Hagaromo
chapter 2:
Gold Bells
"It's a test." Shun shivered rubbing his arms and walking through the forest. The wind had picked up and more snow was falling than could be blown off the trees above him. "Th-th-th-this has to b-b-be a t-t-t-test." he had been talking to himself for the last few hours so that he wouldn't lose hope. "Heav-v-v-en is testing m-m-m-me."
While looking through the woods he had wandered far enough away from the springs to get utterly lost and hopelessly cold. Despite this the green haired warrior knew it was important to keep moving. The first reason was for warmth, the second was for some kind of destination. He hoped he would run into someone who might be able to help him or end up back at the hot springs so he could warm up again, at least for a little while. The forest was getting darker and more intimidating.
"What's that?" A bright light was coming from some trees up ahead. At this point he was so tired, so hungry and so cold that couldn't tell if this was a heaven's light or not, so he ran toward it, hoping it was. "Hello? Is someone there? Seiya, Shiryu, Ikki..."
Shun's hopeful smile flipped suddenly to a disappointed frown. He had just reached the tree line and a barren wasteland met him. A field of snow as far as the eye could see. The wind was ten times more biting as it whipped over his skin and tossed his hair around. The light, he thought was the harbinger of rescue was nothing more than a reflection of the sun setting. After so many hours it seemed he would have to spend the night in this brutal mortal plane.
The scrap of cloth around Shun's waist wasn't going to protect him from this snow storm and noone was coming not Seiya, not Shiryu and not...not...Ikki. His knees locked together, preferable to falling into the snow, as he covered his face. He didn't want the cold to freeze his tears. His muscles ached and his stomach growled and he just wanted be warm. The tears continued to roll down his face and into his hands. He couldn't even feel his fingers and toes anymore.
The warrior considered giving up and curling up next to a tree for the night. When suddenly in the distance, the wind carried a small, subtle sound. Shun lifted his head and stumbled forward, the sound was getting closer. It was, the sound had to be, the rhythmic ringing of a bell. Just one but that meant civilization as far as this wilderness was concerned.
The green haired man summoned his strength and trudged onward through the shin deep snow that was quickly becoming knee deep. He kept walking and walking following that sound until he was blinded by snow and reached the limits of his strength. The numbing sensation seemed to be spreading, but he tried not to focus on that. Shun was sure he had come close enough, after all this time and distance, he had to try.
"Is someone there? Anyone!" The bell sound stopped and Shun held his breath. Did someone hear him? Would that person help him or... "Please!" He looked around without knowing what to look for. "I'm lost and I...I need help...please." this time his tears froze before they touched his cheeks and fell as crystals into the snow, the pitiful wretch. The bell sound jingled again as foot steps could be heard in the snow. It some how sounded different than his own maybe, not human.
In the white haze that cloaked the air about a foot in front of his face, an animal like a dog or wolf emerged. There was a gold bell around his neck. The green haired warrior started laughing a low chuckle that reflected his bitter hopelessness. Reaching the limit of his energy he collapsed into the snow. Before he passed out he heard the large wolf howl. It was in this state between sleeping and waking that he remembered that wolves hunt in packs. He was probably calling his friends to come eat fresh meat. This last thought was of heaven and his cloth, wondering if he would die here. Great, just great.
Shun couldn't be sure how long he was unconscious, but he felt weightless, light as if being carried. Unfortunately, his muscles felt like bricks, weighing down everything part of his body. He heard sounds, there were more bells and a few barks from a dog. Then he heard a voice.
"Down boy, he's a guest." his voice was deep and melodious, so soothing after the terrible hardships this heavenly being had to suffer through.
Shun felt his body come to rest on a soft bed of furs. There was a dull hint of warmth radiating from somewhere on his right side. He could hear the crackle and snap of a fire, that must be it. Someone...a single tear fell...someone found me. Thank you. I have to...
"Th-thank..." Shun said, finding it hard to open his eyes to see the one who saved him.
