Bound
Chapter One:
Why were they hated so much? What did they ever do to deserve such abhorrence? It was the humans that caused it, not them. Why couldn't they understand that?
Kakurenbo could not fully understand the concepts of the war. All she knew was that the Shadow Walkers, her race, were despised because of what everyone called the Devil's Plague. That was the way it had been for so long, since before she was born. How could a hate last for more than seven years?
Well, it did not matter much to her. Despite the fact that they were a hated race, the Shadow Walkers were also greatly feared, which, in all truthfulness, did not make anything any easier for them. It was especially difficult for Kakurenbo's father. He was a trader, always going from one city or village to the next. Thank the gods for Elven magic.
He was never home much, which left Kakurenbo and her older brother Hyottoko on their own most of the time. Their mother had died years ago, Kakurenbo had been four years old then, leaving her father to try and balance out his two children and his job. He couldn't just give up trading. It was the only way to earn enough money to take care of his children, and taking them along was not an option most of the time. The only time Kakurenbo was allowed to accompany her father was when he went to the village of Windycliffe, a quiet little town nestled in the mountains a good weeks ride away from Kakurenbo's home in Nightsedge. Hyottoko had his own job in the local pub as the bar tender, seeing as he was ten years older than the seven year old Kakurenbo. He often stayed home on his own when Kakurenbo went to Windycliffe, so in a way, things worked out. Luckily the three of them were not struggling to keep food on the table or on the verge of loosing their home. After all, without a ruler, Nightsedge had no taxes.
One warm summer day, Kakurenbo was out in one of the back fields of the little farm that had been in her family's possession for countless generations. It had been another boring yet typical day: Wake up, eat, go to school, come home. She was glad school only lasted for half of the day. Especially today.
Today was the day her father came home from trading in Palmacoasta. He always brought her something from the large seaside city; candy, jewelry, clothes, various trinkets, and she treasured each one.
"Kakurenbo! Kakurenbo, where are you?" a voice rang out, echoing in the warm air. The young girl sat up in the long grass, her long ebony hair in a mess about her face. "Kakurenbo!"
"Over here, Hyo!" she called, spotting her older brother not far off. Hyottoko turned around, a bit of a confused look on his face when he did not see his sister. Kakurenbo giggled as she ducked back into the grass. "Come on, Hyo! Find me!"
A frustrated sigh came from her older brother. "I don't have time for this, Kakurenbo! I've got to be at work in twenty minutes!"
A sad faced Kakurenbo slowly rose out of the grass and walked towards her brother. "Sorry, Hyo-Hyo…" she apologized, looking down at her bare feet in the grass and clasping her hands innocently behind her back. Hyottoko smiled softly and ruffled his sister's hair.
"Don't worry about it, Ren. Now come on. There's a surprise for you back at the house." Immediately the young girl's face lit up.
"Really? A surprise? What is it?" she asked eagerly, bouncing happily. Hyo laughed, kneeling down to be at Kakurenbo's eye level.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" He poked his sister's nose and she giggled happily. Grabbing her brother's hand, she began to pull him back in the direction of home.
"Come on, Hyo-Hyo! Hurry! I want my surprise!" she said, beaming as she continued to drag her older brother through the field.
"Daddy! You're home!" Kakurenbo let go of her brother's hand the minute she walked in the door and leapt into her father's arms, hugging him tightly. Her father laughed as he was forced to take a step backwards due to his daughter's impact.
"I'm glad to see you, too, Ren. Hyo didn't beat on you too badly, did he?" he asked as he set the small girl down.
"Nuh-uh. Hyo-Hyo was too busy with his girly friend!"
"Is that so?" Ichiro raised an eyebrow at his son. Kakurenbo laughed at the blush that had crept onto Hyottoko's face.
"N… Not like that, Father!" he stammered. "I swear!" Ichiro stood, laughing and playfully punching his son's shoulder.
"I know I raised you better than that, Hyo. No need to get upset!"
Kakurenbo giggled and smiled innocently at her brother's crimson-eyed glare. Hyo was always easy to upset when the subject was about his girlfriend, Hanako, and his seven year old sister knew that. Of course, the end result was always the same: Kakurenbo being chased around the house, finally locking herself in her room, listening to Hyo on the other side of the door mumbling incoherent things.
