This story begins in the heart of a place you'd least expect. Near an ocean
with the clearest waters, a forest filled with purity, beauty, love and
care is what you will find. Though it is not just the forest itself, it's
the people who live in this forest.
They were humans, not like what you are today, but what you used to be. This was a time and place where status, wealth or looks had not meant everything in life. It was how you treated people, helped others, and gave others your respect... that was what people expected of you.
In this forest, are several villages, but we're not focusing on the villages because they have no point in this story. Near the sandy beaches of the island, where the trees start to disappear and the ocean comes into view was a small hut. This hut was made from broken branches, cloth and leaves.
A young boy lived here. This boy will take you on the journey's path and lead you to the end...
*~*~*~*~*~
The sun was slowly rising above the oceans pale blue surface; it was truly a beautiful sight and he felt sorry for the rest of the islander's who were all still asleep, for they were missing the sun's waking beauty. The sun was always neglected in it's rising and setting, no one paid any attention to something so simple anymore. But he didn't ignore his beauty. Whilst he pitied the people for missing a breathtaking sight he also felt sorry for the sun as well. So he made it a part of his daily routine to sit on this rock and watch the sun rise for he didn't want the sun to feel left out.
The gentle wind played with his hair, and he closed his eyes and sighed dreamily. This was paradise. The smell of the ocean and of the trees tickled his nose, and his eyes fluttered open lazily, jade eyes continued watching over the ocean's face. He memorized the colors the gods were painting for him to see. He lifted his hand and lay back onto the sand. He continued to trace the colors; Gold, pale pink, violet, indigo, orange, magenta... he giggled at his childish act but continued anyway, he hadn't done this in a while. His hand dropped down to his chest and he settled for just watching. It was almost over a few more minutes and the sun would reach its destination, the colors will fade away and the sky blue will be the only color left. The villagers will wake and declare a beautiful day yet they missed the true beauty in the beginning.
His eyes drifted closed as he let out a soft yawn, it only lasted a few seconds yet that was all the time it needed for when the boy opened his eyes once again he saw the blazing sun and the pale blue sky.
"Nuts!" He groaned, but he broke into a childish grin, "Okay, so you win again. Just you wait Ra! I will see you fade your colors away!" He got up and skipped away laughing towards his small home.
He pushed the cloth flap out of the way and stepped inside. He flopped onto his old weaved hammock and allowed it to gently sway to and fro while he snuggled into the pillow and blankets and let out a soft sigh. It has become an obsession almost, every morning he would wake early enough to see the first glimmer of red in the sky, but out of the whole time he had never seen the colors completely fade to nothing. He was starting to think that the gods just erased the colors and replaced them with blue in the last few seconds. So he turned it into a challenge, a game almost, to see the last of the colors fade into nothing... so far he was unsuccessful. But he will see it someday! Even if it killed him!
The young boy yelped in surprise, "I almost forgot!" He exclaimed in horror. He picked up a small knife from the table located in the middle of the one room home and walked to the doorway. Standing straight against the archway he lifted the knife steadily above his head and nicked the wood. He moved away and observed his new height. His eyes traveled from the first engraved line all the way to the newest one he had just made. His eyes saddened slightly, there was a time when his parents would have been here to do this for him... but the dead can't walk freely to do such silly things.
Unknowingly he was tracing the tiger pattern that his mother carved into the wood a short, yet long time ago. He turned seventeen this season, his parents passed on when he was eight. The villagers' thought he would have surely died at that age, the elders said he survived for the gods had plans for him. He wanted to believe that the gods had something to do with his survival, that there was something special that he and only he could do but he didn't know what that was... and he received no sign to show that it would be coming soon.
"Three more inches..." He murmured to himself.
He let out a tired sigh and set out to complete the chores he did every day. Change out of his extremely sandy clothes, bathe in the river, return home, gather his goods, set them outside, sweep the sand that had collected over the week out of the hut, straighten his home up, gather and chop wood, load up the cart full of his goods and take them into the market.