"Easy now." The man's hand was hot when it touched Shun's. Funny, he hadn't realized he had lifted his hand. "You were going to freeze to death. You're very lucky Ivanava found you." A wet nose nudged his other hand as if the dog was introducing himself.
"Ivanava?" Shun tried harder to open his eyes. Images were a blur, but it was probably the same white dog he saw in the snow. He let his hand brush the creature's fur around his muzzle. Good doggie.
"Right now, we're trying to warm you up, but a fire's too hot for your frozen body. You were practically naked out there, so I hope you don't take this personal." His voice came closer as a blond haired and blue eyed blur neared tired green eyes.
"Wha-" the green haired warrior gasped when he felt a very warm, practically naked body embrace his, laying with him between the layers of fur. "What are you doing?" Green eyes blinked several times, but his vision wasn't improving much, so he just closed his eyes and tried pushing the man away.
"Look, I'm not tryin' anything." the blond struggled against the hands pressing on his face, mooshing is nose and cheek and making his voice sound very peculiar. "If I leve yu to warb up on your ownb, there's a chanze yu could loose some fingerz and towz," the blue eyed man tried pulling his face away, "So I'm doin' you a favor alright?" The green haired man calmed down at these words. "Geez." the stranger wiggled his nose and stretched his mouth in a kind of yawn, "That's better."
"I'm sorry." The green haired warrior was too tired to struggle very much anyway, but the man was right. He was doing the heavenly being a favor and this was no way to repay him. "I guess I just don't understand why."
"It's simple." The blond shrugged. "Have you ever tried boiling a frog."
"That's horrible." Shun exclaimed.
"Sorry, bad example?" he touched his chin, thoughtfully, then shook his head. "Let me explain. If you put a frog into boiling water, he's going to jump right out."
"That makes sense." the green eyed young man nodded.
"Right, because it's too hot and the sudden change in temperature is dangerous and the frog could get really hurt." he continued. "But if you put the frog in cool water and slowly heat it to boiling the frog's cooked before he realizes that the temperature had changed."
"Why would you do such a thing?" the heavenly being was aghast that someone would even suggest such cruelty. "What did the frog do to you?"
"Look that's not the point." the blond touched his forehead. "I'm trying to say that a gradual change in your temperature, back to where it should be will be safer than warming you up too fast."
"Oh," green eyes blinked. "Why didn't you just say so?" his eye brows knotted, sympathetic to the pour frog's plight. "Why did you have to kill a frog to prove your point?"
"I didn't kill any frog it's like, a saying, okay? I don't even like frogs." the blond tried to convince him.
"That's no excuse to kill them." Shun tried to convince him.
"Like I said," he shook his blond hair. "I didn't."
"Really?" the green haired warrior asked again to be sure.
"Yes, really." he nodded and for a few minutes there was only the sound of the crackling fire to drown out the wind outside.
"That's a terrible saying." Shun said after a moment.
"Maybe we can just sleep for a while and forget about the frog, okay?" the blond practically slammed his head into the pillow.
"W-we're going to sleep like this?" Shun was convinced he would be comfortable enough to sleep, being held by another man. Well, there was that time with his brother, but they were kids and family so it was natural. This...
"Like I said it's nothing personal. I just don't want to see you lose your digits."
"Digits?" Green eyes blinked, confused.
"Fingers and toes." the blond brushed his own fingers and toes against the warrior's for emphasis. The green haired young man felt a flutter in his chest, when he felt those gentle touches. This man's treatment seemed to be working. Shun was getting his feeling back and the other's skin was warm compared to when he was first embraced. At first, it was like hugging one of those hot spring rocks. Now...
