Koyu, Chapter seven: Faces
Location: Tigermouth Village | Two River City -- Flashback
This chapter is going to be a 'split' story since I will be elaborating more on the condition of Koyu's closest friend, Fumi. You thought he was dead? Why would I kill him off? It's so fun to mess around with a boy's head! And yes, I might be using some characters here so if you don't like the way I did it, please tell me so and I'll revise it.
---
Sleep came easily and there was no reason for him to try and stay awake.
Sleep was always the last resort for him when it came to trying to forget memories. You can't remember if you aren't in a state of consciousness. Nevertheless, sleeping had become more of a therapeutical thing for him than something that was naturally one by living beings.
Where could Fumi be sleeping right now?
Was he even sleeping? Was he even alive enough to attempt to sleep?
He didn't have enough time to think about this. He just... Slept.
* * *
It was quite strange for him to be this far off from where he was before, but.... It was probably the safest place to be right now. He didn't dislike the place, nor did he hold contempt for it's people and maybe it was this atmosphere that provided him with a sense of security, albeit a very senseless sense of security.
"So, are you leaving tonight?" It was an old man who sat behind a wooden counter. He was way beyond seventy and he had the trademark wrinkled face, long unkempt beard and the oftentimes reminiscing personality.
"Yeah, guess so. I can't earn money here since Bounty hunters aren't really popular as of now. I'd better be heading off to Muse, I've probably got better chances over there than anywhere else." It was a boy who sat on a wooden chair, cushioned slightly by the hide of a giant squirrel. He was probably only weeks after his seventeenth birthday and he had the trademark angsty look and sometimes hyper kinetic personality that plagued most teenagers.
Yes, they were so different and nearly worlds apart but they still managed to talk to one another.
Yes, he may be a world apart from Koyu but he still manages to think about him.
"Good luck on your journey, young man. It's been ages since someone's found the time to chat with an old weapons vender here in Two River."
"Thank you." The response was simple but it was all that he really needed.
"You aren't like other people, you know that? I've never met a person that never held a shred of being indifferent. Most people dislike the wingers and prefer to talk with other humans but you seem to enjoy talking to everyone that finds the time." The boy smiled back sincerely and arranged his clothing. It's already been a week since he bought these supposedly soft leather boots. Until now, they still irritate the hell out of him since he wasn't used to wearing footwear. All he really wore on his feet before were bandages...
"If only there were more people like you nowadays, then there probably wouldn't be any kind of war. Anyways, you'd best be getting on your way. Muse is just a boat trip away from Lakewest village and you would probably reach it in less than three days if you leave early. Go on now, the boat's leaving soon." The boy smiled again at the old man and brought his right hand up to wave slightly. In less than ten seconds, the weapons store was left alone with the old man that had been watching this place for how many years.
"He's one heck of a boy... But why would someone that loved people so much turn to bounty hunting?" It wasn't his place to question someone's decisions. The only person who has the right to question their decisions is the same person when they realize that it was a mistake. Yes, there were so many people who made so many mistakes that it would be impossible to count. The errors of living beings outnumber the stars in the sky, the sands on the shore, the tears that these same people have shed after their realizations.
Yes, people made mistakes all the time. Maybe the boy that walked out of his shop was making one right now. But, of course, he could never tell.
He was just a silly old man that owned a small weapons shop, after all.
---
(Muse... I've always wanted to visit that place...) There were so many stories that were told about it. It was said to be a city of utter grandeur, something that no other city could ever compare to! It was said to be a city worthy for any king and for any ruler! Muse was the place for everyone that was rich, for everyone that had power, for everyone that was important.
But it wasn't a place for him.
"Cancel that trip." He thought out loud, slowly turning around and going completely in the opposite direction. If he went west, then he would soon arrive at Greenhill and the world renowned Academy... A place where everything was taught to those who were willing enough to study long and hard... everything was taught... Including Runes...
It was something that he was obsessed with, those magical stones that everyone used to create unexplained phenomenon. Magic was everywhere and people used and abused it to any extent yet no one, no philosopher, no genius and no Runemaster has been able to uncover the true power behind each rune. The true essence of being able to control things the same way God controls what he has created. No one truly understood how runes worked... All they knew was that it just did and it always has from the very first moment that anyone had ever come across it. He himself wanted to understand it from the beginning and now he had the perfect opportunity to learn... Looking down at his hands, he felt that familiar pulsating warmth that was there with those two stones. he warmth that came with the power they held inside their symbolic casings. They have always forced him to think about their true potential... How far can one rune go and how far can one human go for a rune?