The market was located near the center of the island so it took him a day and a half to get there. He pulled the wooden cart through the worn out path of the forest stopping occasionally for rest and to share conversation with the animals. He arrived late in the afternoon the next day and could already hear the loud buzz of the people, he stopped and set up his merchandise in his usual spot, right beside the elderly man and his shawls. They exchanged their 'hellos' as every other day and then returned keeping a close watch on their sales. It wasn't long before the familiar group of children came towards him, quietly, stealthy, shyly... the children without homes, without parents to take care of them. They would come into the market to steal others wares for it was their only means of survival. But they knew him... he understood what it was like to be cold and hungry, they would often come to him and give him small things that weren't worth much for some of the fruit he brought with him.
"Brother! How was your trip?" A small girl asked.
"It was very pleasant." He replied smiling.
"Did you bring anymore tiger fruit?" She chirped.
"Ipo!" The other boy scolded harshly.
"Sorry, Kaipo... I was just asking brother if he had any..."
"And there is nothing to be ashamed of! There is nothing wrong with asking." He smiled down at them. He looked at Ipo with laughing eyes, "Yes Ipo... I have brought some tiger fruits with me today as well."
The small girl jumped in glee.
He leaned over the cart, "Nothing in my hands?" The small girl nodded smiling happily waiting for his trick. He waved his hands together and placed his right hand covering his left, he smirked as he found all the children were watching with such fascination and intensity, he slowly raised his right hand from his left and had to snicker as they all gasped seeing the fruit under his hand revealing itself more and more.
"Oh wow! That's so neat! Isn't it Kaipo?"
The small boy nodded his vigorously his eyes still wide.
He chuckled slightly and handed the fruit to Ipo and drew some more out for the others. They all cheered and ate their treats/meals with hefty bites. They all looked embarrassedly for more food, which caused him to roll his eyes. He pulled out several loaves of bread, and some vegetables and more fruit. The children gathered it all in their arms everyone but Kaipo had something.
He knew just what to give him; he pulled out a bag full of blankets, clothes, and slippers. He handed it over to Kaipo, who took it with a large smile on his face. "You take good care of these, all of you. These took me a long time to make, and I want to feel like I've made a sale by doing this, understand." He received several nods, and 'uh-huhs'.
He smiled and shooed them away before any of the soldiers got suspicious, they left that is after the elderly man selling shawls sold them some for smiles. Which Ipo gave lots of.
The day lasted longer than he expected but he made more money then he ever made this year. He placed the very few items he had remaining onto his cart and started on his journey home, never once realizing that he was in fact being followed.
*~*~*~*~*~
'Who was this delicious looking creature?' That was the thought running through his mind at the moment. He had done this several times, traveling to unreal destinations to complete certain tasks. He would like to say it was an honest living but others seemed to disagree with him. What was so bad about 'borrowing' a couple of insignificant treasures from some dead person that would never appreciate them anymore?
So when he arrived on this unusual strange island he knew right away something... unusual... would happen. He got the treasure with... minor difficulties; his arm and back were slightly scratched but nothing too serious. He and his comrades were waiting for the next boat out of the place in the market, that's where he meet him... well he hadn't meet him, at least not yet... but he sure as hell saw him!
His cheerful laugh, his happy smile, his laughing eyes. Such a beautiful work of art he just couldn't resist following him, he had to know his name. He had to know everything about him...
*~*~*~*~*~
There it was again. That feeling that someone was watching him.
He stopped to take a rest, and opened up his meal. He took another bite out of his fruit and sipped some of his water. He tore at the meat with his teeth and chewed a while before swallowing (a/n: think jerky). He was on his second fruit when he felt it again, he had never felt this watchful feeling get so intense before, it was like he knew where they were staring... he could feel his face heat up, some how he knew that whoever it was, was staring intently on his rear.
He felt strange, in an excited way almost. It was hard to describe, no one ever showed any interest in him in that way before. Yes a couple of the young 'pure' girls showed him their interest, but he could never give them his full attention.
He tucked his bag away on his cart and continued walking. It was the next day, when he was only hours away from his home that he felt the watching presence leave. Though he was curious he continued on.
"Hello Aelan." He called to the mother as he passed.
"Oh! Hello dear, were you successful today?" She asked politely.
He laughed, "Well I sold more than I thought possible... does that count as being successful?"
The woman laughed cheerfully, "Well that's good to hear, take care dear!"
"I will." He replied and headed down the east path.
