Hi! Listen, I've been reading a story called, "The Kind of Father I was" I thought it was soooo cute, that I wanted to make up my own! Part of this is the first story on Black Star's childhood. This is where he was still being raised by his father, White Star and his mother in the Star Clan. Enjoy! ~
Grey clouds hung heavily above a very strange village. Rain droplets fell to the earth and got absorbed by the dry dirt that ever so needed the rain. Others fell onto the large needles built out on top of the house, something to protect them from a large threat, a threat that is quite terrifying. This is the Village of Needles.
The villagers felt the rain against their skin and it told them it was time for them to go back inside so they won't get soak by the rain. Soon all of the villagers were inside except for two. They were a woman and young boy that looks as if he hasn't reached at the age of six, probably the boy is the woman's son. They were quickly getting their clothes out of the rain so they could continue to dry inside their home under a fire.
"We must hurry, Ryoku, the rain is falling even harder." said the woman. The little boy named Ryoku smiled and nodded and quickened his pace. "When we're done with laundry can we have onigiri rice balls for supper tonight?" he asked politely. The woman smile at her son, "Oh course, I was planning on making tofu and onion miso soup, but I don't have enough onions to make it. So I guess I can fix some up when we're through, and I'll remember to fix them just how you like them because they are your favorite."
"They were dad's favorite too." Ryoku's mother paused for a second and sighed. Ryoku's father was hiker who loves nature and would often take Ryoku and his mother to picnics in the forest. One day he went hiking for a few days and he never came back. Search and Rescue came to look for him and they found him. He was brutally murdered. They took note that the cause of death was from a katana sliced his neck and he bled to death. Not far from the scene was a carved picture of a star in a tree. It was a sign. Ryoku's father was murdered by the Star Clan and they had stolen and eaten his soul. Ryoku had a hard time trying to cope with not having his dad anymore and he still has a hard time trying. Even with his mother still grieving a little she does her best to make Ryoku to forget about the incident and return to their daily lives.
"I miss dad." He said quietly.
"I miss him too, Ryoku, but we must not hang in the past." She looks at her son who was not looking at her. Confused she follows her son's gaze until she saw what he was looking at.
Just a few yards away, there seemed to be a man running in their direction carrying someone or something. It was hard to tell with all the rain. The man spotted Ryoku and his mother and ran to their direction. Once he got close near them, the man's features became more visible. He is quite muscular and has spikey pure white hair, but he looked like you was only in his thirties. The uniform that he wears is too white and has removable sleeves that cover up his shoulders, a scarf that covers his mouth and a forehead protector.
In his arms is a woman who too is in her thirties. Her hair is long and baby blue and she too is wearing a two piece uniform that is white and has removable sleeves at her shoulders. She also wore elastic bandages on both her arms. What is really noticeable is that her stomach. "Do you have a place for her, my wife is going into labor." said the man in panic.
"Of course, right this way." The woman led the couple inside their home, after they took their sandals off, while Ryoku got the rest of their laundry. As soon as he got all of them, he went inside, but got a soft sound of some sort of rustling in the bushes near the forest, but the young boy only shrugged thinking it is just probably a rabbit or some other forest dweller.
When he carried in all the clothes and put them back where they belong, he heard some yelling in the guest room in the house. When he got in there the woman was lying on the bed with the blanket on top of her as beads of water and sweat mixed together fell down her face. Her husband is holding onto his wife's hand as she squeezes the life out of it but he didn't seem to mind. Ryoku knew this kind of situation, even though he is quite young, and closed the door and left. And just at the moment, a loud scream was heard from the woman. Ryoku jumped at the sudden scream and turned to face the door. 'What the?' he thought. He walked over to the door and pressed his ear against the door.
"Just take in deep breaths, honey." said the man. But his suggestion fell onto deaf ears as his wife yelled out in pain. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU IF THIS THING DOESN'T GET OUT ME!" she screamed. He held his free hand to cover his now sore right ear. Ryoku's mother got a wet tablecloth and dabbed the woman's forehead with the cool water. "Listen what he says dear, it'll calm you down a bit." She said calmly. She does so.
Ryoku blinked a couple of times and walked over to a small chair. He picks up a small book and began to read. While reading he could hear the strangers talking to his mother. Other times it was screaming and crying. Out the window he sees people under their umbrellas look at his house with confusion clearly not aware of the situation. A couple of times he would see new faces that don't live in the Village of Needles. Most of them had scarves on even though it wasn't the appropriate time of season to be wearing them. They would just walk slowly… watching the house like wolves stalking its quarry. Their eyes looked like they were glowing and made Ryoku shudder and turn his attention back to his little book.
It has been a few hours now and Ryoku's mother came out. "Ryoku." She whispered. He looked up at his mother who has a small smile. "Come on in." Ryoku got off of the chair that was sitting in and came in the room. The woman on the bed now held her new baby. Ryoku stared at it with fascination. It's not that he has ever seen a baby before, he just never seen this kind of baby before. It has a blue tuff of hair on its head. The same kind of blue its mother has. Its small chest slowly moved up and down as it breathes. Instead of crying, it was quiet. The mother kept it close to her chest so the infant would be able to feel the heartbeat of its mother.
