THE ROAD LESS TAKEN
Robert Frost....
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth. Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same. And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Perhaps the rest of this story could so be described as the road not taken. Whenever we go anywhere or do anything in life. There are a series of choices that we make. Once those choices are made, they are sealed forever in this thread we call life. There are no true second chances on this road.
The circle of life, I'm just not convinced. Life to me would be an ongoing journey. A trip to a new place, and a new day. Each choice bringing about a new hope, and a new begining. Always the same road, never the same place. It's been said that "All roads lead to another road for renegades, rebels and rogues" Perhaps that statement is true of the heart.
The beauty of love is when two hearts meet along the streets of life, and decide to share a journey together for a time. To let their roads run together, at least for a little while. The other side to that story is the tragedy that happens when one of those hearts chooses another road.
There is yet another piece that we shall see. How hard it is to walk the path alone. To make each choice by yourself and to never experience it with someone else. When we compare the downsides of love which are having loved and lost, and never having loved at all, it is hard to say with any degree of certainty which is the better claim. This one thing I know. Neither are enjoyable experiences. However, they are all a direct result of the roads taken in life.
And so we have the players set on the great stage of life. Fujin, and Zell. We've seen what brought them to the point of brokenness. Where they can't hardly walk a path let alone decide which one to take. Let's look deeper now into their choices the choices that perhaps brought their roads together.
************************************************************************
It was about noon and the sun was shining brightly through Zell's window. He set down the magazine he'd been reading for a while, and walked to the window. It was nice to look outside and see green and sunshine. The bright radiant light of the sun seemed to penetrate deeply into his soul. He soaked it in. And then all at once came to a shocking revelation.
He felt ok. He didn't feel good, but he felt like maybe he could get to his feet, and walk around again. Maybe even leave the room in which he'd lived in for the last month and a half. Yes, for the first time, he realized that maybe he wasn't going to die after all.
He stood there for a while loosing track of time. He just let the sun wash his soul clean. It felt good. It felt good to put a little ease to the raging ache he suffered inside. It felt good to breathe in the warm air of a bright sunny day. It felt good to be alive.
Zell wandered over to the speed bag that he had hanging in the corner of his room. "this thing's been my partner for a long time." he thought. Then he traced his finger over it. Dust fell to the ground. "Yeah, I guess it's been a while since I've used this thing" He continued thinking. He actually chuckled to himself as he happened to catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror. "Wow buddy, you look like shit!" He found himself thinking.
He walked over to his top dresser drawer and slid it open. Inside he found his old training gui that he wore under the training of Master Lei. He removed it gently and put it on. Then he took his black headband and belt out of the drawer and put them on as well. He looked in the mirror. There he saw a reflection of who he really was. Zell Dincht, the martial arts expert.
Zell walked over to the window. He made some space amidst all the mess that had built up in the last few weeks, and he sat down in the sunlight and began to meditate. He cleared his mind of everything, and concentrated on the feeling of the warm sunlight on his face. He felt alive.
It had been quite some time since Zell had done this, years actually. Why then was he doing it now. Maybe because he'd decided to find his way again. And he knew that this would help. Maybe because that was the way he remembered feeling his best. His reasons at that point were no longer relevant. What Zell was doing was now relative to his future not his past.
He must have sat there peacefully for at least an hour. And then it happened. A thought slipped into his head. Then another. He tried to boot them out, but he was unsuccessful. They were thoughts of her. Thoughts of the girl he had tried so hard to forget about. But this time these thoughts weren't accompanied by tears, they were accompanied by rage.
How could she have done this to him? What had he done wrong? Those were the thoughts he'd been thinking. The more he thought, the more angry he became. He got up from his seated position, and walked back to his dresser. Inside the drawer he found his gloves. He slipped them on and walked over to the mirror. he threw a series of shadowboxing moves, and then sensed the sudden pain in his body.
"Ok maybe I should do a little stretching first." he thought out loud. So he proceeded with his routine of stretches, and then began attacking the bag. he worked on his techniques for a bit just to get his rhythm back. Then he worked on some quick combinations. He was feeling good but not nearly back to where he should be. But he practiced on.