*~*~*~*~*~
'Never have I seen someone so full of life. He seems to carry a cheerful attitude wherever he goes...' He thought.
He jumped down from the tree he was currently hiding in, and walked over to the stick fence of the woman who the boy called 'Aelan'.
"Excuse me miss?" He asked in his politest voice.
This was another thing that confused him, everyone is extremely polite on this island, and it's almost like a rule here. If you want information, you had to show them that you mean no harm, you must ask politely, and you must show your full respect or they will either ignore you or not give you theirs.
'This island has to be the most insane place I've ever ventured.' He thought to himself.
"Yes?" The woman looked up from her garden, "Oh, hello. How may I help sweetie?"
Out of all the smiles he gave to the people of the island, this woman Aelan, was the first to get his 'real' smile. There was something about this woman, she was overly cheerful and treated everyone as if she was his or her mother.
"I was wondering, could you please tell me the name of the boy that had just passed by recently?"
"The name... of the boy... Oh you mean the one with the cart?" She asked sheepishly.
He chuckled softly, "Yes that one, the boy with beautiful green eyes." He choked slightly and his eyes widened, he hadn't meant to say that part! Now this lady would never give him the name.
Though instead of a look of disgust, as of which he was expecting... her smile grew wider, and her eyes twinkled with slight mischief. "Yes, they are beautiful aren't they?"
He just nodded his head, still embarrassed that he had let that slip.
"Did you know, that out of all the people of the island, he is the only one with green eyes, and fair skin?"
"No I did not know that."
The lady laughed. "Do you still wish for his name?"
"Yes, more than anything."
"His name is Ryou."
"Ryou..." He repeated softly.
*~*~*~*~*~
n_n well there's the second chapter.
Sorry for it being so short, but I had to end it there... hope you understand, the chapters later on should be longer than four pages.
Oh for those who were wondering?
Ipo - Darling
Kaipo - Sweetheart
These names can be found at www.babynames.com I tell you this site is a life saver when trying to find the right name for your story!
Kimajime: Very good, now let's begin on the third *taps her on the head with his fan*
Nat-Kat: Wow... this has to be the best fic you've ever written. Good job Queenie!
^ ^ Thank you!
Please leave a review; I would like it very much!
They were humans, not like what you are today, but what you used to be. This was a time and place where status, wealth or looks had not meant everything in life. It was how you treated people, helped others, and gave others your respect... that was what people expected of you.
In this forest, are several villages, but we're not focusing on the villages because they have no point in this story. Near the sandy beaches of the island, where the trees start to disappear and the ocean comes into view was a small hut. This hut was made from broken branches, cloth and leaves.
A young boy lived here. This boy will take you on the journey's path and lead you to the end...
*~*~*~*~*~
The sun was slowly rising above the oceans pale blue surface; it was truly a beautiful sight and he felt sorry for the rest of the islander's who were all still asleep, for they were missing the sun's waking beauty. The sun was always neglected in it's rising and setting, no one paid any attention to something so simple anymore. But he didn't ignore his beauty. Whilst he pitied the people for missing a breathtaking sight he also felt sorry for the sun as well. So he made it a part of his daily routine to sit on this rock and watch the sun rise for he didn't want the sun to feel left out.
The gentle wind played with his hair, and he closed his eyes and sighed dreamily. This was paradise. The smell of the ocean and of the trees tickled his nose, and his eyes fluttered open lazily, jade eyes continued watching over the ocean's face. He memorized the colors the gods were painting for him to see. He lifted his hand and lay back onto the sand. He continued to trace the colors; Gold, pale pink, violet, indigo, orange, magenta... he giggled at his childish act but continued anyway, he hadn't done this in a while. His hand dropped down to his chest and he settled for just watching. It was almost over a few more minutes and the sun would reach its destination, the colors will fade away and the sky blue will be the only color left. The villagers will wake and declare a beautiful day yet they missed the true beauty in the beginning.
His eyes drifted closed as he let out a soft yawn, it only lasted a few seconds yet that was all the time it needed for when the boy opened his eyes once again he saw the blazing sun and the pale blue sky.
"Nuts!" He groaned, but he broke into a childish grin, "Okay, so you win again. Just you wait Ra! I will see you fade your colors away!" He got up and skipped away laughing towards his small home.
