Well, considering the state of this computer, I dont know if this will last… so here we go!

Chapter one

"I can't take care of that thing!" the old woman spat at the screaming baby that was lying in a crib.

"Well, I'm sorry." The officer crossed his arms and started making his way out the door. "In your daughter's will, he was passed over to you, so it is up to you to take care of him."

"You cant do this!" she yelled. "I'm too busy with the farm, and all my other children! I don't have time for another baby!"

The officer practically ignored her as he nodded a "Good bye" and shut the door behind him.

Hours later, the woman was sitting in her kitchen, accompanied by one of her friends.

"It shouldn't be my responsibility if my oldest wants to run away with some irresponsible young man and then leave her child here when she dies."

"By no means!" her friend shook her head and they both turned to look in disgust in the direction of the screaming baby. "But suppose you could make use out of him?"

"Yes, I suppose I could put him to work when he's old enough. But my children are trouble enough as it is! Little Will is only three, himself!"

"Well, it sure isn't your responsibility to take care of that thing, perhaps you could get your children to help out with him…"

"I can try." She rolled her eyes. "But you know how they take to having to get to work." She stood up and started wiping the table. "We work so hard as it is." She shook her head and felt it her hand. "I'm getting old."

"You do work hard, Emma." Her friend stood and took her hands. "Perhaps I can help you with the baby."

"Oh, you are a friend." Emma, the old woman, turned from sour to bright and embraced her friend in a tight hug.

"Do you even know the brat's name?" Her friend pulled away and looked at Emma in the eyes.

"I believe he has something around his neck…" she mumbled and walked over to the cradle where the infant was lying in agony. She reached in and pulled him out. Being in someone's arms, the baby immediately brightened. There was a small chain around his neck with an inscribed piece of metal on it. Looking at it closely, she read: "Kouji Minamoto".

"Odd name." Emma's friend touched her lip. "Would you say she married a foreigner?"

"Most likely an idiotic one… he got he and his wife killed!" Emma snorted. At that, she laid him down in the cradle again and the two of them walked out of the room to avoid the loud noise of his screams.

Five years later, Kouji sat on the floor shucking corn. He was very scrawny but still has much more muscle than most boys his age. He was covered in filth and hadn't gotten a bath in at least three days. His hair was completely black and so were his eyes. His Grandmother, Emily, often cursed him or mumbled things he couldn't hear when she saw him, but mostly she tried to hold her tongue because of his young ears.

He looked up to see her walk in with his grandfather who had just finished farming for the day. The seemed to be in an argument so he didn't say anything when they approached.

"If you just put yourself to more work, woman, we might get things done around here!" he grumbled. He groaned as he collapsed himself on his chair.

"Oh Henry, I would watch my mouth! I work harder than anyone else here! Especially with this piece of trash here; always asking for useless favors! If we didn't have him to take care of, we might be able to get back on our feet!" His grandmother, Emma, pointed her finger at Kouji and exclaimed in disgust.

"What?" the old man turned to him and growled. "You being a pest?" his eyes went so dark, little Kouji almost ran and hid under the table.

"More than you know!" she stood up straight and set her fists on her hips. "Just yesterday, he had the nerve to ask for a toy! A toy!" she shook her head again in shame.

Kouji cringed at the word, 'toy' and felt a sense of complete regret for asking such a thing.

"You think we got time for games?" his grandfather, already in a bad mood, stood up and grabbed the broom that was leaning against the wall. Kouji's eyes went wide and he shook his head nervously. "Do you think we have time to let you goof off and waste time?" his voice grew louder as he stepped closer to the little 6-year-old boy who was sitting on the kitchen floor, surrounded in corn husks.

"I'm sorry…" his voice came out very quiet and timid.

"We work hard to feed your stomach!" the old farmer whacked him once with the broom harshly.

"Oh, look at that ugly thing." Emma crossed her arms. "Do you honestly think we should keep that little monster in our house? Who knows! We must have brought in demons just letting him work here."

The old man grunted. "Nah… with a lesson or two, we could get some work out of it in time."

"But what if people see him?" she brushed her hair behind her ear. "Too many guests have seen that disgrace. He shouldn't be let in the house; he grows uglier with age." She turned around as to not look at him.

The old man shouted at him and beat him with the broom a couple more times before her sent him back to shucking the corn and then left the room.

Eight years later, Kouji was fourteen. As his grandmother always said, he was too ugly to live in the house any longer, so he stayed out in the barn to sleep. It was almost sunrise, and Kouji was lying awake in a stack of hay. He knew he had to be up in about half an hour, so he kept himself awake. He was fiddling with the chain around his neck and gazing preciously at his only possession. He knew that either his mother or his father has inscribed his name there, so it meant more to him than the world. He had spent his whole life on that farm. In fact, he has never even left the place. He often times dreamed or imagined what it must look like outside in the world around him, but he just couldn't get there. Sometimes, his uncle Will, who was only three years older than him, would tell him about things like lakes and mountains, but he just couldn't imagine what they might be like. On times he found when the family would go to church or to town, he would climb up on top of the barn and look as far as he could see. All he saw were trees though, and nothing else. His plans were to leave one day, and to find out what happened to his parents.

He was scared of leaving. He was told every day by his family how ugly he was, and Kouji was almost glad he didn't have to go to church or town so that no one else could see his hideous face. However, he always told himself that when he was old enough, he would run away and start his own life.