Oh, how she loved to tease her brother. Ichiro always said she was an abnormally clever child, always finding new ways to annoy the seventeen year old. She never did it often, but she enjoyed it when she did. It was one of the only ways to get Hyottoko to "play" with her. He was always so busy with either work or school or Hanako and Kakurenbo got lonely a lot, especially since she was rather friendless.
It wasn't that Kakurenbo wasn't an affable child; everyone loved her. But the other children in the village were afraid of her. It was her eyes: the left one red, the right a very distinguishable violet. Both eyes had an icy blue ring around the iris.
No, this was not normal at all, even among the elves. Shadow Walkers, like certain animals, had a very distinguished look: Blue eyes with a deep shade of crimson for their hair, or red eyes with ebony hair. But Kakurenbo… She was so different. The other children said that she was a demon that the Lord of the Underworld had sent to eventually destroy the entire world. The adults, however, knew that was not true and accepted her. But Kakurenbo did not care about what the adults thought of her. All she wanted was at least one friend her age that she could play with when school was out.
"Oh, Kakurenbo!" Ichiro said in a sing-song voice as he pulled something from his pocket. "Look at what I got you!" He held out his hand to his daughter, whose face lit up as she laid eyes on the shinning crystal pendant.
"Oh, it's so pretty!" she squealed happily. The young girl held it up to the sunlight coming through the window in the hall, marveling as the colors danced around the crystal. "Thank you, Daddy!" She threw her tiny arms around her father's strong frame. "I'm going to wear it forever and ever and ever and ever!" She slipped the necklace over her head, still amazed by the glittering colors of the stone.
"Well, I'm off," Hyo said, stretching. "I'm going to be so late for work…"
"Ah, I don't think he'll mind, Hyo. After all, your father just got home!" Ichiro said, gently slapping his son on the back. "And if he does give you any trouble, tell him to take it up with me, the Almighty Ichiro Narumi!"
"Yeah, I'll be sure to do that, Dad," Hyo said, rather sarcastically. He turned to head out the door, only to be stopped when his little sister tugged on his black pants.
"Hyo, will you take me to the stables?" she asked. "Please?"
"Kakurenbo, you know I don't like leaving you alone there," Hyo said, sighing. "What if one of those horses steps on you and no one's around to help you?"
"I'll be real careful, Hyo! I promise! Please?"
Hyo ran his fingers through his black hair and sighed again. "As long as it's all right with Dad, I'll take you."
Kakurenbo turned to her father, her strangely colored eyes big and hopeful. "Can I, Daddy? Pretty please?"
Ichiro laughed. "It's all right with me, Ren. Just as long as you come back before dark."
Kakurenbo smiled, showing the sharp, white fangs of the Shadow Walkers. "I will!" She gave her father a quick hug before rushing out the door, Hyottoko following.
There were two reasons Kakurenbo was so eager to go to the local stables: one was because she loved horses, almost as much as she loved wolves. The other was because of the wild stallion that had recently been caught.
The people of Nightsedge called him Dom, or "Ominous." He was the one that would break through the fences and set loose all of the village's horses. It often took days to repair the damage to the fences and to round up the loose equines, not to mention the harm they always caused to the newly grown crops out in the country side. A lot of people wondered if this stallion was intentionally harassing the village.
Everyone said he was far too dangerous to have roaming freely. Of course, when he was finally caught, no one knew what to do with him. So he was confined to a stall, his halter literally chained to the iron bars on the door like he was a criminal. No one dared to approach him, except, of course, Ichiro and Hyottoko who had volunteered to feed and water the poor creature.
But Kakurenbo could not understand why everyone was so afraid. The black stallion was harmless and calm. At least, he was to her. Why didn't everyone else see his true, gentle nature?
But she knew she could not let Hyo or her father know the real reason she went to the stable everyday. They wouldn't understand.
Dom's ears perked up as Kakurenbo entered the barn, her brother behind her, his horse's reins in his hand. A soft nicker came from the black stallion, only to be returned by a harsh glare from Hyo and a soft whinny from his horse. Hyo was not too fond of Dom, mainly because of what the horse had done to the farm so many times.
"Why Father lets you stay here on your own, I don't know," he mumbled, leading White Phoenix into an empty stall. Kakurenbo watched as her brother unsaddled his white steed.