The thoughts of his ex were spinning in his head. he began attacking the bag more fiercely now. Each thought equaling a devastating combo to the speed bag. His skills returned as his desire returned. He became a flowing object. Each strike was immediately succeeded by another. He was faster than he'd ever been. Running on sheer emotion and adrenaline, he went at it with all his might. Finally the hinge on his speedbag couldn't take it any more, and with one swift kick it went spiraling into the wall.
Zell stopped for a moment taking a little time to breathe. but he wasn't finished yet. He wasn't about to quit training It felt too good. He stood before the mirror. His headband was wet, as was his gui, but he didn't feel that. He was more interested in what he saw. For once, in that mirror, he saw what he'd looked for all his life. The warrior that Master Lei always told him he could be.
Zell remembered his training well. And he stood there in front of that mirror, and went through it all over again. What he learned at white belt, the simple fundamental techniques that he'd used so many times to win so many battles. The pictures came into his mind as he went through from level to level everything he'd learned. He remembered wining his first tournament. He could see the look on Mater Lei's face, and could still hear him saying. "Zell you are a proud warrior. Never loose this moment."
Then he remembered the advanced techniques he'd learned as a Brown and Black belt, all those high flying kicks and takedowns, and submissions. he even recalled many that he'd forgotten. Each one came with it's own memory of Master Lei carefully instructing him like a father. True, his training was hard, but he was better for it. No, he was the best because of it.
But all the memories weren't sweet. He remembered the day that Master Lei had died. He was devastated. He wondered how he could go on. How could he, without Master Lei to teach him? What would he become. Before Lei died, he looked up at Zell and said this.
"Zell, you are my greatest student, and a proud member of our dojo. But one day you will become more than that. You will be the greatest in our art form, And you will take part in the saving of the world. Remember Zell, I will be with you." Then he closed his eyes and died.
Zell found those days hard, oh so hard. But he chose to move on, with the help of his mother. He enrolled in Garden. It took a while, but eventually he became a SeeD and honored Master Lei's memory by helping defeat Ultimacia. He remembered his sadness then. He thought about his pain now. It was funny that after Master Lei had died he was crushed. For a half a year he had wasted his time. Finally deciding to move on. He wasn't going to let that happen this time. Besides, He didn't need love anyway. He just needed to be what he was.
Besides that he was still not the greatest martial artist yet. He needed to train. For his honor. For the honor of Master Lei. And train is exactly what he did all that afternoon. It was amazing, but he was actually showing the signs of life again, and it was a good thing too. For his sake.
After he finished that evening, he was tired beyond belief, and hungry, oh so hungry. He remembered that he hadn't had anything good to eat for a long time. And then the craving hit him. He wanted a hot dog. He went and jumped into the shower, and threw his gui into the wash. When he got out, he put the Gui into the drier, and returned to his room. He got dressed and started towards the cafeteria.
Along the way he thought about how he'd been placed on reserve duty instead of active roster for the past few weeks. He felt it was about time for him to be placed back on the active roster. And he wanted to prove it. "After I eat, I'm going for a few light rounds at the training center. Then I'll go see Cid and Leonhart. and ask to be placed back on the roster."
He reached the Cafeteria and waited in line. There were quite a few people in the room, but the line was considerably short. It didn't take him long to get his hot dog, and go find a table. He lifted the hot-dog to his mouth and took a huge bite. It tasted great. It had been a while since he'd bitten off a lucious piece of hot dog. It was pure ecstasy.
He sat there and ate his hot dog. Most of the time he didn't even pay attention to the fact that he was alone. But the thought did cross his mind several times. However he was able to ignore it and eat away. Sure, he still hurt, but he was brimming with the thing he'd lost for quite some time, and that's life.
************************************************************************
The disciplinary committee was making their usual rounds. There were a few hooky players here, and a few out of control classmen there, but for the most part, it was a pretty easy day. Seifer and Fujin were making small talk, but nothing too much to speak of. Honestly the past few months she'd been getting sick of him all together. She'd tried to just push it off, but all he did was make comments about the girls at Garden, and push her and Raijin around like twits. She tried her best to keep herself from snapping, but by later on in the day Fuu was getting pretty pissed at Seifer's mannerisms and finally he set her off.
"Fuu, you sure have been getting all emotional on me lately. I think you're starting to turn into a lady on me or something. You sure as Hell ain't the tough hard assed Fujin we all love here" He flashed her the grin, but it was short lived because she jumped him like an alley cat.