His place was Greenhill... But Lampdragon would always come first.
* * *
(What's a human doing out here so late at night?) The boy asked himself as he carefully studied this human from behind the corners of Two River's human district. He wasn't one to boast, but he knew that he was far superior than his human neighbors, although the humans also thought the same way of him an his kind. They weren't really well liked throughout the city, maybe until the expansion of the entire world. But his current social standing was of no importance. What was of importance was the human walking around in the dead of night without anyone else with him.
(Maybe he's got some cash with him, he looks like some kind of traveler anyway.) He whispered to himself, trying his best to keep his tone of voice so low that even he had a hard time hearing himself. Quickly mentally slapping himself for thinking twice, he got ready to 'pounce' on his catch of the night.
(His clothes are a little ragged but what the heck. Any money is still better than no money...) Without warning, he dashed from a dark alleyway and reached out for the man's wallet...
If only he had one, maybe the boy would have gotten off with something. He never had money with him, he made sure he had just enough for anything and not a single potch extra. If only he had a wallet, maybe the winged boy would be able to get away with his plan, but since he didn't... He could always use plan B.
If there was a plan B.
"Whoa!" The man, or rather, boy exclaimed as he felt those quick hands search his clothing as the two of them collided. Other people would not have felt the subtlety behind those movements but he did, and it didn't come as a surprise to him. He was a thief as well, after all.
"Put me down!" The shorter boy yelled as he felt his supposed to be victim lift him off his feet by the collar of his white shirt, his free arms trying vainly to hit the boy back, however he was easily suppressed and then squashed against the wall.
"What's a nice kid like you doing stealing from a poor fella like me?" He mockingly asked the thief but was cut short as he felt clawed feet pierce through his leather shoes. The boy wriggled free and ran, leaving the supposed-to-be robbed behind.
"Come back here!" Fumi yelled as he gave chase to the boy. The winged kid was faster than he thought as he scurried through the alleys that he was so unfamiliar with. Jumping over several boxes and then on to the rooftops of the wooden houses, Fumi realize that there was probably no chance of him ever catching up with this boy.
Unless he used what he wanted to study. A flash of light gleamed from his forehead and his body felt lighter than any kind of air there ever was. Soon enough, he caught up with the boy and the boy wasn't all too pleased when he felt Fumi jump on top of him and force the two of them to audibly crash into a collection of trees.
"Tweh!" Fumi spat out several bitter leaves that had found temporary residence inside his mouth. Taking immediate action, he grabbed the boys arms and pinned him face down on the earth.
"Now now, that wasn't a very nice thing to do, Mister Thief. You've ruined a perfectly good shoe and I expect that you pay for it." It was pretty easy to subdue the winger boy since his body was built for speed instead of power but he found those black bat wings that were on his back mighty cumbersome to hold.
"I'm not paying you back, you stupid bum!" The winger yelled back, only forcing Fumi to drive his face deeper into the soggy soil. Too bad for the kid that it rained horribly this afternoon...
"You've got quite a tongue for someone that was just pinned to the ground by someone considerably bigger than you. Now, am I going to have to force you to pay me back by making you eat more than just dirt, like maybe your own clothes?" He threatened.
However, his conscience kept nagging at him. This kid didn't do anything bad, really. He was just some poverty-stricken kid who just needed some money... It wasn't his fault that he was placed in this kind of situation.
In many ways, it reminded him of a person he knew very well. A certain person who was pinning down a certain young boy who just attempted to rob him. And besides, the sound coming from the stomach of the boy was enough to make him think twice about his own situation.
"Aww, never mind... Get up." He stood up and the boy answered back defiantly. "What's up now? You're going soft on me, mister too-cool-to-get-his-shirt-dirty?" He knew he was supposed to receive some sort of offense at that comment but instead he smiled back and removed his shoe. He inserted one hand in it, to the surprise of the young boy. He pulled out a coin purse and just threw it in the direction where the boy stood.
"There, make good use of it. I don't have anything else so you might as well just go and buy yourself something to eat."
The boy picked the bag up but did not go away. Instead he simply stared back at him, unknowing of what to do in response.
"What are you doing just giving away all your money to someone who just tried to steal it from you? Are you some kind of a nut?" Fumi laughed, also unknowing of what to do. "Maybe I am, maybe I am actually. But never mind that, it looks like you need the money more than I do anyway."
