Downpast the playground and over to the right
Then down the alley just out of sight
Where memories flash like a firefly's glow
Downpast the playground and over to the right
Then down the alley just out of sight
We slip past the darkness under the cover of night
Steal through silence under the street lights glow
They see us and saynothingbecause because they all know
We are headed for the place where the broken dreams go.
Forgotten Playground
Shuichi was astounded as he looked around at the studio. Just seconds ago it there was nothing wrong, but now everything had been tossed about as if… as if…
"S-Shuichi, are you ok?" stammered Hiro.
"I'm fine, but you guys look like shit. What the hell happened."
Before the earthquake hit you started to glow, then a white light blocked everything out, but we heard you scream, at least I think that was you." Hiro said with awe.
"What? What are you talking about? " Shuichi turned to Yuki in hopes of getting a straight answer "Yuki what's going on?" but Yuki was staring at Shuichi like he didn't recognize him. "Yuki! Say something!"
………….
The total extent of just what had transpired wasn't realized until the news reports started coming in from around the globe.
Everybody had gathered around the TV in the green room to see what happened. Shuichi stared blankly at the news reporter delivering the news with that false sincerity news reporters have about them, "Satellite pictures show that a seismic event originated from Tokyo, Japan and radiated around the entire Earth. The shockwave sent all of the planet's fault lines into motion at once. The results were felt around the entire globe, even opening up new fault lines there were none previously.
Most areas of the planet experienced only mild earthquakes of about 2.4, but in the US quakes hit California coastline causing devastation from San Diego and all the way up the coast to San Francisco. Experts report that the fault lines in California were due for a large quake. With the huge amounts of energy already building in the fault lines, this global event triggered earthquakes of magnitude 6.4 and as high as 7.8 throughout the California coast.
Amazingly Tokyo being at the center of the activity received only minimal damage; suffering only milder quakes in the 4.5 to 6.0 ranges and thanks to the city's strict building codes.
Scientists are at a total loss as to what could have caused such a cataclysmic event."
Shuichi felt his stomach twist into knots as the news reports came in, many of them showing bodies being pulled from the devastation and frightened survivors. People had died, others were suffering, and Shuichi had a sinking feeling that he had something to do with what happened. That somehow he had caused all of this. He shivered at the thought, but that was impossible, wasn't it? It was just a coincidence that the quake hit at the same time as that weird light.
All of this thinking was making Shuichi's head spin. He remembered the blinding white light. He tried to figure out what happened, but it was no use. That light was like nothing he had experienced before. It was more like something that took years to build deep in his darkest places just waiting to be released. The darkness was gone now and there wasn't much else to remember. Accept for the fact that he felt pain with that light, but it wasn't his pain. Could he have felt the pain of the darkness itself?
Meanwhile somewhere next to nowhere in anempty place the something in the darkness gave out a tiny cry of frustration and despair. Wrapped in the deafening silence one soul searched for a way out of the darkness. One tiny soul lost in a world of nothingness all round it. Whether it raged or cried or screamed or pleaded nothing changed. For one shining moment it had heard the singing. With all it's might it had reached for the bright fleeting hope in that song, but in a flash it was gone and the silence came crashing back again.
Siafu was pacing about a in a dark cave, mulling over nearly failed plans and unclear motives. He was unsure. If only for a moment, he had forgotten why he started all of this. What was he after all along? Was it revenge against a world that refused to take care of itself? Against humans who continue to feed off of the suffering? His eye twitched as he faced himself with the possibility that this was all some attempt to get his father's attention. His mind bushed over his father's last words to him, "Give up those dirt people and come home. The company needs you."
Then Siafu remembered that day. The day the screams woke him up in time to find bloody rivers of death shining in the light of a glorious sunrise. A sunrise as red as the blood that flowed from the people he had worked so hard to save, his people. Each one stolen away from slavery in the diamond mines, at the risk of his own life. He had promised all of them safety, he had promised a new life for them and their children. On that day all those promises were all broken. On that day the sun did not falter as it shown down on the scene and the birds did not fail to sing. They sang and went on even though Siafu's whole world had been torn asunder. Nobody cared. Nobody mourned the bodies in the dust accept for him. And rich women walked into fancy shops to buy diamonds, never knowing the pain and sorrow they were financing.
