When I was alone, I was truly alone. There was no place for me to go. Questions continuously started to fog up my mind. Why did he spare me? Why didn't he command anyone to capture me? Why didn't he stick me in the vase along with my horrible owner 'Gil Fa'. That was the price I should have paid for all the times I had murdered innocent children and their mothers. He was the prince! Isn't he suppose to protect the spirit world and the human world from monsters like me? Isn't that his job? I remember the mistress spoke of a man like himself, and how if he found me I would surely die by his soldier's swords because of the monster that I am. It didn't happen. None of that happened. Thinking about it for a while, I knew that witch Gil Fa was only trying to frighten me so that I could continue on with her misdeeds. It was a shrewd trick. A shrewd trick for a shrewd woman. I hate myself for fearing her words. Why can't I learn?
A night like no other, I walked towards the nearest city wearing little clothing. Only the rags I was left with wrapped around my sore body. I needed to blend in with the humans. Now that the witch was entrapped in that vase, I found freedom was something I wasn't use to. My feet ached as they slapped against the city pavement where I would usually seek Gil Fa's victims. I had to be discreet, for if anyone saw me I could have been arrested. At that point I could only wish that the witch had put more spirit in me so that I could magically turn invisible just like the real ghosts. Why did she have to make me a patch work monstrosity? Oh well, being depressed about anything and everything was not going to help me survive. At least I didn't look like a rag doll in literal terms because she had the brains to sow me up internally.
My stomach growled, and every time it did so I would feel my whole body tighten up and shiver. First off, I needed a place to rest; using all that power made me exhausted, so I searched for a semi comfortable area to sleep. I chose an ally way, one partially blocked by a dumpster and a half torn fence, probably eaten away by dogs. Then sneaking through one of the biggest holes I could find, I finally found a pile of old recyclables and made myself comfortable. It wasn't the greatest area to slumber, yet it was a lot better than my old bed, that being the stone ground of a practical jail cell. I was at peace, my eyes drifted, and I fell asleep without dreaming.
A bright collision of circular lights passed through the chains that linked together a broken fence. It was late afternoon, I could tell. Had I slept an entire day away? My eyes drifted to the side where I saw two dark skinnned children giggling at me from the other side, and I managed to pull my body to a sitting position. The cans that surrounded my chest and lap clanked around as I moved and I said nothing.
"What are you two laughing at?"
An older woman who appeared to be their older sister walked up behind the two. I could see that she was in her late teens with long dark hair that fell over her shoulders in lovely waves. Her eyes were green, and her skin as dark as theirs.
"There's a person in there!" The younger girl pointed at me with a tiny finger, and I clutched onto the pile of cans in fear of being killed.
"Oh really now?" The older sister smiled with beautiful pearl colored teeth. She then knelt down in front of me so that she could examine passed the dark shadow bouncing off of the dumpster at her right side.
I shivered, always watching her every move like some sort of scared rabbit caught in a hole. As peircing as her eyes were, they had a softness about them that had nearly calmed my nerves. Her face was smooth and delacate, dark like mohogany wood.
"Well would you look at that...?" She whispered, a voice that sounded like sweet fruits. I backed away just barely into the cans that supported my body. She smelled wonderful, nothing like I've ever smelled before. I would occasionally walk alone by evergreens, that was the smell, like fresh pine.
"You don't want to live in there child...it's cold and dark."
Surprisingly enough the woman reached out to me even though I had made it known that I was frightened. Hadn't she seen the horns on my head? Right, not all humans have that sixth sense. Something like my small horns and goat ears would be invisible to them.
I hesitated, thinking back on the deceitful nature of the human species, yet I knew in my heart that this woman was trustworthy, so I took her hand and was soon pulled out of my little hole. When I stood up I realized she was a few feet shorter than me, yet her gaze was still strong and tall.
"You poor thing, you're all dressed in rags. . .do you have a home?" She asked me as I got my bearings straight.
"I think he lives in that hole ma." The boy stated while pointing to the old wire fence. I was surprised by the fact that he had called her ma. The woman didn't look a day over twenty.
"Hajime that's rude! Everybody had a home at one point. This world is just a cruel place and some people have to literally dig to survive. I'm sure you'll understand when you're older." The woman let out a sigh then looked directly into my eyes as she started once more to speak.
"My name is Emi, love. The boy is Hajime and the girl is Hachi. What's your name?" Her voice became soft once again. She was friendly, yet I refused to speak. The witch had called me Dokimaru, however I did not want to go by that name any longer. Perhaps the woman would have a better one for me.
"Are you alright boy? Can't you speak?" She spoke again, this time with slight pity in her tone. My lip trembled. I wanted so very badly to answer her, but because of my vow, I found it difficult to formulate words.
"I suppose then we're gonna hafta' name you then hm?" She dusted off my head while speaking. Her touch was motherly and sweet.
"Oh oh oh! Can I name him ma?" Hajime flashed his hand above his head for his mother to look.
