"There. That's
everything," said the plump, motherly-looking vendor as she handed the
basket back to the young boy.
The boy gave her a
shy, grateful smile as he struggled with the heavy basket.
The vendor smiled back
and said, "So, your brother's not here to help you with that today,
ne?"
The boy shook his head
sadly. "He hasn't been feeling well so he had to stay home."
The woman clucked her
tongue. "Sick again huh?" She reached into the big bushel behind her
and placed a big, red apple inside the basket. "Well, give him that and
tell him I want to see him when you come back next time."
"H-hai!
Arigatou!" said the boy his face breaking into a wide grin. The vendor
ruffled the boy's fine, sandy-blond hair. "Ok, get going now. It's getting
late. Say hello to your mother for me."
With the basket
clutched to his chest, the boy bowed as best as he could then walked off
happily.
The boy hummed as he
went on his way, trying to recall the melody of the new song he had learned the
other day. He quickened his pace as he remembered the new flute his father
promised him. He was to get it today. The boy shifted the basket in his arms as
he walked up a hill rise which led to his village. He couldn't wait to get
home.
As he neared the top,
a thick cloud of smoke appeared on the horizon. He stopped whistling and
started to jog up the path, his pulse quickening a bit. He frowned when heard
shouting in the distance, accompanied by the ringing of metal against metal.
The boy began to run, trying his best to keep the fruits and vegetables from
falling off the basket.
As he reached the top
of the hill, he stopped and gaped at the scene in front of him.
There was fire and
destruction all around. Village huts were burning, dead bodies on the streets.
There were also lots
of men on horses riding galloping here and there and lighting up the roofs of
the houses with long torches.
The boy squinted as he
tried to get a clearer view of the riders through the thick clouds of smoke.
Then a flash of blue armor caught his eye.
Soldiers!
'Kaasan! 'Tousan!
Shun-chan!
The boy started to run
down the path towards the burning village. Smoke stung his eyes, making it hard
to see. He ran blindly then tripped, sending the basket in his arms flying
through the air. He could only watch as the contents of the basket scattered in
front of him. He saw the apple hit the blood-soaked ground, rolling then
slowing to a stop by the body of a dead soldier whose eyes stared blankly at
the sky.
"Aah!" the
boy cried as he scrambled back, distancing himself from the corpse. A horse
whinnied behind him and he heard rough voices shouting. The boy got up and
started running again, dodging the burning debris that fell from the houses.
He rounded a corner
and ran faster when from a distance, he saw the roof of his house also on fire.
"Kaa-san!
Kaa-san!" he sreamed as he ran inside. He burst through the door but
stopped dead on his tracks. The first thing that met his eye was his mother,
her head on his father's lap, an arrow protruding from her chest.
------------------------------------------
"Kaa-san!"
Koutoku started up, heart pounding in his ears, cold sweat on his brow. A small moan sounded from the sleeping form beside him. He berated himself silently but was relieved his shout did not wake up his brother.
He worked the blanket, which had tangled itself around his legs --had he been thrashing around?—free and spread it out, laying it over his brother who was curled into a semi-fetal position, his arms wrapped around himself.
Koutoku swung his legs off the bed and stood up. He walked over to the window and looked up the sky which was heavily dotted with stars.
The nightmares. They were back. He didn't know why they had come back. It's been two years already since....since...
He furrowed his brow and massaged his temples. He let out a long sigh and walked back towards bed. Slipping under the covers, he turned to face his brother---
"Go..."
"No, I won't
leave you!"
His father grasped his
hand. "Son, you must. You'll die here,"
Koutoku swiped at the
tears streaming down his face and gave his father a determined look. "I
don't care. I won't leave you. I can't. I'll...I'll protect you."
His father looked at
him sadly. "Koutoku, you don't understand. You must save yourself. It is
important that you live." His father grimaced as he shifted his position, straining
as he reached for something behind him
.
"'Tousan, please
don't move! You'll make the bleeding worse!"
His father silenced
him as he took Koutoku's hand. With trembling fingers he pressed a flute
against Koutoku's palm.
"'Tousan..."
fresh tears sprung to his eyes as he looked down at the flute. It was the new
flute his father had promised him.
"Listen to me,
" his father rasped, his breathing labored. "You must get away from
here. You must save your brother and yourself. You must live! Your destiny
demands it. You...you are a Seiryuu Seven Star Warrior."
A Seiryuu Seven Star.
"Seiryuu Seven Star..." The words rolled off
He had been saying it over and over for the past two years.
Those words held a promise that burned deep within him. His eyes were sad as he
studied his brother's face. He reached out a hand and gently brushed the bangs
off
"Go to your
brother now. Watch out for him for. He too bears the sign. You two are
destined. You will bring peace to this land and end the people's sufferings. Go
and live. Wait for that day. It is near. Find the Maiden...she's our only hope.
Promise me son, promise..."