"Th-thank you." Shun did his best to relax. The large white dog curled up on the other side making a kind of sandwich out of the heavenly being. Surprisingly, the two heart beats, rhythmically pumping combine with the breathing of all three, made a soothing lullaby for the green haired man to dream by. "Good night." Shun whispered, but the other two were already asleep.
chapter 2:
Gold Bells
"It's a test." Shun shivered rubbing his arms and walking through the forest. The wind had picked up and more snow was falling than could be blown off the trees above him. "Th-th-th-this has to b-b-be a t-t-t-test." he had been talking to himself for the last few hours so that he wouldn't lose hope. "Heav-v-v-en is testing m-m-m-me."
While looking through the woods he had wandered far enough away from the springs to get utterly lost and hopelessly cold. Despite this the green haired warrior knew it was important to keep moving. The first reason was for warmth, the second was for some kind of destination. He hoped he would run into someone who might be able to help him or end up back at the hot springs so he could warm up again, at least for a little while. The forest was getting darker and more intimidating.
"What's that?" A bright light was coming from some trees up ahead. At this point he was so tired, so hungry and so cold that couldn't tell if this was a heaven's light or not, so he ran toward it, hoping it was. "Hello? Is someone there? Seiya, Shiryu, Ikki..."
Shun's hopeful smile flipped suddenly to a disappointed frown. He had just reached the tree line and a barren wasteland met him. A field of snow as far as the eye could see. The wind was ten times more biting as it whipped over his skin and tossed his hair around. The light, he thought was the harbinger of rescue was nothing more than a reflection of the sun setting. After so many hours it seemed he would have to spend the night in this brutal mortal plane.
The scrap of cloth around Shun's waist wasn't going to protect him from this snow storm and noone was coming not Seiya, not Shiryu and not...not...Ikki. His knees locked together, preferable to falling into the snow, as he covered his face. He didn't want the cold to freeze his tears. His muscles ached and his stomach growled and he just wanted be warm. The tears continued to roll down his face and into his hands. He couldn't even feel his fingers and toes anymore.
The warrior considered giving up and curling up next to a tree for the night. When suddenly in the distance, the wind carried a small, subtle sound. Shun lifted his head and stumbled forward, the sound was getting closer. It was, the sound had to be, the rhythmic ringing of a bell. Just one but that meant civilization as far as this wilderness was concerned.
The green haired man summoned his strength and trudged onward through the shin deep snow that was quickly becoming knee deep. He kept walking and walking following that sound until he was blinded by snow and reached the limits of his strength. The numbing sensation seemed to be spreading, but he tried not to focus on that. Shun was sure he had come close enough, after all this time and distance, he had to try.
"Is someone there? Anyone!" The bell sound stopped and Shun held his breath. Did someone hear him? Would that person help him or... "Please!" He looked around without knowing what to look for. "I'm lost and I...I need help...please." this time his tears froze before they touched his cheeks and fell as crystals into the snow, the pitiful wretch. The bell sound jingled again as foot steps could be heard in the snow. It some how sounded different than his own maybe, not human.
In the white haze that cloaked the air about a foot in front of his face, an animal like a dog or wolf emerged. There was a gold bell around his neck. The green haired warrior started laughing a low chuckle that reflected his bitter hopelessness. Reaching the limit of his energy he collapsed into the snow. Before he passed out he heard the large wolf howl. It was in this state between sleeping and waking that he remembered that wolves hunt in packs. He was probably calling his friends to come eat fresh meat. This last thought was of heaven and his cloth, wondering if he would die here. Great, just great.
Shun couldn't be sure how long he was unconscious, but he felt weightless, light as if being carried. Unfortunately, his muscles felt like bricks, weighing down everything part of his body. He heard sounds, there were more bells and a few barks from a dog. Then he heard a voice.
"Down boy, he's a guest." his voice was deep and melodious, so soothing after the terrible hardships this heavenly being had to suffer through.
Shun felt his body come to rest on a soft bed of furs. There was a dull hint of warmth radiating from somewhere on his right side. He could hear the crackle and snap of a fire, that must be it. Someone...a single tear fell...someone found me. Thank you. I have to...
"Th-thank..." Shun said, finding it hard to open his eyes to see the one who saved him.