The new father smiled underneath his scarf and gently rubbed his baby's soft round head. Ryoku flinches a little. In a way he feels jealous of the child that was just born not too long ago, even though the baby was not even related to him and or knows who the man or lady were. The reason why that is his father would always rub his head affectionately when he was still alive. It comforted him whenever he was stressed or when he needed a little love from his father. This very sight of this man doing it to another child made him miss his father even more. But this man is not his father, it is the baby's. By the way, what is it?
"What is it? Is it a boy or a girl?" Ryoku asked. The mother looked up from her baby and to Ryoku and smiled. "It's a boy." Ryoku's mother smiled. She still remembers when she gave birth to Ryoku. She wiped the beads of sweat off her brow now realizing how hot her house was.
"It is awfully warm in here; do you two need the takeoff those sleeves you're wearing? It'll be a little more cooler for you." said Ryoku's mother.
The woman's eyes widened a bit and gave a quick glance at her husband. He slightly shook his head. She turned back at Ryoku's mother and smiled nervously. "No, we're quite fine, in fact, I'm afraid that we have to be going."
"Oh, but I don't think it's a good idea for you two to be leaving in the rain with your newborn son here."
"I think we will be fine. Besides I think I… left a stove on back at our um… house." Ryoku's mother raised an eyebrow. She sounded as if she has no idea what a house and a stove is, but she knows better than to get in their way. "Well… ok I guess."
"You have been truly kind-
"But before you go," The man's hidden expression then turned slightly annoyed, luckily neither the woman nor Ryoku noticed, "you are going to need some milk." Ryoku's mother left the room. After a minute or two she came back with three bottles of fresh milk. "Take them whenever the boy gets hungry. You can also keep the blankets"
"Thank you so much."
"We must get going." said the father. He gets up from the table he was sitting on and helps his wife off the bed and went outside. By now the rain helped softened a bit. Ryoku watches as they left. Something caught his glance below him on his doorstep. He looked down and saw that they have forgotten their sandals. "Wait, Mister, ma'am, you forgot your sandals!" But it seems that the couple did not hear him so he grabbed their sandals and ran over to them without either one of them noticing.
"Wait! You forgot your sandals!" Finally he was able to grab the man's right removable sleeve and accidently tore it off. The man and woman took it by surprise. "I'm so sorry sir, but I tried calling for you because- His sentence was cut off when he got a good look at the white haired man's muscular shoulder. It was a large tattoo of a star.
"You… forgot to… get your… sandals." He spoke in breaths that grew rapidly as he continued to stare at the tattoo. The man's eyes were wide as saucers as was the woman's as she held onto her son with her left arm and with another small blanket to keep the rain getting on him. Ever so slowly her free hand reached for something from the inside of her pants.
"Th-that tattoo! Y-you're Star-!"
"Ryoku?" His mother walked up to her son to see why he hasn't come back home. She then stopped and her eyes widened. "That tattoo… you're both Star Clan!" She couldn't believe this. She just could believe this. She let two people that are Star Clan in her own home! Not only that, she helped the woman give birth to yet another assassin of the infamous clan to terrorize the world.
"White Star!" the woman cried. The woman tossed a katana at the man whose name is White Star grabbed the sword in midair and got in a fighting stance. The Ryoku's mother recognized the name. White Star is a fierce assassin of the clan. There are rumors that even when you have the ability to sense souls you wouldn't be able to know that he is even a couple of feet near you. Either that he has mastered something beyond silence and stealth or he was a man, no, not a man, but a monster born without a soul. Not only that, White Star also happens to be the leader of the entire of the monstrous Star Clan. Then the thought struck through her like an arrow, she helped that woman, his wife, give birth to his son, the next heir to be the Star Clan leader.
Suddenly out of nowhere ninjas with similar star tattoos on their shoulders came out of the shadows with their weapons ready in case of a fight. Most of their weapons are katanas and ninja swords. Two came popped next to White Star and his wife. "Get Ruby Star and my son out of here. It's not safe for either of them." said White Star without looking at them. They both nodded and grabbed Ruby Star and into the forest.
"Hey Star Clan!" White Star's eyes narrowed as the man called out at him and more of the villagers came to accompany Ryoku's mother. "You're not taking anyone's souls without a fight!" Then White Star smirked and caused the man to flinch. When it comes to fights, the Star Clan loves them, especially White Star. As far as anyone knows, this assassin has never lost a single fight in his life. The chances against a group of villagers, who had only a little experience of fighting against ruthless ninja assassins with years of nonstop training, the villagers don't stand a chance.
"A fight you say? Very well then, but just remember, it was you who asked for one." He silently but quickly charged at the man and both of their swords clashed together. The man gritted his teeth and looked as if he were trying to melt White Star with his eyes. He was using every ounce of strength he had while White Star on the other hand seemed only to be barely putting any effort. Soon he got bored of the man and kicked him in the gut and sends him flying against a tree trunk knocking him out.