"Fuck you Seifer, you can't even spell the word lady. And whenever you try to say it, it comes out as B-I-T-C-H. I can't fucking stand it anymore. You have the biggest fucking ego in the whole world. Why don't you go jump off a Hyne Damned cliff" She looked at him squarely. The fury was obvious in her eyes.
"Watch your mouth when you talk to me Fujin. I ain't no pushover. I thought we were all friends here. But you've been getting really disrespectful to me lately, and I ain't going to put up with it. You want to be a part of this group, then you just do one thing, and that's whatever I say. Got it?" He tried right away to put her in her place, but it didn't seem to work.
"Piss off Seifer. I don't need you like you seem to think. In case you forget, I'm the one who got you the position as head of the Disciplinary Committee anyway. If I hadn't pushed for you, it would have been me. You know what, I don't need this Disciplinary committee anyway. I want to be a SeeD, and I'm going to do it. And I don't need your help. So eat me. Seifer, just eat me." She finished. I don't even think she believed what she just said, but now it was too late to do anything about it. Besides it really was her dream to become a SeeD, and now, without a thought, she just decided to pursue it.
Seifer glared at her. Then he smirked. "Hey Raijin, did you hear that. Fuu's going to be a SeeD?" He started laughing. "Fujin, you can't spell SeeD." He grinned at her. "You want to be a Garden Student? Ok, then I'll treat you like one. I want you to register for some more classes, and I better not catch you breaking any rules. You got it? A SeeD Fujin that's a joke. You'll never ever be a SeeD. Now consider yourself excused." He motioned for her to leave.
"Gladly. Oh, I'm glad you liked my line about not being able to spell. That was priceless. So priceless you stole it. See ya around Seifer." And she turned and walked away. Raijin was close behind her.
"Where do you think you're going Raijin?" Seifer yelled.
"I was just going with Fujin ya know." He answered.
"Well now, you're staying with me." Seifer said. Now tapping his blade on his shoulder steadily.
"Oh, Ok ya know. I'll see ya Fujin." He said, and quickly returned to Seifer.
"Yeah Rai, See ya around." Was all she said, and she started back to her quarters.
Along the way she thought about what she'd just done. She'd quit the disciplinary committee. And decided to try to become a SeeD. At her age, what was she thinking. And why? Why did she decide to do that? All out of emotion.
She had never been an emotional person. Or, maybe she had. But in either case, she'd never shown it. All of the sudden in the past few months, it had started leaking out of her. It seemed she couldn't hold it back no matter how hard she tried. And she tried hard. Maybe it was the fact that she really had wanted to be a SeeD all her life, and she couldn't resist the challenge. Or maybe it was the fact that she realized she had no true friends, and nothing to live for. But whatever the reason. She had chosen her path, and she was prepared to walk it.
She knew that it was what she wanted. And she knew that if she tried hard enough she would make it, she knew she would. As she opened the door to her room, she thought about what she needed to do. Ah yes. She needed to talk to Leonhart about registering for the SeeD curriculum. She had a few minutes before she needed to go, so she figured she'd take a shower, and change clothes.
She got out and went to her room. She opened her drawer, and took out the picture of her mother. There her mom was in that beautiful dress that she'd left to her daughter. One day I'll wear that momma I promise one day I will. She put the picture back in it's place and closed the drawer. She slid on her usual outfit. But she left the eye patch off. Funny thing, she didn't really need it. And besides..... it wasn't very lady like. Ladylike, now that was a funny thing for Fuu to be considering, but it was true. She'd been awakening to the fact that being a girl didn't make one weak. Oh she still had a long ways to go, but she was awakening. Slowly, but surely she was discovering the signs of life.
************************************************************************
Well now. There's a little less dreary tone to the story. But don't get too excited yet. Their woes aren't over. In some respects, they're just beginning. But in any case we see now that roads are being set. Choices are being made. These are the choices that bring people together. But they are not to unlike the changes that tear people apart. They merely swing in with a different favor.
To all good stories, there is a bad, and to all bad stories there is a good. I've done the best I can to set it up. From here on in. I leave the interpretations mostly to you. Oh, I'll pop in from time to time just to check on ya, but only from time to time. In the mean while I'll just sit hear at the keys and do my best to spin this story to please.