He pushed the cloth flap out of the way and stepped inside. He flopped onto his old weaved hammock and allowed it to gently sway to and fro while he snuggled into the pillow and blankets and let out a soft sigh. It has become an obsession almost, every morning he would wake early enough to see the first glimmer of red in the sky, but out of the whole time he had never seen the colors completely fade to nothing. He was starting to think that the gods just erased the colors and replaced them with blue in the last few seconds. So he turned it into a challenge, a game almost, to see the last of the colors fade into nothing... so far he was unsuccessful. But he will see it someday! Even if it killed him!
The young boy yelped in surprise, "I almost forgot!" He exclaimed in horror. He picked up a small knife from the table located in the middle of the one room home and walked to the doorway. Standing straight against the archway he lifted the knife steadily above his head and nicked the wood. He moved away and observed his new height. His eyes traveled from the first engraved line all the way to the newest one he had just made. His eyes saddened slightly, there was a time when his parents would have been here to do this for him... but the dead can't walk freely to do such silly things.
Unknowingly he was tracing the tiger pattern that his mother carved into the wood a short, yet long time ago. He turned seventeen this season, his parents passed on when he was eight. The villagers' thought he would have surely died at that age, the elders said he survived for the gods had plans for him. He wanted to believe that the gods had something to do with his survival, that there was something special that he and only he could do but he didn't know what that was... and he received no sign to show that it would be coming soon.
"Three more inches..." He murmured to himself.
He let out a tired sigh and set out to complete the chores he did every day. Change out of his extremely sandy clothes, bathe in the river, return home, gather his goods, set them outside, sweep the sand that had collected over the week out of the hut, straighten his home up, gather and chop wood, load up the cart full of his goods and take them into the market.
The market was located near the center of the island so it took him a day and a half to get there. He pulled the wooden cart through the worn out path of the forest stopping occasionally for rest and to share conversation with the animals. He arrived late in the afternoon the next day and could already hear the loud buzz of the people, he stopped and set up his merchandise in his usual spot, right beside the elderly man and his shawls. They exchanged their 'hellos' as every other day and then returned keeping a close watch on their sales. It wasn't long before the familiar group of children came towards him, quietly, stealthy, shyly... the children without homes, without parents to take care of them. They would come into the market to steal others wares for it was their only means of survival. But they knew him... he understood what it was like to be cold and hungry, they would often come to him and give him small things that weren't worth much for some of the fruit he brought with him.
"Brother! How was your trip?" A small girl asked.
"It was very pleasant." He replied smiling.
"Did you bring anymore tiger fruit?" She chirped.
"Ipo!" The other boy scolded harshly.
"Sorry, Kaipo... I was just asking brother if he had any..."
"And there is nothing to be ashamed of! There is nothing wrong with asking." He smiled down at them. He looked at Ipo with laughing eyes, "Yes Ipo... I have brought some tiger fruits with me today as well."
The small girl jumped in glee.
He leaned over the cart, "Nothing in my hands?" The small girl nodded smiling happily waiting for his trick. He waved his hands together and placed his right hand covering his left, he smirked as he found all the children were watching with such fascination and intensity, he slowly raised his right hand from his left and had to snicker as they all gasped seeing the fruit under his hand revealing itself more and more.
"Oh wow! That's so neat! Isn't it Kaipo?"
The small boy nodded his vigorously his eyes still wide.
He chuckled slightly and handed the fruit to Ipo and drew some more out for the others. They all cheered and ate their treats/meals with hefty bites. They all looked embarrassedly for more food, which caused him to roll his eyes. He pulled out several loaves of bread, and some vegetables and more fruit. The children gathered it all in their arms everyone but Kaipo had something.
He knew just what to give him; he pulled out a bag full of blankets, clothes, and slippers. He handed it over to Kaipo, who took it with a large smile on his face. "You take good care of these, all of you. These took me a long time to make, and I want to feel like I've made a sale by doing this, understand." He received several nods, and 'uh-huhs'.
He smiled and shooed them away before any of the soldiers got suspicious, they left that is after the elderly man selling shawls sold them some for smiles. Which Ipo gave lots of.
