A/N: I'm just... Gonna post this and run to write (This is the last thing I have in storage and I'm not sure if what comes next will be another story on it's own, since it kinda has continuity and so far two chapters, or I'll submit it here...)

Summary: Claustrophobia was a constant in his life, so he chose to run from it.

Ratting: K


Claustrophobic. That was how Soul would call the tight feeling in his chest. It didn't matter that the castle he lived in was one of the biggest, the tallest tower reaching over the clouds on foggy days, the gardens explendid and vast, full of plants many people hadn't even heard of, situated on a high position, where only sitting outside the main gates allowed you to see far behind the city they protected. Maybe some of the rooms did had that effect on him, but it was mostly because of the memories they contained.

The music room was one of them. Probably the one that made that feeling increase the most.

He just had to be born in one of the noble families, and in the one that had a great history with music, each and everyone of the family members knowing how to play at least one instrument.

It didn't make sense, and Soul could name more than ten things that were way more practical than learning music, but, as his instructor said, it had nothing to do with how practical it may be, and more with traditions and respect for your own family. Not like he had any problem with that, he understood the need to know about your past and respect your elders (now if he didn't show it often- well, no one could blame him for being good at replying at snippy statements). No, his problem was the fact that his family didn't seem to know how to deal with him. He wasn't his brother and he wasn't sure what were they even expecting from him. He would try to behave, even if being courteous was definitely not his forte, even if his music was dark and scared everyone away, even if he would rather been alone instead of in one of the parties held at court.

What else did they even expect from him? He couldn't change who he was, he knew, he had tried. He couldn't be more social, he couldn't stand small talk, he couldn't and wouldn't deal with all the gossiping and he could definitely not stand most of the people his parents were acquaintances with.

He needed a break. A full break, away from everything and everyone. Or else... He didn't even know what would happen otherwise. So even being sure that his request wouldn't be even considered, his parents always wanting him close so he could learn from Wes, his older brother, and they could watch over him to cover any disaster he could make, he asked to go on a trip. Soul draped his intentions with mature and sensitive reasons, trying, as much as he detested it, to sound like the oldest of the siblings: it would be nice for him, he would meet new people, he would understand the peasants needs and request that would prepare him for the moment in which he would have his own land, he would learn new cultures, which would help him in case any noble family from other countries came to visit, he would earn experience dealing with people and how to fend for himself.

Three days later his parents announced that they agreed with him, and he had the free to go wherever he wanted on the condition they knew the route he would follow and received letters from him at least twice every fortnight. He couldn't believe it, and he still didn't until he found himself sitting on his horse and leaving the walls that had seen him grow.