Robert Frost....
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth. Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same. And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Perhaps the rest of this story could so be described as the road not taken. Whenever we go anywhere or do anything in life. There are a series of choices that we make. Once those choices are made, they are sealed forever in this thread we call life. There are no true second chances on this road.
The circle of life, I'm just not convinced. Life to me would be an ongoing journey. A trip to a new place, and a new day. Each choice bringing about a new hope, and a new begining. Always the same road, never the same place. It's been said that "All roads lead to another road for renegades, rebels and rogues" Perhaps that statement is true of the heart.
The beauty of love is when two hearts meet along the streets of life, and decide to share a journey together for a time. To let their roads run together, at least for a little while. The other side to that story is the tragedy that happens when one of those hearts chooses another road.
There is yet another piece that we shall see. How hard it is to walk the path alone. To make each choice by yourself and to never experience it with someone else. When we compare the downsides of love which are having loved and lost, and never having loved at all, it is hard to say with any degree of certainty which is the better claim. This one thing I know. Neither are enjoyable experiences. However, they are all a direct result of the roads taken in life.
And so we have the players set on the great stage of life. Fujin, and Zell. We've seen what brought them to the point of brokenness. Where they can't hardly walk a path let alone decide which one to take. Let's look deeper now into their choices the choices that perhaps brought their roads together.
************************************************************************
It was about noon and the sun was shining brightly through Zell's window. He set down the magazine he'd been reading for a while, and walked to the window. It was nice to look outside and see green and sunshine. The bright radiant light of the sun seemed to penetrate deeply into his soul. He soaked it in. And then all at once came to a shocking revelation.
He felt ok. He didn't feel good, but he felt like maybe he could get to his feet, and walk around again. Maybe even leave the room in which he'd lived in for the last month and a half. Yes, for the first time, he realized that maybe he wasn't going to die after all.
He stood there for a while loosing track of time. He just let the sun wash his soul clean. It felt good. It felt good to put a little ease to the raging ache he suffered inside. It felt good to breathe in the warm air of a bright sunny day. It felt good to be alive.
Zell wandered over to the speed bag that he had hanging in the corner of his room. "this thing's been my partner for a long time." he thought. Then he traced his finger over it. Dust fell to the ground. "Yeah, I guess it's been a while since I've used this thing" He continued thinking. He actually chuckled to himself as he happened to catch a glimpse of himself in the mirror. "Wow buddy, you look like shit!" He found himself thinking.
He walked over to his top dresser drawer and slid it open. Inside he found his old training gui that he wore under the training of Master Lei. He removed it gently and put it on. Then he took his black headband and belt out of the drawer and put them on as well. He looked in the mirror. There he saw a reflection of who he really was. Zell Dincht, the martial arts expert.
Zell walked over to the window. He made some space amidst all the mess that had built up in the last few weeks, and he sat down in the sunlight and began to meditate. He cleared his mind of everything, and concentrated on the feeling of the warm sunlight on his face. He felt alive.
It had been quite some time since Zell had done this, years actually. Why then was he doing it now. Maybe because he'd decided to find his way again. And he knew that this would help. Maybe because that was the way he remembered feeling his best. His reasons at that point were no longer relevant. What Zell was doing was now relative to his future not his past.
He must have sat there peacefully for at least an hour. And then it happened. A thought slipped into his head. Then another. He tried to boot them out, but he was unsuccessful. They were thoughts of her. Thoughts of the girl he had tried so hard to forget about. But this time these thoughts weren't accompanied by tears, they were accompanied by rage.
How could she have done this to him? What had he done wrong? Those were the thoughts he'd been thinking. The more he thought, the more angry he became. He got up from his seated position, and walked back to his dresser. Inside the drawer he found his gloves. He slipped them on and walked over to the mirror. he threw a series of shadowboxing moves, and then sensed the sudden pain in his body.
"Ok maybe I should do a little stretching first." he thought out loud. So he proceeded with his routine of stretches, and then began attacking the bag. he worked on his techniques for a bit just to get his rhythm back. Then he worked on some quick combinations. He was feeling good but not nearly back to where he should be. But he practiced on.
