As I left the village gates I felt the breeze surround me with a overwhelming touch. The soft blossoms of the Sakuras caressing my face. The castle was about an hour walk north from Town's gate to their gate. I took a small walk but picked up the pace as my body slowly got used to the weight of the sword on my back again. As I walked I took a small sandwich out of the bag and ate it as I enjoyed the site of mother nature all around me. About 45 minutes into the walk I stopped to finish my food and take a small sip of water…Also because of the fact is that the ground I stand on is where my father died. Right here on this spot marks Kazama Strife, a small legendary mercenary, who fought to the death against they say the 'devil' himself. I walked a few feet from the main road to the castle and looked a tree carved with my father's name and the date of his birth and death. I touched them slowly running my fingers through the carved letters and numbers in the tree. They said this is where they found him on the ground, barely alive. I slowly walked away from my father's grave and bowed in respects as I walked upon the dirt path to the castle again. About twenty minutes later I had reached the gates and I had opened it. Looks like two guards on the side were expecting me here and let me in. I walked in and walked in a storm of the Sakura blossoms in the air. It was like a hypnotic state I was in when I walked. Suddenly, I heard a soft song being sung into the air. A soft hypnotic melody that enticed my heart. I strayed from the path a few feet and saw a vision of beauty before my eyes. A young girl, no more then my age, caressing the roses in the large garden. She was singing such a beautiful song…the words seemed like something so natural…
Clouds swaying in the swift, gentle air
Swaying softly the strands of my silky hair
Caressing the earth in its full bloom
The earth is calling me softly…like the wolf to the moon…
Then…before my eyes she stood up and found me out staring at her. I met those beautiful eyes of hers, I couldn't tell the color as I was far away but they were so deep in their color. Her beautiful body covered in a long pink dress with a small red jacket that covered her upper torso. Her beautiful locks of dark auburn hair swaying gently in the wind. A small smile upon her lips as she saw me…and as suddenly as she appeared the blossoms whirled around me and she vanished within it. My soul wanting to see her again. I shook the thoughts out of my head and proceeded to the castle. I had soon reached the huge doors of the castle. They towered over me, like about 10 feet taller then me. I thought about how frivolous it was to have such big doors. I had put my hand to the doors and to my surprise such little force was used to open these doors. I walked in and 5 guards approached me and questioned me…
"Name?"
"Cloud Strife of Town""Business?"
"I was told a mission was reported to me and I would have come here to know what that mission is"
"Sir, he is the one they talk about in Town" another soldier said
"Oh, yes, one of my guards will take you to the library for your breifing"
"Sir, may I have the permission to?" someone asked"Oh, sir, yes you may""
"Cloud-san, please follow me" he said and I gladly followed
After a few minutes of silence the guard spoke up. I notice his muscles relax and I decided to relax too. It seemed like this person was up to something…
"So Cloud-san.."
"Please, call me Cloud"
"Yes…Cloud. So are you really the son of the great Kazama?"
"Yes, I am proud to say I am. May I ask who are you?"
"My name is Hiromi. I met your father many years ago"
So this is whom my father spoke about many years ago. Hiromi was a middle aged man. He wasn't dressed in the usual guard outfit. He had a long red robe and was outfitted with a golden sheath that I presumed held his sword. He wore a white shirt and some long baggy pants and had boots on. He looked like royalty, but seemed to hold an office in actual combat as well. He intrigued my mind…
"My father spoke of you many times. May I ask how you guys met?"
"I was on a mission with your father, we had an escort mission from town to here. She was a beautiful young lady that I instantly fell in love with. Your father had helped us get together"
"Ahh, I see. What position are you and that lady you speak of?"
"I am head of Guard and Defence Operations for the castle. She was the daughter of one of the higher ranking people here. We both married, thanks to your father, and had a small child"
"I see…"
"Sadly, my wife was taken by one of them a year ago"
"Them?"
Ignoring my question he slowly stopped and turned to a huge door on the right. It didn't bother me that he ignored my question. Must've hurt him deeply to really do so. So I didn't really want to push him on. Any friend of my father's is a friend of mine. Slowly the doors opened to reveal a vast library of books that boggled my mind. It lasted 2 floors and the shelves had to have at least 1,00 books each back and front. They almost rose to the ceiling.
"Here it is, Cloud, the countries largest library right here in the castle. Now lets find your employer"
"Yes, we shall"
I saw his face beaming with happiness as we wove around the numerous shelves.
"Hiromi, there was a reason you volunteered to bring me here isn't there?"
"Yes, there is…and there she is right now"
I looked to where he was suggesting and there on an old lady's lap laid a small girl maybe two or three years old. She was intently listening to the old lady, but stopped as she saw Hiromi.
"Daddy!"
"Hey, how's my little princess?"
"Daddy!" she said as she hugged him around the neck as he picked her up.
Must be too young to know words. He conversed a little with his daughter as he looked at me and pointed at me.
"See, that's Cloud, my best friend's son, say hi"
She looked a little scared of me, maybe because of my sword or my slit eyes staring at her. I felt bad for the young child so I unstraped my sword and set it down on a wall far, far away from them and walked back to the girl. She didn't seem so much afraid of me and as best as I could I reached out for her and she reached out back. She held around my neck and held me tight as I gazed on how beautiful this child was.
"See, Cloud, she likes you now"
"Yea she doe-" suddenly… she grabbed one of my locks of hair running down my face and pulled…HARD
"Ouch, Ouch"
"Aww isn't that cute, princess, stop pulling Cloud's hair""Ok!" she said with a smile, but I couldn't help smiling back
Soon a man looking like is early fifties early forties came up to me. He was wearing a lab clothes alone with a long white coat.
"Come, princess, let them talk and let's go get a snack""Ok, Daddy"
As I saw them walk out the huge library doors I heard a name that would come to me a later time in life once again…"Ack, Kairi, don't pull my…" and with that the gates shut
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AN: How's that? A new chapter to draw people in. I'm a drug addict when it comes to reviews :D. Hope you like the surprise and I'm already on chapter 5/6 of my story so more reviews faster they come :D Please review and enjoy your day :D
Next Chapter: Cloud meets Aerith
Preview:
"His eyes stared off onto the ceiling. Slit as to anticipate something so great. I was growling inwardly about those he talked about. They had seemed very dangerous and deadly. Does he talk about those strange incidents around the castle? I had to find out myself…"