Koutoku rolled on his back and looked at the ceiling. Yes, I must find her. But... He cast a sideward glance at his brother.
"Watch out for
him. He too, bears the mark."
----------------------------------------
"You stupid boy! Look at what you did!"
Shunkaku flinched as a fat hand dealt a swift blow to the back of his neck, the force making him stumble forward.
"Please! Don't!" cried Koutoku as he ran towards his brother. "He wasn't feeling well last night. He..."
"Shut up!" barked the fat woman. "This is the third time he's broken something this week. You could work your backs off for a year and that still won't be enough to pay for it!"
"Gomenasai," Shunkaku said softly, tears welling up in his eyes.
"What? You're gonna cry on me? Stop sniveling, you little brat!" She jabbed at Koutoku with a fat finger.
"You're willing to defend him, huh? Let's see how willing you are to share the punishment. From now on, you'll both eat only one meal a day!" And with that, the woman stomped back inside the house in a huff.
"I'm sorry nii-chan," said Shunkaku, struggling to control the tears that slid down his face.
"Ne, it's alright..." said Koutoku absently as he patted Shunkaku soothingly on the back. He was looking at the horizon, a faraway look in his eyes.
------------------------------------------------------------
Koutoku stared out the window, watching the dark clouds move slowly across the sky to reveal the perfect roundness of the full moon. Its light streamed through the window, spilling to the floor and climbing up the narrow bed which he shared with his brother. Pale light fell across his brother's gaunt face and thin arms.
He bit his lip as his eyes took in the faint red marks on his brother's arms--Shunkaku had received another lashing that day. His hands clenched at the mere thought of it.
"Did they expect that he be able to do his chores eating only one meal a day!" he muttered angrily. His fingers dig in his palm as he fought the urge to cry out in frustration.
He looked up at the sky again. The stars winked in the distance.
I…I must go. I have
to. Tonight.
Koutoku climbed out of bed, padded barefoot across the cold floor. He grabbed a burlap sack by the door and knelt down beside an old, battered trunk. He opened it and began to rummaged inside.
He started pulling out clothes and stuffing it in the sack.
This is the only way.
He closed the trunk and picked up the sack which now contained what little articles of clothing he owned. He walked back to where his brother lay sleeping.
"I'm sorry, Shun-chan…" whispered Koutoku as he looked down at his brother's sleeping form. He bent down and brushed his fingers lightly against his brother's cheeks. "I can't wait anymore. But I promise
I'll come back for you. I'll come back…when I find her."
He drew his hand back when Shunkaku stirred. He held his breath as his brother let out a small sigh then rolled over. When he was sure his brother was once again deep into sleep, he picked up a burlap sack which contained what little he owned and walked out the door to disappear into the night.
------------------------------------
"Nii-chan? Nii-chan!" Shunkaku ran back and for in the yard, looking for signs of his older brother.
"Hey, you! Come here!" yelled the fat woman from inside the house. Shunkaku slunk back inside, head bowed.
"Where's your brother?" she demanded.
"I don't know…" he whispered.
"What did you say? Speak up boy! What are you, mute?"
"I said, I don't know…" he said softly, head still bowed and trying to hide the tears that formed in his eyes. He sniffed.
"What? You're crying again?" said the woman incredulously. Two girls, a few years older than Shunkaku, ran inside the house.
"We can't find him, 'kaasan! He ran away!" the older of the two--a lanky, unattractive child with a long pointed chin--exclaimed.
The fat woman's eyes narrowed. "So, you're brother has ran away, huh?" She glowered at Shunkaku.
"What an ungrateful brat! And he even left you behind! You're such a clumsy fool, you're more trouble than help around here!" The woman grabbed a basket which hung from a nearby peg and shoved it at Shunkaku.
"Here! The least you could do is do the shopping. That way you won't break anything." She placed a piece of paper inside the basket along with some money and sent him scuttling out the house with a sharp rap on the head.
Shunkaku walked away from the house in a daze, tears streaming down his face. He sniffled and wiped his runny nose on his sleeve. "Nii-chan…" he whispered shakily.
------------------------------------------
Shunkaku set the tub of laundry down on the ground and tried to catch his breath. He felt weak and light-headed. After a week of one meal a day coupled with the anxiety of waiting for his brother to come back, he was at nerve's end.
Nii-chan…
Shunkaku pressed the sleeve of his threadbare shirt against his eyes, letting his tears seep through the thin fabric.
"Look, he's crying again!" said a voice from behind him. The two girls, daughters of his mistress, bounded out of the house and stood in front of him, arms crossed. Shunkaku picked up the tub again and started to walk away from them.
"He's such a crybaby," jeered the younger girl, running in front of Shunkaku and walking backwards as they threw insults at him.
"Ugly!"
"Sissy!"
"Bedwetter!"
Shunkaku just bowed his head even more and continued walking, sniffling every now and then.
"I bet your nii-chan got sick of you and left!"
