That Twelve-Year-Old Boy
So, I guess kind of an AU? Sure, we'll just call it an AU. It takes place in Majora's mask, but there's just more than three days. Yeah, that's it. A several day AU.
The young boy seems almost too perfect. He's polite, pays for his room up front, doesn't cause trouble, gets along just fine with the other people staying at the inn for the festival and he seems to be only about twelve years old.
But Anju can see the world of hurt behind his eyes. She recognizes the look well. That boy has lost someone he loves, maybe many people. He's too young to experience that kind of pain, she decides, but then again, who is old enough?
He doesn't seem to have parents either. All of the boys that call themselves the Bombers are about his age and even they go scurrying home to their mothers at the end of the night. Not this boy. This one just strolls into the inn at eight o'clock most nights and offers a short smile to Anju as she finishes up her shift and climbs the stairs to get to his second-room floor.
The majority of kids his age also don't have real swords strapped to their belts. Sure, a few might have little plastic blades that they'll pretend to duel with but never actual heavy, metal swords like the one that this boy has.
One morning when Anju just can't take another second of her mother, she heads right outside the inn where she catches a clear shot of the soldier-guarded gate. The boy's standing right in front of him, showing the soldier that very sword. He lets the boy pass into the grounds outside Clock Town which sets Anju on edge. She gets the feeling he can take care of himself, but she still feels the urge to run over and drag him back into East Town, to keep him safe from any harm that will befall him.
He's a strange young boy, that's for sure, but he's somehow managed to make a lasting impression on several of the locals in Clock Town.
When she goes to pick up a few bottles of milk for her grandmother's breakfast, the bartender mentions the young man wearing a green tunic and a cow on his head the previous night, while the teary man with his head on the bar mumbles slightly in agreement.
She even manages to overhear the mailman muttering something under his breath about how he would beat that darn kid at counting. Yeah, Anju wasn't sure about that one.
But Anju had never spoken to the boy, they had barely made eye contact until one night.
It was nearing three in the morning and Anju couldn't sleep in the slightest. As most nights went, her head was too filled with thoughts of Kafei. She still keeps the last letter he wrote to her before going missing in the loose floorboard under her bed where her mother can't find it.
My dearest Anju,
The days until our wedding grow smaller and smaller as my anticipation grows larger and larger. If stress ever takes you over in these next few days, just remember that soon we will share a life together and you will be my wife and I will be your husband.
Love your dearest, Kafei
The letter was very short and simple and she cherished it more than anything. But tonight, even the comforting words of her lover couldn't soothe her gently to sleep.
Heaving a great sigh, Anju gave up on attempting to sleep and pried herself off of the thin mattress, deciding that now was as good a time as any to start cooking breakfast.
She quietly tiptoes downstairs, trying not to wake her family or the guests from their slumber until she reaches the kitchens and is greeted with an unexpected surprise.
The young boy is standing on tiptoes on the little stool she always keeps in the corner, plucking the sugar cakes her mother only buys on special occasions like holidays or birthdays from the cabinet into his already full arms.
He closes the cabinet, carefully stepping off the stool and turning around, his eyes widening when he sees Anju standing in the doorway, mouth agape.
He stumbles back, sputtering out words. "I-I'm so sorry, I just came back from a-uh a very important, um, thing, and I'm just very hungry and I- "
"Are you okay?" He blinks and slowly nods, not speaking.
Anju points to the small dining table she uses to measure out ingredients and such. "Please. Have a seat."
The boy complies, quickly pulling out one of the chairs and sitting down, gently setting all of the sugar cakes down on the table.
She sits in the chair across from him, carefully examining him. "It's okay if you don't want to answer, but who did you lose that was important in your life?"
To Anju's surprise, he does answer, after casting her a wounded but knowing glance.
"My mother passed away when I was fairly young. I was mainly raised by my best friend's father." He gulped. "They're still alive, just far away. And I can't leave Clock Town until I finish an important task."
He doesn't tell her what task. She doesn't ask.
"You?"
Anju's head jolts up, surprised by his sudden question.
He gives her a small smile. "Takes one to know one," he replies.
She nods slowly, and gradually starts her story. "My fiancé went missing not long before we were to be wed," she says carefully. "He just vanished, without a trace. Everyone keeps saying he ran out on me, just left me alone, but none of them knew him like I did. He would never ever leave me. No matter what. I know that." She doesn't notice the tears pooling in her eyes until it's too late and they're already slipping down her cheeks.
Anju bows her head in a failed attempt to hide her crying and feels a little tap on her hand.
He's pushing one of his stolen sugar cakes over to her, still not making eye contact.
She chuckles a little, unwrapping the sugar cake and nibbling on the end a little.
"I'm sorry," he says quietly. "Do you maybe just want to be hurt together?"
Anju smiles. "Hurt together."
Yeah, I don't know what this was either but I kinda like it. Please go vote in the poll in my profile!