The day lasted longer than he expected but he made more money then he ever made this year. He placed the very few items he had remaining onto his cart and started on his journey home, never once realizing that he was in fact being followed.
*~*~*~*~*~
'Who was this delicious looking creature?' That was the thought running through his mind at the moment. He had done this several times, traveling to unreal destinations to complete certain tasks. He would like to say it was an honest living but others seemed to disagree with him. What was so bad about 'borrowing' a couple of insignificant treasures from some dead person that would never appreciate them anymore?
So when he arrived on this unusual strange island he knew right away something... unusual... would happen. He got the treasure with... minor difficulties; his arm and back were slightly scratched but nothing too serious. He and his comrades were waiting for the next boat out of the place in the market, that's where he meet him... well he hadn't meet him, at least not yet... but he sure as hell saw him!
His cheerful laugh, his happy smile, his laughing eyes. Such a beautiful work of art he just couldn't resist following him, he had to know his name. He had to know everything about him...
*~*~*~*~*~
There it was again. That feeling that someone was watching him.
He stopped to take a rest, and opened up his meal. He took another bite out of his fruit and sipped some of his water. He tore at the meat with his teeth and chewed a while before swallowing (a/n: think jerky). He was on his second fruit when he felt it again, he had never felt this watchful feeling get so intense before, it was like he knew where they were staring... he could feel his face heat up, some how he knew that whoever it was, was staring intently on his rear.
He felt strange, in an excited way almost. It was hard to describe, no one ever showed any interest in him in that way before. Yes a couple of the young 'pure' girls showed him their interest, but he could never give them his full attention.
He tucked his bag away on his cart and continued walking. It was the next day, when he was only hours away from his home that he felt the watching presence leave. Though he was curious he continued on.
"Hello Aelan." He called to the mother as he passed.
"Oh! Hello dear, were you successful today?" She asked politely.
He laughed, "Well I sold more than I thought possible... does that count as being successful?"
The woman laughed cheerfully, "Well that's good to hear, take care dear!"
"I will." He replied and headed down the east path.
*~*~*~*~*~
'Never have I seen someone so full of life. He seems to carry a cheerful attitude wherever he goes...' He thought.
He jumped down from the tree he was currently hiding in, and walked over to the stick fence of the woman who the boy called 'Aelan'.
"Excuse me miss?" He asked in his politest voice.
This was another thing that confused him, everyone is extremely polite on this island, and it's almost like a rule here. If you want information, you had to show them that you mean no harm, you must ask politely, and you must show your full respect or they will either ignore you or not give you theirs.
'This island has to be the most insane place I've ever ventured.' He thought to himself.
"Yes?" The woman looked up from her garden, "Oh, hello. How may I help sweetie?"
Out of all the smiles he gave to the people of the island, this woman Aelan, was the first to get his 'real' smile. There was something about this woman, she was overly cheerful and treated everyone as if she was his or her mother.
"I was wondering, could you please tell me the name of the boy that had just passed by recently?"
"The name... of the boy... Oh you mean the one with the cart?" She asked sheepishly.
He chuckled softly, "Yes that one, the boy with beautiful green eyes." He choked slightly and his eyes widened, he hadn't meant to say that part! Now this lady would never give him the name.
Though instead of a look of disgust, as of which he was expecting... her smile grew wider, and her eyes twinkled with slight mischief. "Yes, they are beautiful aren't they?"
He just nodded his head, still embarrassed that he had let that slip.
"Did you know, that out of all the people of the island, he is the only one with green eyes, and fair skin?"
"No I did not know that."
The lady laughed. "Do you still wish for his name?"
"Yes, more than anything."
"His name is Ryou."
"Ryou..." He repeated softly.
*~*~*~*~*~
n_n well there's the second chapter.
Sorry for it being so short, but I had to end it there... hope you understand, the chapters later on should be longer than four pages.
Oh for those who were wondering?
Ipo - Darling
Kaipo - Sweetheart
These names can be found at www.babynames.com I tell you this site is a life saver when trying to find the right name for your story!
Kimajime: Very good, now let's begin on the third *taps her on the head with his fan*
Nat-Kat: Wow... this has to be the best fic you've ever written. Good job Queenie!
^ ^ Thank you!
Please leave a review; I would like it very much!