"Easy now." The man's hand was hot when it touched Shun's. Funny, he hadn't realized he had lifted his hand. "You were going to freeze to death. You're very lucky Ivanava found you." A wet nose nudged his other hand as if the dog was introducing himself.
"Ivanava?" Shun tried harder to open his eyes. Images were a blur, but it was probably the same white dog he saw in the snow. He let his hand brush the creature's fur around his muzzle. Good doggie.
"Right now, we're trying to warm you up, but a fire's too hot for your frozen body. You were practically naked out there, so I hope you don't take this personal." His voice came closer as a blond haired and blue eyed blur neared tired green eyes.
"Wha-" the green haired warrior gasped when he felt a very warm, practically naked body embrace his, laying with him between the layers of fur. "What are you doing?" Green eyes blinked several times, but his vision wasn't improving much, so he just closed his eyes and tried pushing the man away.
"Look, I'm not tryin' anything." the blond struggled against the hands pressing on his face, mooshing is nose and cheek and making his voice sound very peculiar. "If I leve yu to warb up on your ownb, there's a chanze yu could loose some fingerz and towz," the blue eyed man tried pulling his face away, "So I'm doin' you a favor alright?" The green haired man calmed down at these words. "Geez." the stranger wiggled his nose and stretched his mouth in a kind of yawn, "That's better."
"I'm sorry." The green haired warrior was too tired to struggle very much anyway, but the man was right. He was doing the heavenly being a favor and this was no way to repay him. "I guess I just don't understand why."
"It's simple." The blond shrugged. "Have you ever tried boiling a frog."
"That's horrible." Shun exclaimed.
"Sorry, bad example?" he touched his chin, thoughtfully, then shook his head. "Let me explain. If you put a frog into boiling water, he's going to jump right out."
"That makes sense." the green eyed young man nodded.
"Right, because it's too hot and the sudden change in temperature is dangerous and the frog could get really hurt." he continued. "But if you put the frog in cool water and slowly heat it to boiling the frog's cooked before he realizes that the temperature had changed."
"Why would you do such a thing?" the heavenly being was aghast that someone would even suggest such cruelty. "What did the frog do to you?"
"Look that's not the point." the blond touched his forehead. "I'm trying to say that a gradual change in your temperature, back to where it should be will be safer than warming you up too fast."
"Oh," green eyes blinked. "Why didn't you just say so?" his eye brows knotted, sympathetic to the pour frog's plight. "Why did you have to kill a frog to prove your point?"
"I didn't kill any frog it's like, a saying, okay? I don't even like frogs." the blond tried to convince him.
"That's no excuse to kill them." Shun tried to convince him.
"Like I said," he shook his blond hair. "I didn't."
"Really?" the green haired warrior asked again to be sure.
"Yes, really." he nodded and for a few minutes there was only the sound of the crackling fire to drown out the wind outside.
"That's a terrible saying." Shun said after a moment.
"Maybe we can just sleep for a while and forget about the frog, okay?" the blond practically slammed his head into the pillow.
"W-we're going to sleep like this?" Shun was convinced he would be comfortable enough to sleep, being held by another man. Well, there was that time with his brother, but they were kids and family so it was natural. This...
"Like I said it's nothing personal. I just don't want to see you lose your digits."
"Digits?" Green eyes blinked, confused.
"Fingers and toes." the blond brushed his own fingers and toes against the warrior's for emphasis. The green haired young man felt a flutter in his chest, when he felt those gentle touches. This man's treatment seemed to be working. Shun was getting his feeling back and the other's skin was warm compared to when he was first embraced. At first, it was like hugging one of those hot spring rocks. Now...
"Th-thank you." Shun did his best to relax. The large white dog curled up on the other side making a kind of sandwich out of the heavenly being. Surprisingly, the two heart beats, rhythmically pumping combine with the breathing of all three, made a soothing lullaby for the green haired man to dream by. "Good night." Shun whispered, but the other two were already asleep.