"I'm going!" He yelled at Fumi, however, Fumi did not even twitch. "Really, I swear, I'm going to go now!" Fumi just turned his back to the boy and began to leave as well. "Then leave. Good-bye, kid."
"You're a strange guy, but I guess you're not too bad for a human." How was he supposed to answer that? Say 'Yeah, I'm a really awesome guy!'! He'd look like some kind of self-absorbed jerk in front of this kid, which of course, wasn't what he wanted to look like, really.
"Thanks, I guess. You're not all that bad for a, uhh...."
"The term is [ Winger ]. Anyway, that's what you humans like to call us. The name's Chako and thanks for the cash." He smiled wholeheartedly and now, couldn't force himself to leave this boy, this winger he just met. It's strange but for some reason, the two seems to call out for one another as friends.
And Fumi needed that more than anything else.
"My name's Fumi of Lampdragon." The two didn't leave the area but simply stood there within eyesight of one another, neither one showing any signs of wanting to leave the spot.
* * *
He woke up, it was probably two o'clock in the morning by now. He was restless tonight, and why? He didn't quite know why. All he knew was that he couldn't get to sleep completely and that there was this sense of weirdness that was cramping his chest. Maybe he was being a little too paranoid or something. Whatever the reason, he knew paranoia wasn't one of his better points.
He looked around and counted the other sleeping bodies near him. Sure enough, there were three other people asleep beside him. They were almost just like a perfect family. His dad didn't have any vices, anymore that is since his wife would make sure of that. Then he had a playful little sister, a little girl who knew of nothing other than to play with her friends and enjoy life, no matter how short and fleeting it may be.
Yet, he still felt like there was something missing.
He knew that when he was back at Lampdragon, he felt more secure, more content with his life, even though his life was not exactly what someone would call a dream.
Maybe it was because he knew everyone from before. Their existence was already etched onto his brain but now that they were gone, it seemed like everything that he had come to learn and love was nothing more than a passing dream, fading ever so slowly as the morning wipes them away. So many people and so many lives aren't here anymore. All that he has left are three other people who survived what he has.
Only three... And now he hoped that someone else had survived the incident.
How many times has he thought of the boy? Hundreds of times within a day, thousands of times within a week and more than the sand on the shores of the worlds beaches within his lifetime. That sense of completion was not there without this boy that he loved so much.
He chuckled at himself for being so sentimental. Sentimentality was more than not needed, it was something that he knew he should throw away since it didn't really help him in anyway. The more he thought about the past, the more he knew that he should just move on.
Moving on wasn't easy. You and I can say that for ourselves. What more for this confused boy who wanted nothing less than to turn back the hands of time and relive all those moments, the sad and the joyful, with the people he remembered. If only he had been born again in the exact same place that he was born in. If only he could have done this, then maybe those now deceased could live and walk the land. If only...
[ If only ] was probably the most pointless phrase in the English language. The two words that losers use. The word that brings about the most doubts. The word that he knew he loved to use. Didn't we as well? Aren't we, as human beings, hopelessly going to be destined to live our days wishing to change our mistakes? It's a natural need, to be perfect by undoing mistakes, but I guess this is what makes us human beings so charming. All those mistakes that we do and all the times we agonize over how we could have altered the course of history by doing something else.
And now you say that he should move on? How hypocritical.
(Fumi... It's lonely here without you...) Another thing about human beings is that strange emotion we call loneliness. What does it do? It doesn't do anything beneficial and oftentimes just hinders the progress of any human being overall. Yet it plagued everyone constantly. From the richest king to the poorest peasant, the sense of longing for company was there.
And sometimes, we can't go to sleep because of it.
* * *
"So... You heading for Greenhill to study runes, huh?" Chako asked Fumi as he swung his clawed feet in the air as they sat on a large branch of a mahogany tree. Chako found it strange, the fact that this human could climb this high without getting tired and getting up here without help was something most other humans could never do. Yet he was strong and here he was, in a place that only the Wingers of Two River had previously accessed, chatting with a winger that disliked humans the same way cats and dogs do each other. Fate had a strange way of putting two people together...
"Yep, going there to study runes and earn some cash from bounty hunting, if I'm lucky." There it was, that strange look that he often got from people when he said that he was a bounty hunter. "You? A bounty hunter? You're kidding, right?" Chako was just about to laugh when he realize that that wouldn't be the best thing to do, considering the fact that he was trying to be really friendly with him, a winger.