'I don't have time for this. My wife and son need me.' He thought to himself. There has to be a way for him and his scouts to get out of this village and back to theirs. While thinking, his eyes has caught its sight on the six year old boy Ryoku who was standing not too far from the fighting and was too startled to even move as he watches the fight right before his eyes. He has seen fights before and up close, but those kinds of fights are when people have an argument and it gets out of hand. This one was with blood and real weapons. His mother beckons him to come back inside the house where it would be safe. But Ryoku couldn't hear her. Her voice was muted by the sound of the rain blending with yells and cries, and metal weapons clashing together making a sickening sound similar with nails on a chalkboard. Then she tried even louder and told him to run now. This time he heard it and looked at his mother as if he had no idea of what's going on.
"NO! RYOKU!" she screamed. Then it all happened like it was a flash of lightning. A strong firm hand quickly grabbed both of the little boy's arms and held them behind his back. And if that didn't hurt, he was then lifted off the ground making the pain even worst. His legs thrashed wildly trying to get back down to the ground. When a katana was held at his neck, he stopped struggling. And to make things even scarier, the holder was none other than White Star.
"LET GO OF ME! HELP! MOM! MOMMY!" the little boy cried. The sound of screams and clashing metal stopped and the villagers stared horrified as the Star Clan members' faces remained cold. They knew what their leader was doing. They didn't mind, after all, their hearts are as cold as his.
"Ryoku!" his mother cried and ran over to them but stopped dead in her tracks as White Star put his katana blade closer to her son's neck. "Take one more step and your son's blood shall be spilled on this very ground." He threatened. His voice was like acid and it was the first time Ryoku's mother heard his voice like that since he and his wife were in her house and it sent a cold shiver down her spine. "Then again, now that I think about it, my own son would need his first soul soon." His eyes slowly drifted down to Ryoku's small, quivering form from both from the fear of death and the cold raindrops hitting his body and the icy cool blade against his neck.
"No…" she gasped and her heart was about to burst out of her chest any minute. Some of the villagers tried to help but only to be blocked by the other ninjas. They stared in horror as the white haired man held onto both Ryoku's arm behind his back in midair with only one hand without any effort and his other hand with a katana.
"Please, he's my only child!" she begged. The heartless new father looked back at the mother and chuckled darkly at the futile attempt to reason with him. This is what he wanted though, with a child hostage; he is able to take his chance.
"Daddy…" White Star's train of thought was interrupted by Ryoku's whimpering. "Dad please help me..." he cried. He glared down at the boy. "Quiet you, your father is gone! He can't save you now." This made him cry even more. Ryoku's mother's eyes widened. It was him He did it. He was the ninja who did it. "You killed my husband…" she gasped. The sick man gave a twisted smile behind his scarf. "Yes, and it took a while for you to realize it." Some of the ninjas chuckled to themselves at how slow the woman was.
"It's ironic in a way, you want your son back unharmed and I need to get to my own son. I'll let your boy go with no arguments if we don't have any problems with any of you. Does this sound a plan to you?"
Ryoku's mother gulped. She had to be careful. There is a good chance that the man won't keep his promise and would kill her son. But if she refused, he would kill Ryoku and probably everyone else in the Village of Needles. She looks over at her fellow neighbors who seemed to agree with the deal.
"Fine." She whispered under her breath. White Star heard her and smirked and he through the poor boy to the ground. With tears still stinging his eyes, he ran in a hurry to his mother. He clung to her apron and buried his head in her chest.
White Star only stared and glanced at his scouts. He swiftly made a small motion with his head to the forest. They nodded and they all disappeared in the shadows of the forest where they came.
Another small boy around Ryoku's age ran out of his home when all of the ninjas left. He ran over to Ryoku and his mother. "Ryoku's mom, who were they?" he asked.
The mother slowly turned to the new boy with her face as white as White Star's hair. "That was the Star Clan, monsters that roam the land and squeeze the last drops of life everywhere they go."
White Star followed one of his scouts as they and the rest of the scouts jumped from branch to branch. The reason why an average scout was leading his leader is because he knows where his wife and son are hiding while he was fighting back at the village. Finally they got to a large branch with some scouts and Ruby Star leaning her back against the tree trunk holding and feeding her baby with one of the bottles of milk. With one leap the leader landed perfectly on the branch and walked over to his wife. She looked up from her son to look and she smiles at her husband.
"How is our son?"
"He is doing just fine, how about you, have you had trouble with those people?"
"Not exactly, but are you doing okay? Do you think you are able to get back home?" Ruby Star smiled. "Of course I'm ok, it's not like the scouts carried me the whole time."
"Galb." The parents looked down and smile at their son who made the little sound.
"Just wait, honey, we're finally going home." Ruby Star gently smiled. White Star turned around to face his scouts. "It's now time to be going, make sure you grab all the souls. And make sure that there is not a single one left behind. I don't want someone in my clan to go hungry."
"Yes White Star!" they all said in unison. They grabbed a couple bags probably filled with a large amount of human souls and they swiftly made their way deeper into the forest and back to their village.