"Yeah, you're such a pain in the ass that he just bailed!"
At these remarks, Shunkaku stopped walking.
"Oh, look. He stopped. What's the matter, we hit a nerve?" said the older girl spitefully. She jabbed a finger at his arm. "It's true then! You're such a wuss your own brother can't stand you! And, he's such a coward, he ran away from his responsibilities. Imagine abandoning your own brother! What a loser!"
The girls jumped back as the tub dropped to the ground, scattering the laundry.
"Now look what you did, you clumsy oaf!" screamed one of the girls. "You got my dress all dirty!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Shunkaku hissed.
The girls were dumbstruck for a moment. Silence hung thickly in the air. After the initial shock, the older girl stepped forward. "What did you say, sissy?" she demanded.
Shunkaku looked up at them, eyes burning with hate. "I said, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" he screamed.
The girls' jaw dropped. The three stared at each other, chests heaving, Shunkaku's from anger and the girls' from indignation.
Then the younger girl bent down, picked up a rock and threw it at him.
"How dare you! YOU shut up!"
The other girl followed suit and soon they were pelting him with stones. Shunkaku raised his armed to ward off the rain of pebbles but it was futile. The stones rained down on him, stinging him where it hits.
"Stop it! STOP IT!" he screamed and suddenly his whole body seemed to burst into flames. Red light surrounded him and the girls screamed as they were thrown back by an invisible force.
Their mother, hearing the commotion, came running out of the house.
"Seiryuu help me!" she exclaimed when she saw what was happening. She rushed to her daughters and took one in each arm.
"What are you?! You monster!" she shouted at Shunkaku, who at this time was looking down at them with a glazed look in his eyes, his body now only surrounded by a faint red light.
"'Kaasan, it's Shunkaku! He hurt us!" cried the younger girl.
Their mother looked up at Shunkaku in fear and disbelief. "This can't be the same boy!"
Shunkaku took a step forward and the girls screamed in fright while the fat woman tightened her arms around her daughters.
"What's going on here?" demanded a male voice, the words slightly slurred.
The girls turned at the newcomer's voice.
"Otousan!" the girls cried. They jumped up and ran to their father, wrapping their arms around his waist. They pointed accusingly at Shunkaku. "That little monster hurt us!"
The man blinked once then he cried out. "Gods, what is that!?!" He disengaged himself from his daughters and approached Shunkaku warily. His wife and daughter cried out for him to stop.
The man ignored them and continued to walk towards Shunkaku. "Calm, down boy…" he said soothingly, all signs of intoxication suddenly gone.
Shunkaku stiffened then relaxed, seeing his master had no intention of attacking him. The man frowned as the faint red light that surrounded him suddenly blinked out. Then Shunkaku closed his eyes and fell to the ground, unconscious.
"What in the world was that?" his wife asked as she stood up. The man quickly knelt beside Shunkaku. His fingers were surprisingly deft as it inspected Shunkaku.
"There! Look!" he said as he pushed up Shunkaku's left sleeve. A kanji mark can be seen glowing faintly red against his skin like tattoo.
"Great Gods!" exclaimed the woman and the two daughters just gaped, speechless.
The man gathered Shunkaku in his arms.
"Where are you taking him?" cried his wife.
"Inside the house."
"Don't you dare!"
The man held out a hand. "No, don't be afraid. This actually calls for a celebration!" He gave his wife a sly smile. "This boy is gonna make us lots of money." The woman frowned at her husband but said no more. All three followed as he carried Shunkaku back to the house.
--------------------------------------
Koutoku stopped running and leaned against a tree to catch his breath as soon as he caught sight of the old barn by the rice fields.
His eyes quickly scanned the surrounding area and frowned when he saw no sign of his brother. Shifting the burlap sack higher on his shoulder, he started to walk towards the house.
Two figures in the yard caught his eyes. They saw him the same time he saw them and the two ran back to the house shouting.
A moment later, their mother came out and waited for him to approach, arms crossed. When he was near enough, she sneered. "So, you're finally back, eh?"
Koutoku bowed his head. "Hai," he said softly. He had been thinking about coming back for several days now. He felt guilty about leaving Shunkaku behind but he was afraid of what his mistress might do.
Much to his confusion, instead of lashing out at him, the woman laughed. "Get out of here, boy!" said the woman.
His head snapped up in surprise.
"You heard me! Off with you!" said the woman.
"But my brother…"
The woman snorted while her daughters snickered. "Your brother isn't here anymore. He's gone. We sold him to a trader yesterday."
Koutoku's eyes grew wide with shock. "No…"
"Oh yes," said the woman. "In fact, your brother fetched a pretty high price."
Koutoku suddenly felt sick. "No…Shun-chan…" He turned around and started to run, slipping and tripping as he did so. The women's laughter rang in his ears, and he fought back the tears that welled in his eyes.
Shun-chan….
TBC