Siafu's resolve solidified and his motives had come full circle again. People will continue to feed the machine until it was stopped completely. Yes he would fix this world for better or worse and make it pure without pain and starving children, no matter what it took, no matter how bloody his hands had to be.
Anthony had been watching his friend pace in the cave. He licked his lips nervously as he watched Siafu's face twist from one emotion to the next. Anthony liked power and Siafu exuded it in spades. His admiration was enough to endure Siafu's rants and tantrums. Still, he made sure was out of Siafu's striking range before starting to speak, "It seems like such a simple request. After all if we expect this thing to follow our orders why don't we try to be nice to it. It seems only right."
Siafu did not appreciate the interruption. He glared at Anthony causing the man to shrink back a step or two "Anthony, it is a tool it does not need a name. A name would be just a hindrance for such a monster. With a name might come a heart and a tool of destruction has no need of such things." Siafu made his way to a pit in the corner of the cave, "Even if I wanted to entertain your ridiculous idea we are not the ones with the power give that thing a name."
"I see, so does that mean there is somebody out there who can?"
"I don't know." Siafu shot in an annoyed tone, "but I have a sinking feeling it's our pink haired friend, which is why I think it's high time we get him out of the way completely."
"I understand boss.", Anthony said as he slipped out of the cave.
Siafu bent down over the enormous pit giving off a sickening red glow, his face shining in the dim light and crooned, "The thought of the living burns you, doesn't it? Give it up. He wants nothing to do with a monster like you. To him you are the ID and nothing more. He will destroy you as soon as you give him the chance."
…………
When the next day came Shuichi wasn't doing any better. Guilt and uncertainty plagued him, but he still held on to the fact that it seemed pretty impossible for him to have that much power.
He might have been able to cope with the rest of what the day had planned, if he hadn't turned on the news. Sure enough there was another news reporter down on the bad side of town. She was giving a report on a part of an old pier that collapsed due to the earthquake. In that collapse a man had died, a homeless man. Shuichi felt his throat go dry as the dull ache of fear filled his lungs. There had to be thousands of homeless people in that area. It could be anybody down there what are the chances of it being the very same man he met a few days ago. He watched as the camera focused on the body bag. The news reporter was still spewing useless facts Shuichi wasn't even able to understand what she was saying anymore. He began to feel very sick as he recognized something next to the body. "Oh god please no", he muttered aloud as his morning came crashing to a complete halt. Shuichi gazed in silent horror upon a familiar battered fishing pole lying next to the body bag.
Yuki was sitting at the kitchen table and had heard Shuichi muttering at the TV. He went over to see what would cause a person to talk to an inanimate object. Yuki looked down at Shuichi saw that Shuichi looked like he was about to be sick.
"Hey if your going to blow chunks, you better go to the bathroom. I am not cleaning up your mess!"
Shuichi looked up at his lover. Yuki recoiled at the lost look on Shuichi's face. It was the look of a man who just wanted to give up completely. "What's wrong now?" he spat a bit too harshly
Shuichi looked down at the floor, unable to explain what was going on. For the first time in his life Shuichi Shindou was at a loss for words.
Yuki felt something too this time. It was a wave of anguish so thick it was tangible. If felt like Shuichi was being washed away from him. He did the only thing he could think of, he grabbed up his lover and held him. Shuichi just cried.
"Baka please stop crying you know I hate when you cry." Yuki breathed.
"I can't help it," Shuichi sobbed, "I think it's all my fault Yuki. I just know it."
Yuki knew what Shuichi was talking about, because the thought had crossed his mind as well, but Shuichi didn't need to know that, "Did it ever occur to you that the it was the earthquakes effect on you, you felt and not the other way around? Besides Joe said that nobody has that kind of power. According to Joe you wouldn't even be here right now if that was you. You would have d.." Yuki found he could not finish the sentence. He sort of choked on the last word.
Shuichi was not convinced. His head was spinning out of control and he felt trapped. Maybe if he went outside he could clear his head. Maybe then he could catch his breath, just maybe.
Yuki quickly changed the subject, "Speaking of maniacs Joe called. He says he wants to talk to you."
"Tell him I left for Denmark and I won't be home for a year."
"Why Denmark?"
"Yuuukiii, just make something up. I don't want to see them today.", Now Shuichi really had to get out of the apartment for a wile, "Yuki, I'm fine now really."
"Are you sure, because if I have to change another shirt you're going to have to do the laundry."