"Hey, Hyo?" Hyottoko looked up at her. "Do you think Daddy will let me have a horse?"
Hyo smiled. "I'm sure he will when you're a little older, Ren." Kakurenbo smiled and moved her gaze to the chained Dom.
Maybe Daddy will let me have him. She thought.
"Well, Ren, I've got to go. I'll be back in a few hours to take you home, okay?" Hyo ruffled his sister's hair, an affectionate action he was rather fond of, before heading off to the local pub down the street where he worked.
Kakurenbo was now alone in the almost silent barn, the only noises being the sound of horses munching on their hay peacefully, the swishing of their tails as they batted at flies, and the occasional snort.
Kakurenbo enjoyed the strong, sweet smell of the hay up in the loft that drifted down on the warm air. Placing a quick kiss on White Phoenix's nose, she scurried up the wooden ladder into the loft, climbing over the hundreds of hay bales to the square opening in the floor were the hay used to be thrown down. This hole was right above Dom's stall. A few weeks ago, a different hole had been created for that purpose.
Kakurenbo lay down on her stomach, peering down into the horse's stall. Dom's ears perked and he lifted his head, his russet gaze searching the ceiling, finally landing on the young Shadow Walker. She smiled happily and waved down at him.
"Hi, Dom," she said, resting her chin in her palm. "How are you today?" Unlike most people, Kakurenbo didn't feel weird talking to animals. She always thought she could carry conversations on with them better than she could people.
The stallion snorted, shaking his head, still gazing up at her. "Guess what? Daddy came home today. Look what he got me!" She slipped the necklace off and brought the jewel into the horse's sight. "Isn't it pretty? He bought it in Palmacoasta." She placed the necklace back over her head. "I wonder what it's like there. Daddy said it's by the sea. Maybe one day he'll take me there instead of Windycliffe. That'd be neat, wouldn't it? I've never seen the ocean before. Hyo said all you can see is water forever and ever. I bet its real pretty. Have you ever seen it, Dom?"
The horse flicked his tail at a fly on his back leg irritably before letting out a soft whinny. "Really? Maybe, when I'm older and I can have a horse, Daddy will let me have you! Then we can go to the ocean together! Oh, we could go all sorts of places! Like Meltokio! Daddy says that's where a lot of rich people live. Or maybe we can go to Thoda Geezer! Er… Geyser… I forget, but that would be so much fun! And we could go to Iselia, and Triet, and Flanoir!" She paused, savoring the little daydreams that popped into her head. "Someday, I'm going to travel the whole world."
"The whole world? That's a big goal for a little girl such as yourself." Kakurenbo gasped and scrambled to her feet as she turned around. There, sitting on a hay bale was a creature she least expected to see: an elf. The fair being laughed at the frightened look on the girl's face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just heard you talking so I came up to see what was going on, that's all."
"Oh, well, I… I was just talking to Dom," Kakurenbo said, clasping her hands behind her back as she always did when she was nervous.
"Dom?" Kakurenbo nodded.
"He's my friend. He's down in that stall." She pointed to the square hole in the floor. The elf smirked.
"Do you like talking to animals?" he asked, standing up and peering into the stall below. Again, Kakurenbo nodded.
"Yeah… Most people don't talk to me, so I talk to the horses. They listen better, anyways."
A soft laughter came from the elf. "Yes, I can understand that." He turned to her. "What's your name?"
"Kakurenbo Narumi!" she stated proudly, just as her father usually did. A smile spread over the elf's handsome face.
"Well, Kakurenbo, I'm Corin." For a moment, he was silent. "I heard you say that you want a horse, right?"
"Uh huh. Hyo said Daddy might get me a horse when I'm older. And then I'm going to travel to the ocean!"
"Really? I wonder… Is your father Ichiro?"
"You know Daddy?"
"Yes, I'm an old friend of his. Do you know where he is? I need to speak with him."
"He's back at home, but I can't go back until Hyo comes to get me," she explained, laying back down on her stomach and looking down at Dom. "Hyo's at work, and he leaves after a few hours everyday to take me back home before it gets dark. Daddy doesn't like me out at night… Mommy didn't either… She never liked me going anywhere… Daddy and Hyo always told her I wouldn't do anything bad, but she never listened…"
"Why, you speak of her as if she no longer exists," Corin said quietly, sitting next to the young girl. Kakurenbo looked up at the tall elf.