"What is it with the fact that I'm a bounty hunter? Everyone seems to think that I'm not fit for it or something!" He laughed at himself, probably for realizing the fact that everyone probably thought that he was either too nice or just not made for this kind of work. "Actually, Fumi... You're a real nice guy and maybe that's why I can't think of you as a bounty hunter."
"Think of it this way Fumi: Right now, you just struck a conversation with someone that tried to steal whatever it was that you had with you. The normal reaction that people would give to being robbed would be shock or in the least, anger. How can I expect you to kill somebody if you're so friendly?" Now Fumi just had to laugh even more at himself. Yes, maybe he was far too friendly with the rest of the world. Yes, maybe he was a little weird when it came to interpersonal relationships. No wonder he was always viewed as a pacifist...
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't really think of myself as being such a nice guy, but I don't think my own view of myself matters, right?" Chako nodded. "What about you Chako? I'm sure people can't tell right away that you're really a good kid." Chako smiled and blushed, probably because this was a compliment that was coming from a human of all people.
"I try not to act too good in front of people. After all, people already have me fixed as some kind of street-thug like boy so why go through all the trouble of changing?" Fumi had to agree with him. He's already had this impression on so many people that trying to change wouldn't even work. And besides, if you're happy the way you are, is there any reason for you to alter your image? "What about your family?"
"My family? I've got a bitch of a sister, an overbearing granny and a certain person that calls himself my older brother, although I think he's some kind of creepy psycho who just enjoys the fact that he scares me. It's not much of a family, is it?"
"At least you have a family. I'm an orphan."
"I... I'm so sorry. You must have someone that cares for you, right? I mean, you can't have lived this long without the help of others, right?" Yeah, there were people that cared for him back at Lampdragon. People that he cared for as well... "Yeah, there are. I love them lots..."
"And you've just got to have a lover! I mean, you're good looking, smart, strong and a guy with a great personality. You're one heluva package, Fumi." Now that he thought about it, he wasn't thinking of Koyu as much as before but now that this otherwise complete stranger mentioned it... He missed Koyu like hell.
A lover... How much he missed that.
"Yeah... I do love someone..." Chako slapped Fumi on the back, not strong enough however to knock him off balance, just strong enough to get his attention. "Who's the lucky person?"
Lucky? Was Koyu really lucky to have him? He thought that he was lucky to have Koyu!
"That person's name is Koyu..."
"Koyu..." Chako echoed. "Koyu's a strange name for a girl. But I'm sure she's really pretty!" Now that, was one that he couldn't just let go off. He laughed so hard that he almost fell backwards, before he was able to grab hold of the branch and maintain his seat.
"You're right... Koyu is a strange name for a girl... Thank god Koyu's a boy."
A pause. He looks at him strangely. Every second that passes between the two slowly brings that sense of uneasiness inside of Fumi. If there's one thing he learned in all his years of living, there are a whole lot more homophobes out there than you give the world credit for.
(Oh shit! Why'd I have to go and spill all the beans on this person I'd met only fifteen minutes ago?) he mentally slaps himself, seeing that his body just won't listen to his own commands. not until he hears from Chako that is...
Chako laughs and the tension is broken.
"Now that's something I never saw coming! First you tell me you're a bounty hunter and now you tell me you're a GAY, pardon the term, bounty hunter? What's next Fumi? You also happen to be the king of Highland?" He laughs out loud once more, this time enough for him to fall off backwards. Fumi panics, he looks down... And sees Chako flying upwards.
"That was close!" They look at each other for some time, then all of a sudden they burst out in laughter...
It never hurt to have friends. It also never hurt to try and make friends.
* * *
"So, you leavin' for Greenhill now?" He wanted to stay a little longer, try and chat with a bunch of other guys but he knew that he should really get moving. After all, Greenhill isn't going to come to him!
"Yeah, the sooner I get there, the better. It's been nice knowing you Chako." Chako swipes a punch at Fumi's arm as he puts on this mock-irritated face. "Hey! This isn't the last time we're gonna meet, okay? I'm sure we'll bump into one another sometime!" Fumi smiles, waves and before long is gone from Chako's sight, blending in with the darkness of the 2'0clock night.
"That's one heck of a guy..." Chako turned his back and began the slow walk back to his wooden house back in the winger district. It wasn't because he didn't want to go back, it's just that he regrets having to say goodbye to this person who had regarded him as someone beyond race. He wanted to call him back but he knew he couldn't.
He was just some poor kid living his life as a thief, after all.