The thoughts of his ex were spinning in his head. he began attacking the bag more fiercely now. Each thought equaling a devastating combo to the speed bag. His skills returned as his desire returned. He became a flowing object. Each strike was immediately succeeded by another. He was faster than he'd ever been. Running on sheer emotion and adrenaline, he went at it with all his might. Finally the hinge on his speedbag couldn't take it any more, and with one swift kick it went spiraling into the wall.
Zell stopped for a moment taking a little time to breathe. but he wasn't finished yet. He wasn't about to quit training It felt too good. He stood before the mirror. His headband was wet, as was his gui, but he didn't feel that. He was more interested in what he saw. For once, in that mirror, he saw what he'd looked for all his life. The warrior that Master Lei always told him he could be.
Zell remembered his training well. And he stood there in front of that mirror, and went through it all over again. What he learned at white belt, the simple fundamental techniques that he'd used so many times to win so many battles. The pictures came into his mind as he went through from level to level everything he'd learned. He remembered wining his first tournament. He could see the look on Mater Lei's face, and could still hear him saying. "Zell you are a proud warrior. Never loose this moment."
Then he remembered the advanced techniques he'd learned as a Brown and Black belt, all those high flying kicks and takedowns, and submissions. he even recalled many that he'd forgotten. Each one came with it's own memory of Master Lei carefully instructing him like a father. True, his training was hard, but he was better for it. No, he was the best because of it.
But all the memories weren't sweet. He remembered the day that Master Lei had died. He was devastated. He wondered how he could go on. How could he, without Master Lei to teach him? What would he become. Before Lei died, he looked up at Zell and said this.
"Zell, you are my greatest student, and a proud member of our dojo. But one day you will become more than that. You will be the greatest in our art form, And you will take part in the saving of the world. Remember Zell, I will be with you." Then he closed his eyes and died.
Zell found those days hard, oh so hard. But he chose to move on, with the help of his mother. He enrolled in Garden. It took a while, but eventually he became a SeeD and honored Master Lei's memory by helping defeat Ultimacia. He remembered his sadness then. He thought about his pain now. It was funny that after Master Lei had died he was crushed. For a half a year he had wasted his time. Finally deciding to move on. He wasn't going to let that happen this time. Besides, He didn't need love anyway. He just needed to be what he was.
Besides that he was still not the greatest martial artist yet. He needed to train. For his honor. For the honor of Master Lei. And train is exactly what he did all that afternoon. It was amazing, but he was actually showing the signs of life again, and it was a good thing too. For his sake.
After he finished that evening, he was tired beyond belief, and hungry, oh so hungry. He remembered that he hadn't had anything good to eat for a long time. And then the craving hit him. He wanted a hot dog. He went and jumped into the shower, and threw his gui into the wash. When he got out, he put the Gui into the drier, and returned to his room. He got dressed and started towards the cafeteria.
Along the way he thought about how he'd been placed on reserve duty instead of active roster for the past few weeks. He felt it was about time for him to be placed back on the active roster. And he wanted to prove it. "After I eat, I'm going for a few light rounds at the training center. Then I'll go see Cid and Leonhart. and ask to be placed back on the roster."
He reached the Cafeteria and waited in line. There were quite a few people in the room, but the line was considerably short. It didn't take him long to get his hot dog, and go find a table. He lifted the hot-dog to his mouth and took a huge bite. It tasted great. It had been a while since he'd bitten off a lucious piece of hot dog. It was pure ecstasy.
He sat there and ate his hot dog. Most of the time he didn't even pay attention to the fact that he was alone. But the thought did cross his mind several times. However he was able to ignore it and eat away. Sure, he still hurt, but he was brimming with the thing he'd lost for quite some time, and that's life.
************************************************************************
The disciplinary committee was making their usual rounds. There were a few hooky players here, and a few out of control classmen there, but for the most part, it was a pretty easy day. Seifer and Fujin were making small talk, but nothing too much to speak of. Honestly the past few months she'd been getting sick of him all together. She'd tried to just push it off, but all he did was make comments about the girls at Garden, and push her and Raijin around like twits. She tried her best to keep herself from snapping, but by later on in the day Fuu was getting pretty pissed at Seifer's mannerisms and finally he set her off.
"Fuu, you sure have been getting all emotional on me lately. I think you're starting to turn into a lady on me or something. You sure as Hell ain't the tough hard assed Fujin we all love here" He flashed her the grin, but it was short lived because she jumped him like an alley cat.