"That's silly. Why are we naming a person?" Hachi said crossing her arms.
"I plan on taking him in. He can't live here like this without anyone to take care of him. He needs us. And I'd rather not call him boy all the time." Emi replied soothingly. I was surprised by her patience."However, I think I should be the one to name him." She looked at me for a long while. Perhaps five minutes at most. Then with a lifted section of my hair, she smiled. ". . .how about Timmy?" She asked me as though I would answer, but once again, I refused to say a word.
"I like it." Hajime lifted up his hand to make a sign of approval.
"Hm. That's right. Timmy's a wonderful name isn't it?" Emi said promptly. "Come on now...we're going home."
I was amazed! One moment I was in complete doubt of human caring, in doubt of any caring at all honestly. I felt I couldn't trust a soul, and now, this woman and her children were accepting me with open arms. Sure her daughter had been slightly negative about the situation, but she didn't complain when she was told I was being brought into her house. There were doubts running in my head, doubts and dreams all at the same time. I didn't know what to think.
She told me about her living style, about what she liked and disliked, how she took care of her family. She told me she had a husband who had been away for a very long time without any signs of leaving the house. I felt bad for the woman, having to work alone for two children who weren't even schooling. It must have been a very hard lifestyle. I wanted very much to help her. Perhaps I would watch her children while she was working. Anything to help.
Arriving at her house felt like a new awakening. It wasn't a mansion, nor a castle, but it was a lovely shelter. Some clothing was scattered about the area, but it smelled lovely when I was completely inside. A blue couch covered in white colored shirts sat still to the right of the room, and completing the circle of furniture were two other chairs. A good sized television set was against the wall and a few toys were in different sections of the house. I didn't say anything, yet I still managed to mouth the single word, "wow".
Emi walked into the house quickly and picked up a few of the random clothing, hiding them behind her back, then began to speak with a nervous grin.
"Sorry about the mess! I should have cleaned up honestly...but I suppose I wasn't really expecting a guest."
I still refused to speak, however I couldn't help but to let out out a small giggle at the way she was acting all of a sudden. I guess she took that as a positive reply.
"There we are, a laugh. May not be much, but it's still nice to at least hear what you sound like." She said softly. Her children went straight towards the toys to play.
"Oh wait until you meet 'Gramma!' I'm sure she'll love you! Sometimes she helps watch the children when I'm away, however because she's getting so old, it's harder to stay awake when they have so much energy, you know what I mean Timmy?"
My attention shot to an opening door where an older woman stepped forth. She was using a cane of sorts, perhaps because of a bad hip. Honestly she didn't look all that old to me. She was slightly heavy set but her face was smooth and unwrinkled, yet her hair was graying.
"Who will I love?" The woman said. Like Emi, her voice was smooth like sweet milk, yet at a lower tone. A wise voice.
"Mother this is Timmy...I found him on the street while we were on our walk." Emi began.
"And what? You want to keep him?" The older woman laughed. "You act as though you found a puppy and now you want us to use him as a pet." She shuffled towards me, and I made no attempt to leave, in fact I stood very much frozen in place.
"Timmy hm? Unique name. Is he an American...?" She said while lightly tapping my nose.
"No ma'am. He won't talk, wouldn't tell us his name, so we called him Timmy." Emi answered with a smile.
"So he really is like a pet to you eh?" Gramma teased. "Where will he sleep?"
"I have an extra cot stored in the basement, he can use that and sleep in my room." Emi replied.
"What would Ryota do if he found out...?" The elderly woman asked. There was an odd glint in her eyes that portrayed a type of danger, I felt almost afraid.
"He's been gone for over a year now Ma...I don't think he's coming back..." Emi looked down, her long hair drooping over her shoulders as though it was sad itself. Once more, I said nothing. I wanted to mention how much I didn't want to impose, wanted to mention how I could help myself, but I felt that if I said that the young woman would be sad. I would hate to see any hint of sadness in her eyes, for she seemed so happy talking to me. Seeing her sad now was nearly frightening.
"Alright...but treat him as a guest and just that...I don't want any trouble coming from your husband if he does return. Him sleeping in your room may be a challenge for you...however I do trust your actions and believe that you wouldn't treat him any more than what you should. You are an adult after all...a young one, but still an adult."
"Yes mother. If you don't remember, I've gotten this lecture before." The girl smiled, showing her lovely white teeth once again. Gramma smiled humbly.
"Come on then Timmy, let me show you around!" Emi grabbed my hand, leading me around the halls and showing me rooms that she favored. It was really a lovely place. There was no upstairs, but it was still nice. Much nicer than my old home. She made me giggle more than once, I suppose the entire time she hadn't a clue about my double gender. Or perhaps it didn't matter to her. I was well bound, so it's not like anyone could notice. I felt a sense of happiness around her...perhaps even a light attraction. It was a burning feeling, one that I couldn't help but hold in my heart. The only human who ever showed me compassion, and I was lucky enough to find her.