- End chapter seven -
Location: Tigermouth Village | Two River City -- Flashback
This chapter is going to be a 'split' story since I will be elaborating more on the condition of Koyu's closest friend, Fumi. You thought he was dead? Why would I kill him off? It's so fun to mess around with a boy's head! And yes, I might be using some characters here so if you don't like the way I did it, please tell me so and I'll revise it.
---
Sleep came easily and there was no reason for him to try and stay awake.
Sleep was always the last resort for him when it came to trying to forget memories. You can't remember if you aren't in a state of consciousness. Nevertheless, sleeping had become more of a therapeutical thing for him than something that was naturally one by living beings.
Where could Fumi be sleeping right now?
Was he even sleeping? Was he even alive enough to attempt to sleep?
He didn't have enough time to think about this. He just... Slept.
* * *
It was quite strange for him to be this far off from where he was before, but.... It was probably the safest place to be right now. He didn't dislike the place, nor did he hold contempt for it's people and maybe it was this atmosphere that provided him with a sense of security, albeit a very senseless sense of security.
"So, are you leaving tonight?" It was an old man who sat behind a wooden counter. He was way beyond seventy and he had the trademark wrinkled face, long unkempt beard and the oftentimes reminiscing personality.
"Yeah, guess so. I can't earn money here since Bounty hunters aren't really popular as of now. I'd better be heading off to Muse, I've probably got better chances over there than anywhere else." It was a boy who sat on a wooden chair, cushioned slightly by the hide of a giant squirrel. He was probably only weeks after his seventeenth birthday and he had the trademark angsty look and sometimes hyper kinetic personality that plagued most teenagers.
Yes, they were so different and nearly worlds apart but they still managed to talk to one another.
Yes, he may be a world apart from Koyu but he still manages to think about him.
"Good luck on your journey, young man. It's been ages since someone's found the time to chat with an old weapons vender here in Two River."
"Thank you." The response was simple but it was all that he really needed.
"You aren't like other people, you know that? I've never met a person that never held a shred of being indifferent. Most people dislike the wingers and prefer to talk with other humans but you seem to enjoy talking to everyone that finds the time." The boy smiled back sincerely and arranged his clothing. It's already been a week since he bought these supposedly soft leather boots. Until now, they still irritate the hell out of him since he wasn't used to wearing footwear. All he really wore on his feet before were bandages...
"If only there were more people like you nowadays, then there probably wouldn't be any kind of war. Anyways, you'd best be getting on your way. Muse is just a boat trip away from Lakewest village and you would probably reach it in less than three days if you leave early. Go on now, the boat's leaving soon." The boy smiled again at the old man and brought his right hand up to wave slightly. In less than ten seconds, the weapons store was left alone with the old man that had been watching this place for how many years.
"He's one heck of a boy... But why would someone that loved people so much turn to bounty hunting?" It wasn't his place to question someone's decisions. The only person who has the right to question their decisions is the same person when they realize that it was a mistake. Yes, there were so many people who made so many mistakes that it would be impossible to count. The errors of living beings outnumber the stars in the sky, the sands on the shore, the tears that these same people have shed after their realizations.
Yes, people made mistakes all the time. Maybe the boy that walked out of his shop was making one right now. But, of course, he could never tell.
He was just a silly old man that owned a small weapons shop, after all.
---
(Muse... I've always wanted to visit that place...) There were so many stories that were told about it. It was said to be a city of utter grandeur, something that no other city could ever compare to! It was said to be a city worthy for any king and for any ruler! Muse was the place for everyone that was rich, for everyone that had power, for everyone that was important.
But it wasn't a place for him.
"Cancel that trip." He thought out loud, slowly turning around and going completely in the opposite direction. If he went west, then he would soon arrive at Greenhill and the world renowned Academy... A place where everything was taught to those who were willing enough to study long and hard... everything was taught... Including Runes...
It was something that he was obsessed with, those magical stones that everyone used to create unexplained phenomenon. Magic was everywhere and people used and abused it to any extent yet no one, no philosopher, no genius and no Runemaster has been able to uncover the true power behind each rune. The true essence of being able to control things the same way God controls what he has created. No one truly understood how runes worked... All they knew was that it just did and it always has from the very first moment that anyone had ever come across it. He himself wanted to understand it from the beginning and now he had the perfect opportunity to learn... Looking down at his hands, he felt that familiar pulsating warmth that was there with those two stones. he warmth that came with the power they held inside their symbolic casings. They have always forced him to think about their true potential... How far can one rune go and how far can one human go for a rune?