"She died… Daddy said she was just going to sleep for a long time, but I know she died. I don't think anyone can sleep for three years."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," the elf said, looking down at her, sympathy in his blue eyes. Kakurenbo looked at him for a moment before she smiled and let out a little laugh.
"Why are you in Nightsedge?" she asked, sitting up. "I've never ever seen an elf in the village before! Everyone is scared of us! Even the demons!"
Corin looked up at the young girl and smiled. "Actually, I'm here to visit your… father." Obviously, he was about to say "parents" but corrected himself. Kakurenbo wondered if he had known her mother. He did, after all, seem upset when he was told she was dead.
"Oh, well--" she began.
"Kakurenbo! Where are you?" It was Hyo. "I swear, if you wandered off again…"
Kakurenbo jumped up and rushed down the ladder to find Hyo at his horse's stall, mumbling incoherently as he often did. She darted over to him, throwing her little arms around his waist.
"Hyo-Hyo!" she said into his stomach. "You came early."
Hyo, who seemed surprised at the sudden appearance of his little sister, patted the top of her head. "Sorry, about that, Ren. But they need me to take someone else's shift tonight at work, so I can't take my usual hour off to take you home. I'll bring you by tomorrow, okay?"
Kakurenbo looked up at her brother, smiling as always, and nodded. "Uh-huh."
"Corin?" Kakurenbo looked over her shoulder to see that the blonde-haired elf had come down the ladder after her. "Is… it really you?"
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Hyo?" Corin said, once again smiling that bright smile of his.
"Well, there's the understatement of the year!" Hyo said, walking to him and embracing him quickly. "I haven't seen you since I was nine!"
Corin laughed. "Yes, eight years is a long time. Tell me, how is Ichiro?"
"Oh, as insane as always."
"Hey! Daddy isn't crazy!" Kakurenbo said, a little upset that Hyo would say such a thing.
"Don't worry, Ren. It was just a joke," Hyo laughed. "I take it you've met my little sister, Kakurenbo."
Corin nodded. "I had no idea you had a sister. That's what I get for being too caught up in my own family life."
"So what are you doing in Nightsedge? Last I knew you had gotten married and were living in Windycliffe."
"Yes, well, both Minyasil and I decided it was time for a little… Well, I guess you could call it a vacation. Baillon is rather glad to get out of the city."
"Oh yeah. How is Baillon? The last time I saw him he was just a baby. How old is he?"
"Eight, surprisingly, and as rebellious as ever. At home, at least. I think he's up to something. He's been far too well-behaved lately." The two of them laughed, while Kakurenbo watched them converse, pouting a little at being forgotten. She reached up and tugged on her brother's sleeve.
"Hyo, I wanna go home now," she said angrily. Hyo looked down at her apologetically.
"All right, Ren." He looked back up to Corin. "Sorry I have to cut this short. I've got to work all night and if I don't get back soon, my boss is going to give me hell about it."
Kakurenbo gasped. "Hyo! Watch your language!"
Hyottoko laughed. "Sorry, Ren. It slipped. You won't tell Dad, will you?"
Kakurenbo tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Only if you buy me candy!"
"Oh, come on, Ren…"
Kakurenbo crossed her arms stubbornly. "Candy." Hyo sighed.
"All right. I'll bring some home for you tomorrow, okay?"
The young girl smiled triumphantly and walked to White Phoenix's stall, where she began stroking the horse's face as he leaned his head down to her level.
"Well, I guess I had better get her home. I take it you came to see my father. I can take you back to the house if you want," Hyo offered. Corin shook his head.
"That's all right, Hyo. I need to find Minyasil and Baillon. Tell your father I'll be by a little later."
It was almost dark when Kakurenbo heard the sound of horses on the worn dirt road leading to the farm. That was something her father liked about this piece of land: no matter what was on the road, whether it be man or beast, it could be heard in the often eerie silence.
Quickly, Kakurenbo leapt up from her spot on the edge of the porch and scurried inside, her bare feet thudding loudly against the wooden boards.
"Daddy!" she called as she entered the house. "Daddy! Someone's coming!"
Ichiro appeared at the top of the stairs, looking both confused and angry. He strongly disliked being disturbed while he was reading, especially when he had been home only a few hours.
