Chapter 2: Any Other Way

"About… your eye."

Kai flinched. Even if Rick was his father, Kai didn't expect him to deal with such a touchy subject, not now, at least.

There was an awkward silence between them as Kai attempted to process his father's words, to no avail.

"Why?" Kai answered finally. "To tell me how worthless I am? Don't bother. I already know."

"Kai," Rick sighed. His son was stubborn, too stubborn the every take his father's advice, or a hint. "You know better than that. You've known me long enough…"

"Whatever. Now, what about my eye do you need to 'talk about?'" Kai snarled.

Rick was frightened. "Kai, calm down…"

"How? Tell me how!" Kai was practically crying now, causing Rick to feel the ultimate guilt, the kind of guilt that only a good parent gets when their child is upset. It was mentally agonizing.

"Kai, you have to let your friends help you." Was all Rick could say.

Kai paused in his muttering, glaring back at his father with a look of pure dread. "How? How can I? I don't want their pity, father! I just want to be… normal again."

Rick thought for a moment before replying. "I felt the exact same way when I took over as Chief of Ignacia. Remember?"

"Sort of…"

"Good. And I'm sure you felt that way after I passed, and you had to lead the village through the grief-wracked winter. But you survived. Your village survived… because of you."

"What does that matter? That was five years ago."

There was an awkward silence between them, again. Then Rick said, "You learned a lot of things back then, and everything you learned as a child… everything- from the things I taught you, to the things you were taught in wars with the other villages- it all made you who you are right now. It all matters, no matter how long it's been, because it made you stronger, braver, smarter. It all made you… you. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Kai? Kai!"

With the distant calls, the starlit shop disappeared around him. Along with his father, who briskly dipped his head before vanishing into thin air to make his journey back up to the stars.


Whoa! That was fun, right? I'm gonna have another story going up soon called Supernatural. And it's about Kai and Skylor actually being twins! :D CRAZY!

Hope you liked this short chapter. This story won't be too much longer anyway… :(

See ya soon!

-HiroKaiMarc