Just as he was about to get up, he heard someone slowly creep into the barn. A couple years before, they had gotten robbed of two cows while Kouji was sleeping there, and he had gotten a beating he would never forget! He wasn't about to let that happen again. He watched carefully as a figure crept into the barn and started to hide in some hay. Before it could get inside, Kouji was on top of it within seconds. He threw his hand over his mouth and looked closely to see that it was, in fact, a little girl! She looked about 13, but struggled mightily to get out of his grasp.

"Quiet!" Kouji whispered harshly. She struggled a bit more and then stopped moving once she knew she couldn't get loose. "Ok, ok." Kouji slowly took his hand off her mouth but he didn't get off or let her arms go. "Now, I don't know who you are, or how hungry you might be, but I can't allow you to steal our livestock."

"I'm not stealing!" she exclaimed.

"Then what are you doing?" Kouji looked closely at her. She seemed to be dressed nicely for a run-away girl. The room started to lighten as the sun approached rising and Kouji got a little nervous.

"I wanted a place to hide!" she struggled again to break free. "Now will you please get off me, sir?" she frowned.

"I'm no 'sir'." Kouji laughed. "But if you want a place to hide, I'm not sure you picked the best place!" He got off from on top of her and helped her up with his hand.

"Would you like to hide here?" he crossed his arms.

"Yes." She crossed hers as well.

"Very well, but you mustn't say a word." He warned her. "We will both get killed if you're found. My grandfather will be out here in an hour, but a couple hours after that, he will take the family to church! Because, today is Sunday. Then, you will be able to come out and perhaps I can even get you some food." He smiled brightly. He saw now that it was getting lighter that she was elegant or even important looking, so he wanted to be as polite as possible. It was then when he realized how light it was getting, and that she could probably see him as well! He quickly covered his face and told her to go hide in the hay up on the loft.

As soon as she had gotten up, Kouji sat down on his stool and started milking the cows. It was dawn now, and he was supposed to start on his daily chores. The girl crept up to the edge to see him for a moment. As he wasn't wearing his shirt, not only did she see how dirt-covered he was, but there were several scars and bruises on his back.

About half an hour later, as he was still milking the cows, his grandfather came into the barn to see that he was working and then left to do his own work. Kouji ignored the girl for three more hours until he saw the family drive down the road in the wagon to church. Then, he hopped up and called out to her.

"You can come down now!" she cupped his mouth and shouted up at the loft.

"Thank you." She said half-wittingly and climbed down the ladder. Kouji turned around to work and didn't allow her to see him face.

"Are you hungry?" he asked; facing the other way.

"Yes, very much so!" she exclaimed and tried to work her way around him to see his face. Kouji dodged her glances. "Oh, come now!" she finally whined. "Why wont you let me look at you?"

"No reason." Kouji walked out of the barn. "Let me get you some food."

He showed up again five minutes later with some milk and buttered bread.

"What's your name?" he asked when he handed it to her. His head was bowed, and he didn't look at her face.

"I'll tell you if you look at me in the eyes!" she pt her hands on her hips. Kouji reluctantly looked up and faced her in the eyes. He had a disappointed face on and didn't want to see her reaction once seeing how ugly he was. "My name is Kari!" she smiled brightly once he looked at her.

"Kari." Kouji smiled back. He thought it was a very elegant name.

"My name is Kouji Minamoto." He bowed low to her.

"I am very glad to meet you, Kouji! You have a most interesting name." She folded her hands.

"Do you not like it?" Kouji lost his smile.

"Oh, I like it very much!" she sat down in the hay.

"Where do you come from?" Kouji sat beside her. "Why are you hiding?"

"Oh…" Kari searched for words. "I don't know." She seemed to lie.

"I don't believe you." Kouji crossed his arms. She searched for something else to say, but Kouji kept asking questions. "Have you ever seen a lake?"

"A lake?" she laughed. "I have seen many lakes!"

Kouji brightened. "And mountains! Have you seen those?" He sat up straight and beamed.

"Yes!" she smiled back at him. "I live near mountains. I see them every time I look out my window."

"Wow!" Kouji searched his imagination. "You must live far away!"

"Yes, I do." She sighed.

"What are they like?" Kouji persisted.

"What are what like?"

"Mountains! And lakes!"

"You mean you have never seen them?" Kari raised her eyebrows and laughed.

Kouji frowned. "No…"

"Well, I will tell you!" she giggled and crossed her legs. She went on explaining lakes, rivers, oceans, mountains, hills, and all to Kouji. In fact, they talked so long that they both didn't realized that the day passed them. For soon, it was nearing dusk, and Kouji heard the wagon coming back up the road.

"Oh no…" he gulped. "Kari, you need to leave…"

"Oh…" she sadly sighed.

Kouji led her to the door and told her which way to go.

"Kouji…" she took his hand before she left.

"Yes?"

"I will never forget you! And one day, I want to see you again." She smiled kissed him on the cheek. Kouji's face went bright red and he couldn't help but smile. He seemed to overflow with happiness.

"No one has ever done that to me before." He whispered softly.

"Done what, kiss you?" she laughed.

"No one has ever done anything kind for me." He looked down.

Kari's face went sadly soft. "Surely your mother…"

"I never knew her." Kouji was still smiling. "And I have never received something kind because of how ugly I am." He looked down in disgrace.

"Nonsense!" Kari laughed. "I believe you are as handsome as a prince!" she leaned over and kissed him again on the cheek and then ran off into the trees.

Kouji stood there for minutes with a smile stuck on his face. He would have stayed there for days if his grandfather hadn't come and beat him to his senses for not doing any chores all day. All the same, he still had the best day of his life.