"Yea, thanks Yuki." Shuichi exhaled as Yuki reluctantly let go of him and wandered back into his office. Shuichi watched his lover go; only when he was sure Yuki wasn't coming back out did he scribble a quick note and sneak out the door.
Shuichi headed to his favorite place, the park. But this time he was headed for a part of the park he only went to when he really felt lost. He was headed to the forgotten place. Past a stand of over grown weeds and shadows to a corner of the park far away from the joggers' track and the traffic's din. A secret place, where the rusted swings sway and squeak in the gentle winds as if they are moved by the memories of the children who once played there. Where the tiny bits of paint chip away day by day raining down brightly colored flakes against the dark ground. This is the playground nobody plays in anymore. Where the weeds have grown high to conceal the decaying equipment, but the memories here still flash like lightning bugs on a summer night.
Shuichi seemed to be the only one who knew this place was here. It was here he would come to forget about the rest of the world, and he would imagine all of the children who once played here. The tender friendships that sometimes lasted mere hours while others lifetimes. The children are gone now, one by one each child was swallowed up by the world to be turned into adults, but the park is still here. A link that puts them all together whether they know it or not.
Shuichi sat on the rusted swings to think for him this wasn't a sad place, for now he too was a one of the parks children. Here he imagines where all of the other children are now and how a part of their hearts is still here whispering childish wishes into the wind, under the trees. And when he closes his eyes he imagines he hears those wishes floating on the breeze along with the laughter. All the dreams are still here playing under these trees on these swings.
Sometimes Shuichi toyed with the idea of donating money to have this part of the park cleaned up. It would be so easy for him and to do so, but part of him loved ghosts these old swings held. He just didn't have the heart to have it all torn up.
Shuichi just sat there on that rusted swing and let his mind wander over the lives of people he did not know. The ran over the conversation with the old fishing bum, who was now dead. He man had seemed so happy to be able to play life by his own rules. Still, it was hard to believe that he died like that. What a stupid way to die! Homeless and alone like that. Shuichi wondered how long it took somebody to find the body. How long he laid there in the dirt with his pole lying on the ground beside him. Did he miss the sunset that day?
Shuichi was there for a long time before the weeds started rustling. Somebody was coming. He ducked off of his swing into one of the over grown bushes as a couple emerged into the clearing of the playground. They were a middle-aged couple. The lady led the way dragging the man by the hand.
"Wow it's still here!" the lady said in awe.
"Great now can we go before we get gangrene? Ick. I need a tetanus shot just looking at this place." The man groused. Shuichi couldn't help but snicker at the fact he sounded like Yuki.
"Oh come on! Herb. It's just like it was when we were kids! It's amazing that everything is still here." She said as she made her way over to the decrepit slide.
"Yes, it's amazing it's still standing. What a pile of scrap."
The lady looked under the slide. Shuichi saw her expression change to excitement, "Herb! Come here! Look it's still here, I don't believe it."
"What is it?" Herb was under the slide looking as well.
"Don't you remember? It's the promise you wrote to me when you first met me?"
"Oh yea, hey look at that. Defacing public property, I was a real charmer wasn't I? You were moving away and I promised to find you again. See, I can keep a promise when I need to!"
"I'm glad you kept that one."
Herb hugged the lady, "So am I Doris, so am I."
Shuichi decided it was time to get out of there. He fought through to the other side of the bush away from the playground and Doris and Herb. He was so happy to see that he was right about the park and it's ghosts. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined actually seeing the park's magic in action. He made his way out of the bushes and looked back to marvel at how they covered the playground completely enveloping the swings and their secrets perfectly.
He went to check the time on his cell phone and crap. There were about sixteen calls from his sister. He called her back.
"Shuichi? Thank god you called!"
"What's wrong Maiko?"
His sister blurted out quickly, "Shuichi, grandpa is coming your way!"
"What! How did he find out where I live?"
"He came here and had a big fight with Mom. She wasn't going to give him your address, but you know how he can be. He was going on about family destiny and your duties."
"Shit! When will he get here?"
Maiko started to hedge, "I've been trying to contact you for a wile, you know."
"Just tell me when is he coming!"
"He should be there right about now."
"Shit!" Shuichi hung up the phone and raced back to the apartment.
I have been working on the entire story not just this chapter, which is why it's taking me forever to update. I owe all of you readers. Thanks!