"Who could that be?" he wondered aloud, descending the creaky wooden stairs. "Hyo said he was working all night."
Kakurenbo clung to her father's hand as he stepped outside. She was not at all used to visitors, therefore making her slightly afraid, although that fear at that moment was unnecessary.
"Corin! Minyasil!" Ichiro called, walking off of the porch as the two horses came to a halt. Kakurenbo hid herself behind her father's legs as the two elves dismounted, along with a little boy who had been riding with his mother.
"Ichiro! It's been too long," Corin said, clasping Ichiro's hand with his own.
"Indeed it has, my friend. Indeed it has…" He turned to the red-haired elf standing next to Corin. "Ah, Minyasil. Still as beautiful as ever."
The elf smiled softly. "You don't look that bad yourself, Ichiro," she said in an airy, flowing tone.
Kakurenbo poked her head out from behind her father, only to be suddenly met with bright, crimson eyes. A little shriek escaped her and she darted back behind her father. Laugher came from the three adults.
"Avo gruitho he, Baillon," Minyasil said as Kakurenbo cautiously stepped out again from behind her father.
"Amin hiraetha," the little boy said, looking up at his mother. "But it isn't my fault she's scared."
Ichiro laughed, gently pulling his daughter out in front of him. "There's no need to be afraid, Ren." Kakurenbo held her father's hand tightly. "You'll have to forgive her. She's not entirely used to visitors."
"So this must be Kakurenbo," Minyasil said, kneeling down in front of the girl. "How old are you?"
"Seven," Kakurenbo said quietly, resisting the urge to hide once more.
"She really does look a lot like you, Ichiro," the red haired elf said, standing up. "Although I can see she also takes after Aya."
"Yes, she certainly does," Ichiro said, almost sadly, looking down at his daughter. "I'm sure Aya would have changed her mind about little Kakurenbo if she could see her now…" Kakurenbo looked up at her father, concern written all over her face.
"Daddy?"
"Why don't you go play with Baillon, Ren? Take Aina with you," her father said, smiling down at her. Kakurenbo quickly smiled in return before turning to the young elf.
"Come on! Let's play Hide and Seek!" Kakurenbo grabbed the boy's hand and pulled him into the field out back, followed by her dog, Aina.
It had been dark for a few hours before Kakurenbo and Baillon had been called into the house. Now the two sat in front of the fire place, papers and crayons spread in a large circle about them. Ichiro, Minyasil, and Corin sat at the table in the kitchen talking in hushed voices. But Kakurenbo could hear them, and it was obvious Baillon could, too.
"There's a war starting, Ichiro," Corin said softly. "I've heard rumors that the humans are placing even more blame on the Shadow Walkers for the Plague. And everyone is buying it."
"We think its best you warn the village, and get everyone out. Spread them out. It will be safer that way," Minyasil added. "We've heard people talking about attacking Nightsedge. They think that if every Shadow Walker is destroyed, the Plague will just up and vanish. We already know there's no reasoning with them."
Ichiro looked at the two elves skeptically. "I highly doubt anyone will attack us. We're the most feared race in the entire world. The fact that we can use necromancy terrifies people. Knowing that we have control over every element, knowing that we can shape shift, become apart of the shadows, it frightens everyone. An attack on us would be suicide."
"Don't become too cocky, Ichiro. Magitechnology has become a large part of this world. Don't think it won't be used against you."
"Perhaps, but I think evacuating the entire city is a bit excessive."
"Ichiro, if you don't, the possible battle will most definitely become a massacre. You need to get everyone out of here as soon as possible."
Out of the corner of her eye, Kakurenbo could see her father gazing at her sadly. But she pretended to keep on drawing with Baillon, trying her hardest not to listen to what was being said.
"Ichiro, if you don't do this, many lives will be in danger. Just give it a few months and this city may be under siege and there won't be any way of backing down," Corin said.
"I just don't think it will happen," Ichiro argued.
"Ichiro, please, think of Kakurenbo. If what we say does happen, what will happen to her? She'll be killed along with everyone else. Is that what you really want for her?" Minyasil said. Again, Ichiro looked to his daughter and sighed.
"I guess you two are right. I'll warn the city in a few days. But there is something I must ask of you beforehand. Please take Kakurenbo with you when you return to Windycliffe. If what you say is true, I want her somewhere safe."