"Fuck you Seifer, you can't even spell the word lady. And whenever you try to say it, it comes out as B-I-T-C-H. I can't fucking stand it anymore. You have the biggest fucking ego in the whole world. Why don't you go jump off a Hyne Damned cliff" She looked at him squarely. The fury was obvious in her eyes.
"Watch your mouth when you talk to me Fujin. I ain't no pushover. I thought we were all friends here. But you've been getting really disrespectful to me lately, and I ain't going to put up with it. You want to be a part of this group, then you just do one thing, and that's whatever I say. Got it?" He tried right away to put her in her place, but it didn't seem to work.
"Piss off Seifer. I don't need you like you seem to think. In case you forget, I'm the one who got you the position as head of the Disciplinary Committee anyway. If I hadn't pushed for you, it would have been me. You know what, I don't need this Disciplinary committee anyway. I want to be a SeeD, and I'm going to do it. And I don't need your help. So eat me. Seifer, just eat me." She finished. I don't even think she believed what she just said, but now it was too late to do anything about it. Besides it really was her dream to become a SeeD, and now, without a thought, she just decided to pursue it.
Seifer glared at her. Then he smirked. "Hey Raijin, did you hear that. Fuu's going to be a SeeD?" He started laughing. "Fujin, you can't spell SeeD." He grinned at her. "You want to be a Garden Student? Ok, then I'll treat you like one. I want you to register for some more classes, and I better not catch you breaking any rules. You got it? A SeeD Fujin that's a joke. You'll never ever be a SeeD. Now consider yourself excused." He motioned for her to leave.
"Gladly. Oh, I'm glad you liked my line about not being able to spell. That was priceless. So priceless you stole it. See ya around Seifer." And she turned and walked away. Raijin was close behind her.
"Where do you think you're going Raijin?" Seifer yelled.
"I was just going with Fujin ya know." He answered.
"Well now, you're staying with me." Seifer said. Now tapping his blade on his shoulder steadily.
"Oh, Ok ya know. I'll see ya Fujin." He said, and quickly returned to Seifer.
"Yeah Rai, See ya around." Was all she said, and she started back to her quarters.
Along the way she thought about what she'd just done. She'd quit the disciplinary committee. And decided to try to become a SeeD. At her age, what was she thinking. And why? Why did she decide to do that? All out of emotion.
She had never been an emotional person. Or, maybe she had. But in either case, she'd never shown it. All of the sudden in the past few months, it had started leaking out of her. It seemed she couldn't hold it back no matter how hard she tried. And she tried hard. Maybe it was the fact that she really had wanted to be a SeeD all her life, and she couldn't resist the challenge. Or maybe it was the fact that she realized she had no true friends, and nothing to live for. But whatever the reason. She had chosen her path, and she was prepared to walk it.
She knew that it was what she wanted. And she knew that if she tried hard enough she would make it, she knew she would. As she opened the door to her room, she thought about what she needed to do. Ah yes. She needed to talk to Leonhart about registering for the SeeD curriculum. She had a few minutes before she needed to go, so she figured she'd take a shower, and change clothes.
She got out and went to her room. She opened her drawer, and took out the picture of her mother. There her mom was in that beautiful dress that she'd left to her daughter. One day I'll wear that momma I promise one day I will. She put the picture back in it's place and closed the drawer. She slid on her usual outfit. But she left the eye patch off. Funny thing, she didn't really need it. And besides..... it wasn't very lady like. Ladylike, now that was a funny thing for Fuu to be considering, but it was true. She'd been awakening to the fact that being a girl didn't make one weak. Oh she still had a long ways to go, but she was awakening. Slowly, but surely she was discovering the signs of life.
************************************************************************
Well now. There's a little less dreary tone to the story. But don't get too excited yet. Their woes aren't over. In some respects, they're just beginning. But in any case we see now that roads are being set. Choices are being made. These are the choices that bring people together. But they are not to unlike the changes that tear people apart. They merely swing in with a different favor.
To all good stories, there is a bad, and to all bad stories there is a good. I've done the best I can to set it up. From here on in. I leave the interpretations mostly to you. Oh, I'll pop in from time to time just to check on ya, but only from time to time. In the mean while I'll just sit hear at the keys and do my best to spin this story to please.