Chapter 1
"This child is a disgrace to our clan" a young boy listened to a woman speak, from his hiding place behind the walls.
"Yes you are right. Such children should not be allowed to mix with our children" said another woman.
"But he is just a young boy! He doesn't even know-"a very pretty young lady argued. To the listening boy she was a guardian angel. Every time he got into trouble, she managed to get him out. She was the only person in the entire clan who did not turn up her nose or flinch when she saw him, instead she always wore a charming smile and her eyes, they somehow managed to stop his tears and her words never failed to console him. She was his only solace and he greatly respected his teacher.
"Look Miss Yamane, you are well aware of his bloodline-"one of the women started.
"He is not responsible for anything. You cannot possibly make a child pay for his parent's crimes. FOR HEAVENS SAKE HE IS AN INNOCENT CHILD!" she said exasperated.
"We cannot risk anything Yamane, every child in this clan is precious and we are in no position to afford any losses" the woman said.
"Exactly ! He is just as precious-" Yamane began.
"No, he is not! He is the son of a man who killed our clan leader; we cannot have him with us anymore. It is about time we have the child out of the way" another woman said.
"How is a child any threat to you?" Yamane countered.
"How is not the question Yamane, it is better to be safe than –"the other woman began.
"What are you going to do? Have him killed? God damn it" now Yamane sounded frustrated.
"Actually" one of the women started timidly "that is exactly what we have in mind" Yamane paled visibly.
"But for now he will only be a prisoner. We won't kill him unless he is officially of age, don't worry" the other woman added hurriedly
"No! This is insane, the elders will never agree to this madness" Yamane said weakly.
"Fortunately the elders have already given their consent my dear. But if you are really fond of this child maybe some arrangement can be done for you to meet him......anyway goodnight" with that the two women turned and walked away.
As Yamane watched the retreating figures, she sunk to the ground, unable to digest the simple truth. The young boy watched on silently but when it became clear that Yamane was in no position to pull herself together just yet, he went up to her. She immediately pulled him into her lap and hugged him tightly; he felt her dark silky curls brush his face. After a few seconds she loosened her grip and asked softly "How much of that did you hear Kuroune?" he looked into her eyes for a minute and then answered "The whole thing......" As he spoke, his voice trembled "thank you" he added "for trying to defend me".
Yamane's eyes filled with tears and she hugged him again more tightly and sobbed "I'm sorry Kuroune, I'm so sorry". The eight year old boy looked confused and asked "Why are you sorry Miss Yamane? You didn't do anything
She gave a sad smile and said "that's why Kuroune, because i didn't do anything".
"But you can't do anything about it anyway" Kuroune said.
She sighed "I wish I could my dear, I really do" after a short pause she added "if only I can change their mind....."
Kuroune suddenly sat up straighter and said "Miss Yamane, can i ask you something?"
"Sure" she said.
"Who was my father and what did he do?" Kuroune asked, the way he asked made her pity him. She looked away and after a few minutes said "when the time is right you will know"
"Was he bad?" Kuroune asked.
"I – ummm" Yamane didn't know what to say.
"He was!" Kuroune said firmly "I know he was, that's why he can't answer me and that's why everyone hates me" his eyes were by now filled with tears; he held tightly to his teacher and started crying.
"Kuroune" Miss Yamane said, pushing him back gently and trying to look into her eyes. But he kept looking away and then pulling back further he said "No miss Yamane don't come near me, I'm bad"
"No Kuroune, please" Miss Yamane tried but the boy turned and ran away. She had no choice but to follow. After about 15 minutes, she found him cuddled up in one of the corners of her classroom and crying.
She gently approached him and asked "can i sit down?"
"Why do you want to? What if you become bad Miss Yamane? What –"
"Sush, my dear that will do" she said. Kuroune instantly fell silent and looked at the floor. His eyes were still filled with tears. Yamane hated to see those beautiful blue eyes like that. She took a deep breath and said "Kuroune, I'm going to teach you something". The boy looked genuinely perplexed.