His place was Greenhill... But Lampdragon would always come first.
* * *
(What's a human doing out here so late at night?) The boy asked himself as he carefully studied this human from behind the corners of Two River's human district. He wasn't one to boast, but he knew that he was far superior than his human neighbors, although the humans also thought the same way of him an his kind. They weren't really well liked throughout the city, maybe until the expansion of the entire world. But his current social standing was of no importance. What was of importance was the human walking around in the dead of night without anyone else with him.
(Maybe he's got some cash with him, he looks like some kind of traveler anyway.) He whispered to himself, trying his best to keep his tone of voice so low that even he had a hard time hearing himself. Quickly mentally slapping himself for thinking twice, he got ready to 'pounce' on his catch of the night.
(His clothes are a little ragged but what the heck. Any money is still better than no money...) Without warning, he dashed from a dark alleyway and reached out for the man's wallet...
If only he had one, maybe the boy would have gotten off with something. He never had money with him, he made sure he had just enough for anything and not a single potch extra. If only he had a wallet, maybe the winged boy would be able to get away with his plan, but since he didn't... He could always use plan B.
If there was a plan B.
"Whoa!" The man, or rather, boy exclaimed as he felt those quick hands search his clothing as the two of them collided. Other people would not have felt the subtlety behind those movements but he did, and it didn't come as a surprise to him. He was a thief as well, after all.
"Put me down!" The shorter boy yelled as he felt his supposed to be victim lift him off his feet by the collar of his white shirt, his free arms trying vainly to hit the boy back, however he was easily suppressed and then squashed against the wall.
"What's a nice kid like you doing stealing from a poor fella like me?" He mockingly asked the thief but was cut short as he felt clawed feet pierce through his leather shoes. The boy wriggled free and ran, leaving the supposed-to-be robbed behind.
"Come back here!" Fumi yelled as he gave chase to the boy. The winged kid was faster than he thought as he scurried through the alleys that he was so unfamiliar with. Jumping over several boxes and then on to the rooftops of the wooden houses, Fumi realize that there was probably no chance of him ever catching up with this boy.
Unless he used what he wanted to study. A flash of light gleamed from his forehead and his body felt lighter than any kind of air there ever was. Soon enough, he caught up with the boy and the boy wasn't all too pleased when he felt Fumi jump on top of him and force the two of them to audibly crash into a collection of trees.
"Tweh!" Fumi spat out several bitter leaves that had found temporary residence inside his mouth. Taking immediate action, he grabbed the boys arms and pinned him face down on the earth.
"Now now, that wasn't a very nice thing to do, Mister Thief. You've ruined a perfectly good shoe and I expect that you pay for it." It was pretty easy to subdue the winger boy since his body was built for speed instead of power but he found those black bat wings that were on his back mighty cumbersome to hold.
"I'm not paying you back, you stupid bum!" The winger yelled back, only forcing Fumi to drive his face deeper into the soggy soil. Too bad for the kid that it rained horribly this afternoon...
"You've got quite a tongue for someone that was just pinned to the ground by someone considerably bigger than you. Now, am I going to have to force you to pay me back by making you eat more than just dirt, like maybe your own clothes?" He threatened.
However, his conscience kept nagging at him. This kid didn't do anything bad, really. He was just some poverty-stricken kid who just needed some money... It wasn't his fault that he was placed in this kind of situation.
In many ways, it reminded him of a person he knew very well. A certain person who was pinning down a certain young boy who just attempted to rob him. And besides, the sound coming from the stomach of the boy was enough to make him think twice about his own situation.
"Aww, never mind... Get up." He stood up and the boy answered back defiantly. "What's up now? You're going soft on me, mister too-cool-to-get-his-shirt-dirty?" He knew he was supposed to receive some sort of offense at that comment but instead he smiled back and removed his shoe. He inserted one hand in it, to the surprise of the young boy. He pulled out a coin purse and just threw it in the direction where the boy stood.
"There, make good use of it. I don't have anything else so you might as well just go and buy yourself something to eat."
The boy picked the bag up but did not go away. Instead he simply stared back at him, unknowing of what to do in response.
"What are you doing just giving away all your money to someone who just tried to steal it from you? Are you some kind of a nut?" Fumi laughed, also unknowing of what to do. "Maybe I am, maybe I am actually. But never mind that, it looks like you need the money more than I do anyway."
