My name is Sanford Ingleberry and I was born in Tokyo, Japan. Since I was born, I've had an odd way of talking with a hiss. It's why everyone decided to call me Snake. Since I was born my mother Akiko and I have lived in a five floor apartment above a restaurant.
Inside the place, a group of waiters are singing as a small boy and an older woman crouched around a table. Both of them have dark blue hair and pale skin, a few odd scales seen against the boy's. His nose is a little longer then normal, but he still smiled.
For as long as I can remember, it's always been Akiko and me. We've only ever needed each other, but every year on my birthday I'd make a wish...
"Make a wish, honey!" As he blew out the candles, a camera clicked capturing the needed moment.
That someone else might come to see me.
In his room, Sanford sat back on the bed. He carefully pasted the photo into a scrapbook, his eyes glancing to the other ones on the page. He sighed, slowly closing it.
And when he didn't show up, I asked my mother to always tell me the same story.
During the night, he curled up beside his mother with the scrapbook now resting on her lap. Akiko chuckled, wrapping her arm gently around his shoulder. "You always like this one? Well, let's see.." She smiled as he snuggled close.
"Once upon a time.. There was a very cool and cute singer named Akiko. She wanted to go out and see the world." She flung out her arms slightly, causing him to giggle.
In the sandy desert, a younger Akiko is walking along with a bag and a guitar on her back. A busload of people drove by, making her smile and wave. She stepped back, letting out a yelp as she fell backward down the sand.
"Little did she know that in the deserts of Egypt, the fates had something different in mind for her.
As she soon tumbled down, something or someone caught her and they both crashed into a pile of sand. Akiko coughed, opening her eyes to look upward. Above her was a young man with light brown hair and a slightly long nose, a concerned look on his face. His name was Jirou. She smiled up at the man.
The two of them fell madly and hopelessly in love as they spent time together. Soon they were married by a chief of a tribe.
Jirou smiled down at the woman, leaning forward as they kissed.
He then brought her to England to meet his family, so they could get married for real. Fate... was sadly not so kind.
Among everyone on the steps of the large home, a few of them are startled by Akiko's odd way of dressing.
But, when Jirou's father suddenly died it was known that he would have to lead a certain lifestyle because he was now a Lord... And Akiko was no one's idea of a lady.
"He knows all about it. If you love him.. You will go!"
Akiko wiped her eyes as she stared out the back of the car. It was taking her away from the one love she'd had. It broke her heart, but she knew she had to leave him.
But a few months later.. Fate gave her the greatest gift of all. A beautiful little boy named Sanford.
The scene shifted to show Snake now at age sixteen. His skin has now been dyed to a light shade of green, the scales showing a bit more, while a bit of blue hair covered his right eye. He was still curled against his mother who kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, kiddo.." She smiled, before pushing off of the couch gently. "Love you."
"Lovess youss."
Even at this age, he still has the scrapbook. He opened it, removing a picture from the pages. It showed a young Jirou smiling as he stood among the sand dunes. ".. Nightss, Jirou." He held the picture against his chest, letting his eyes close.