Yamane sighed "listen well Kuroune, this might be the last lesson I will ever get to teach you." His expression changed from confusion to shock. "Yes dear," she said "there is no point in pretending anymore. Tonight I am going to be very honest with you so please concentrate on my every word". Kuroune had a faint smile but nodded and sat up straighter and looked at her, innocence radiating, he waited silently
"Your father was a very powerful man, well known and feared by everyone. Your mother on the other hand was a simple woman whose only mistake according to the clan was falling in love with a man such as your father. She loved him dearly and did not care about what the others had to say. Likewise your father too loved her sincerely and you were born from a very strong power of love. The –"Yamane said only to be interrupted by Kuroune.
"Miss Yamane is love very powerful?" the boy asked, by now looking curious.
She smiled "yes dear, love is very powerful. Deprived of love life is never complete and even more importantly it is very good! No matter how bad a person is love is always pure. Do you understand?" she asked.
"I think so" Kuroune said. But before she could continue he asked "Miss Yamane is love found everywhere?"
"Why yes dear, love has many forms and it can be found in every part of the world" she said
"Then why doesn't it show itself? Does it always hide like the wind? Kuroune questioned. She laughed. So young and yet so many questions. Such thirst for knowledge was very rare.
"No Kuroune, love is visible" she said.
"What does it look like?" Kuroune asked sounding more and more curious. This love is a very mysterious thing Kuroune thought.
"That depends. You see love is very unique as visible as it is, it can also be invisible if you are ignorant and don't know where to find it" Yamane said.
"I don't understand Miss Yamane" Kuroune told her.
"I didn't think you would, let me see. Look around you and see if you can find love" Yamane said. The boy searched the room shrewdly but could not find anything.
"I don't think so........no its not here" Kuroune said.
"That is because you did not know where to look!" Miss Yamane said. Kuroune simply looked at her waiting for her to continue. "Now look into my eyes and try to see if I love you" she said. The boy obeyed her and looked deep into her eyes.
"What can you see?" she questioned.
"Comfort, care, warmth..............." his voice trailed off.
"Yes Kuroune, that is how love feels. It gives you all the things you just said and many more. Love can be seen through someone" she said.
"Does that mean you love me? Kuroune asked.
"Yes dear I do, I love you very much and I really don't want you to be taken away" she said sincerely.
"I love you too Miss Yamane" Kuroune whispered silently. She smiled. "Now can we go back to our lesson? She asked. Kuroune nodded.
"What I meant to say is that there is nothing wrong with you and you are not bad Kuroune. You were born from a very pure form of love get that?" she asked. Once again the boy nodded.
"Good. And finally everyone is different. In other words you are not your father or your mother. You are who you are and unless you decide to become bad you are not. Okay?" Yamane asked.
"But everyone thinks I'm bad" the boy protested.
"No they don't! I don't think you are bad" she said. "Don't let them get to you dear. You are an innocent child and that's about it. So please understand two things. First you are not bad and you are who you are and second i love you dear". Kuroune was silent for a long time and Yamane started to wonder if she had said too much.
Then finally he broke the silence "thank you miss Yamane........can I ask you something?"
She laughed outright and said "You never seem to run out of questions do you?" Kuroune became very silent not knowing whether to ask or not. Seeing his confusion Miss Yamane immediately raised an eyebrow indicating him to ask but he suddenly changed his mind and simply shook his head.
"That's okay Miss Yamane, thank you for everything. Good night" then unexpectedly he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. She hugged him and said "Whatever happens be strong dear, never give up. Goodnight". He nodded and left. As she watched him leave she wished that his life will have more than just pain and death.
As he left the room Kuroune had many ideas. He went towards the place he called home and quickly gathered a few things and slung his amulet around his neck. Then he hurriedly wrote the following note
Thank you for everything Miss Yamane. I am leaving to somewhere far away. I don't know where. Someday I hope we will meet again. Love Kuroune.
Then slipping the note into Miss Yamane's house and whispering a silent but final good bye he vanished into the night.
Miss Yamane, who saw the note not long after he left it, smiled and thought 'May the stars watch over you and luck be on your side my dear ' for she knew that the boy had better chances of survival this way. This was the last time that the ravens ever saw him.