"I'm going!" He yelled at Fumi, however, Fumi did not even twitch. "Really, I swear, I'm going to go now!" Fumi just turned his back to the boy and began to leave as well. "Then leave. Good-bye, kid."
"You're a strange guy, but I guess you're not too bad for a human." How was he supposed to answer that? Say 'Yeah, I'm a really awesome guy!'! He'd look like some kind of self-absorbed jerk in front of this kid, which of course, wasn't what he wanted to look like, really.
"Thanks, I guess. You're not all that bad for a, uhh...."
"The term is [ Winger ]. Anyway, that's what you humans like to call us. The name's Chako and thanks for the cash." He smiled wholeheartedly and now, couldn't force himself to leave this boy, this winger he just met. It's strange but for some reason, the two seems to call out for one another as friends.
And Fumi needed that more than anything else.
"My name's Fumi of Lampdragon." The two didn't leave the area but simply stood there within eyesight of one another, neither one showing any signs of wanting to leave the spot.
* * *
He woke up, it was probably two o'clock in the morning by now. He was restless tonight, and why? He didn't quite know why. All he knew was that he couldn't get to sleep completely and that there was this sense of weirdness that was cramping his chest. Maybe he was being a little too paranoid or something. Whatever the reason, he knew paranoia wasn't one of his better points.
He looked around and counted the other sleeping bodies near him. Sure enough, there were three other people asleep beside him. They were almost just like a perfect family. His dad didn't have any vices, anymore that is since his wife would make sure of that. Then he had a playful little sister, a little girl who knew of nothing other than to play with her friends and enjoy life, no matter how short and fleeting it may be.
Yet, he still felt like there was something missing.
He knew that when he was back at Lampdragon, he felt more secure, more content with his life, even though his life was not exactly what someone would call a dream.
Maybe it was because he knew everyone from before. Their existence was already etched onto his brain but now that they were gone, it seemed like everything that he had come to learn and love was nothing more than a passing dream, fading ever so slowly as the morning wipes them away. So many people and so many lives aren't here anymore. All that he has left are three other people who survived what he has.
Only three... And now he hoped that someone else had survived the incident.
How many times has he thought of the boy? Hundreds of times within a day, thousands of times within a week and more than the sand on the shores of the worlds beaches within his lifetime. That sense of completion was not there without this boy that he loved so much.
He chuckled at himself for being so sentimental. Sentimentality was more than not needed, it was something that he knew he should throw away since it didn't really help him in anyway. The more he thought about the past, the more he knew that he should just move on.
Moving on wasn't easy. You and I can say that for ourselves. What more for this confused boy who wanted nothing less than to turn back the hands of time and relive all those moments, the sad and the joyful, with the people he remembered. If only he had been born again in the exact same place that he was born in. If only he could have done this, then maybe those now deceased could live and walk the land. If only...
[ If only ] was probably the most pointless phrase in the English language. The two words that losers use. The word that brings about the most doubts. The word that he knew he loved to use. Didn't we as well? Aren't we, as human beings, hopelessly going to be destined to live our days wishing to change our mistakes? It's a natural need, to be perfect by undoing mistakes, but I guess this is what makes us human beings so charming. All those mistakes that we do and all the times we agonize over how we could have altered the course of history by doing something else.
And now you say that he should move on? How hypocritical.
(Fumi... It's lonely here without you...) Another thing about human beings is that strange emotion we call loneliness. What does it do? It doesn't do anything beneficial and oftentimes just hinders the progress of any human being overall. Yet it plagued everyone constantly. From the richest king to the poorest peasant, the sense of longing for company was there.
And sometimes, we can't go to sleep because of it.
* * *
"So... You heading for Greenhill to study runes, huh?" Chako asked Fumi as he swung his clawed feet in the air as they sat on a large branch of a mahogany tree. Chako found it strange, the fact that this human could climb this high without getting tired and getting up here without help was something most other humans could never do. Yet he was strong and here he was, in a place that only the Wingers of Two River had previously accessed, chatting with a winger that disliked humans the same way cats and dogs do each other. Fate had a strange way of putting two people together...
"Yep, going there to study runes and earn some cash from bounty hunting, if I'm lucky." There it was, that strange look that he often got from people when he said that he was a bounty hunter. "You? A bounty hunter? You're kidding, right?" Chako was just about to laugh when he realize that that wouldn't be the best thing to do, considering the fact that he was trying to be really friendly with him, a winger.
