Chapter 1: Alone

The wind blew around the field causing the long grass to sway to it's will. Leaves were picked up by the wind, moved to and fro before settling down at the feet of a small five year old child who wore an animal mask over his face. The wind teased his short cropped blue hair as the bells attached to the horn of his mask made small ringing sounds. "Ao, the wind is moving." he whispered, his voice soft and gentle. He tugged the long blue haired man's hand trying to get him to make a noise. Turning his eyes towards the man who was laying face down. Ao had been crying? Why? He wondered trying to remember the words he had said only moments before.

"I'm sorry, I'm leaving you alone." Ao cried as tears fell from his eyes, eyes that no long saw the light of the world.

Seiryuu had taken Ao's hand to make sure his guardian got back to the village. The healer could take care of Ao, right? No. They fear us. Seiryuu thought as he realized that Ao's hand was getting colder by the second. Why is Ao cold? As he looked at his guardian, he felt his eyes look further into Ao's body and saw that his heart was no longer beating. Ao, are you asleep? Removing his hand from his guardians, Seiryuu gently shook the man's body. "Ao!" he cried out as fear began to fill him. "Ao! Wake up!" he yelled just as the morning light began to fill the valley.

Sitting back on his butt, Seiryuu couldn't understand what was happening. Ao would be angry if he left him; but he also would be mad if he didn't get help either. Seiryuu felt his emotions to well up in his chest as tears began to fall from his eyes, down his cheeks and fall from his chin to land on his fingers. Pushing his mask off of his face, Seiryuu found that he couldn't stop the tears and he didn't understand why. His chest hurt, his lips were quivering and Ao wouldn't wake up!

Within moments Seiryuu was crying like he hadn't in years, not since he was a babe. The tears wouldn't stop! His eyes became blurry, his cheeks red, puffy and his nose filled with snot as his chest heaved with his emotions boiling over and causing him to want to be held.

Moving closer to Ao, Seiryuu curled up beside him. Maybe Ao just needs sleep. he thought tiredly.

When Seiryuu woke up the sun was high in the sky, the bird were singing loudly and he was hungry. Turning his head he found that Ao was still asleep. Touching his hand to Ao's head he found that Ao's skin was like ice. A feeling of dread filled him. He suddenly heard a noise. Looking around he scanned the area and found hunters nearby. Remembering what Ao had once said about being invisible to hunters and others from the village, Seiryuu darted towards the nearby large trees that had fallen a long time ago and waited.

"Where the hell did that bastard go with that kid?" one of the men said to the other.

"Maybe they left." the second said.

"Naw, Ao feels a sense of duty towards the village." the first said. "Though-" He paused in his movements as the neared where Seiryuu was hiding. "Wait, is that..." He said as the two rushed over to Ao's fallen form. "Looks like he finally kicked the bucket."

"About time." the second said as he bent down to examine Ao's body. "Where is the kid?" he asked, Seiryuu kept low to the ground.

"Maybe he got lost." the other muttered as he turned Ao's body. "He's stiff. Must've happen during the night. Kid is probably long gone."

"Shit, if he dies then..." the second began as dread filled his voice.

"Another will be born." the first stated. "This curse will never end." he bemoaned.

A cracking sound filled the area. Seiryuu kept still. "Look." the second lifted something.

"That stupid bastard!" the first cursed as he took the now broken mask from his companion. "Let's take the body and hurry. We'll need to move the village." He grasped Ao's feet as the other picked Ao up by the shoulders.

After the two left Seiryuu came out of hiding and returned to the spot Ao had been. Is Ao...dead? he wondered when he spotted the necklace that Ao always wore was on the ground along with Ao's sword. They do hate us. He thought as he recalled the men's voices. They think I'm cursed. Am I? He remembered what Ao had said about the subject and shook his head as he looked away towards the horizon even as the sun's heat came from high above him. I can't go back. I don't want them to fear me no more. "I'll go forward." he said to himself as he put Ao's necklace around his neck. Picking up Ao's too large of a sword, he began to walk forward.

The first few nights were hard for Seiryuu. He knew how to hunt, had done so many times with Ao; but didn't have anything to hunt with. This left him to fish. He got soaked several times in trying to fish and realized that he hated feeling cold afterwards. Wrapping his arms around himself, he realized also that he had no flint to make a fire with, so he would remain cold until morning. When morning arrive, Seiryuu saw that the air was so cold that he could see the air he breathed. Puffs of warm air moved in front of his lips as he breathed in and out. His arms were wrapped so tightly around his chest.

Standing slowly, Seiryuu picked up Ao's sword and began to walk. As he did so, his body began to slowly warm up. Leaving the forest he made it to the main road. Looking left, he saw nobody coming. Looking right, he saw a group of men walking away from where he stood. As he walked, he hefted the sword over his shoulder. The metal shone brightly as the sun's light was reflected from it.

Hours passed as Seiryuu walked on and on, one foot in front of the other. His stomach grumbled at missing breakfast as the time for lunch neared. Seiryuu found that he was so very tired too. His legs ached as body pleaded with him to rest. He shook his head. No. I'll be found out in the open. If I keep walking I'll come to another village. I'll rest there. He told himself, but he knew he wouldn't be able to make it to the next village; it was just too far away.

His eyes suddenly widened as he spotted a fancy gold carriage that was pulled off to the side of the road. The driver was in his seat, but the side door was open. Peering inside, he felt something pulling him to look. A small child laid asleep on the cushioned seat. Bright red hair was splayed around the small child, but he could not see its face. Looking towards the back of the carriage where the luggage was stacked, Seiryuu squeezed himself into a spot between the luggage and carriage. As the horses began to trot away, the swaying of the carriage slowly put Seiryuu asleep.

M-Angel: Since Ruby Sky is almost finished I thought I would post my next Gem story. This one will mainly be a Out Shin-ah and Yona, though I may add in Zeno and the others later one; I haven't decided. So far it is slated to only have 20 chapters, but we all know how that went with Ruby Sky; which is going to end at 108, currently has 104 chapters. ^_^