"What is it with the fact that I'm a bounty hunter? Everyone seems to think that I'm not fit for it or something!" He laughed at himself, probably for realizing the fact that everyone probably thought that he was either too nice or just not made for this kind of work. "Actually, Fumi... You're a real nice guy and maybe that's why I can't think of you as a bounty hunter."
"Think of it this way Fumi: Right now, you just struck a conversation with someone that tried to steal whatever it was that you had with you. The normal reaction that people would give to being robbed would be shock or in the least, anger. How can I expect you to kill somebody if you're so friendly?" Now Fumi just had to laugh even more at himself. Yes, maybe he was far too friendly with the rest of the world. Yes, maybe he was a little weird when it came to interpersonal relationships. No wonder he was always viewed as a pacifist...
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't really think of myself as being such a nice guy, but I don't think my own view of myself matters, right?" Chako nodded. "What about you Chako? I'm sure people can't tell right away that you're really a good kid." Chako smiled and blushed, probably because this was a compliment that was coming from a human of all people.
"I try not to act too good in front of people. After all, people already have me fixed as some kind of street-thug like boy so why go through all the trouble of changing?" Fumi had to agree with him. He's already had this impression on so many people that trying to change wouldn't even work. And besides, if you're happy the way you are, is there any reason for you to alter your image? "What about your family?"
"My family? I've got a bitch of a sister, an overbearing granny and a certain person that calls himself my older brother, although I think he's some kind of creepy psycho who just enjoys the fact that he scares me. It's not much of a family, is it?"
"At least you have a family. I'm an orphan."
"I... I'm so sorry. You must have someone that cares for you, right? I mean, you can't have lived this long without the help of others, right?" Yeah, there were people that cared for him back at Lampdragon. People that he cared for as well... "Yeah, there are. I love them lots..."
"And you've just got to have a lover! I mean, you're good looking, smart, strong and a guy with a great personality. You're one heluva package, Fumi." Now that he thought about it, he wasn't thinking of Koyu as much as before but now that this otherwise complete stranger mentioned it... He missed Koyu like hell.
A lover... How much he missed that.
"Yeah... I do love someone..." Chako slapped Fumi on the back, not strong enough however to knock him off balance, just strong enough to get his attention. "Who's the lucky person?"
Lucky? Was Koyu really lucky to have him? He thought that he was lucky to have Koyu!
"That person's name is Koyu..."
"Koyu..." Chako echoed. "Koyu's a strange name for a girl. But I'm sure she's really pretty!" Now that, was one that he couldn't just let go off. He laughed so hard that he almost fell backwards, before he was able to grab hold of the branch and maintain his seat.
"You're right... Koyu is a strange name for a girl... Thank god Koyu's a boy."
A pause. He looks at him strangely. Every second that passes between the two slowly brings that sense of uneasiness inside of Fumi. If there's one thing he learned in all his years of living, there are a whole lot more homophobes out there than you give the world credit for.
(Oh shit! Why'd I have to go and spill all the beans on this person I'd met only fifteen minutes ago?) he mentally slaps himself, seeing that his body just won't listen to his own commands. not until he hears from Chako that is...
Chako laughs and the tension is broken.
"Now that's something I never saw coming! First you tell me you're a bounty hunter and now you tell me you're a GAY, pardon the term, bounty hunter? What's next Fumi? You also happen to be the king of Highland?" He laughs out loud once more, this time enough for him to fall off backwards. Fumi panics, he looks down... And sees Chako flying upwards.
"That was close!" They look at each other for some time, then all of a sudden they burst out in laughter...
It never hurt to have friends. It also never hurt to try and make friends.
* * *
"So, you leavin' for Greenhill now?" He wanted to stay a little longer, try and chat with a bunch of other guys but he knew that he should really get moving. After all, Greenhill isn't going to come to him!
"Yeah, the sooner I get there, the better. It's been nice knowing you Chako." Chako swipes a punch at Fumi's arm as he puts on this mock-irritated face. "Hey! This isn't the last time we're gonna meet, okay? I'm sure we'll bump into one another sometime!" Fumi smiles, waves and before long is gone from Chako's sight, blending in with the darkness of the 2'0clock night.
"That's one heck of a guy..." Chako turned his back and began the slow walk back to his wooden house back in the winger district. It wasn't because he didn't want to go back, it's just that he regrets having to say goodbye to this person who had regarded him as someone beyond race. He wanted to call him back but he knew he couldn't.
He was just some poor kid living his life as a thief, after all.
- End chapter seven -