Chapter Four: Harmonixer: Gift or Curse?
Yuri led her to the woods, holding the basket in his left hand while he wrapped his other hand around her waist. Alice smiled at him, looking at his pink ear. They have come to this place to pick berries, the raspberries came thick this year and both relished the delightful jelly they'd have in their plates. The raspberry bushes grew wild in the woods, but they have been pruning a row that grew not far from the river.
Actually, Yuri has chosen the area, one that is deeper into the copses of trees, because he valued the seclusion and privacy; most villagers were content to pick berries near the outskirts of the woods.
The pruning paid off as the bushes, amidst dappled beech trees, bore thick clusters of berries, ripe and bursting with flavor. Picking berries was one of the precious few, fond memories Yuri have as a child, and for a moment, he felt like that boy once more…alone, unwanted. When his parents died, he had to fend for himself, had lived off picking pockets, snatching food from vendors, hopped from barn to barn, covering himself with hay during the harsh winter. He had learned to hunt for wild game, constructed traps and if he got lucky, he'd have a fat rabbit, roasted over an open fire.
His life changed when Samus found him, Yuri had tried to mug the smith when he was deftly caught red handed. His fate was sealed then, as Samus could have easily sold him as a slave or have him beaten within an inch of his life, but the bushy bearded man did neither, instead he brought Yuri home, gave him warm food and scrubbed him until he turned pink all over. He hated the bath the most, he had been living without bathing for so long the touch of water felt alien to him, but Samus wasn't the least bit ruffled when the boy started to rain down profanities, curses, words that shouldn't reach a child's ear, much less speak them.
Donned in one of Samus shirt that fell to his knees, and rolled sleeves, Yuri found himself tucked into a real bed, one complete with pillow and soft mattress. He had forgotten how a bed felt against his body, and after experiencing his first taste of kindness in 4 years, Yuri felt unfamiliar tears fill his eyes. He didn't understand the emotions that filled him at that moment, couldn't comprehend what was happening to him and so he simply turned his back on the old man and pretended to sleep.
But he lay awake long after Samus blew out the candle and quietly closed the door. He didn't know what the old man wants from him, Samus had nothing to gain by taking in an orphan child who's more likely to mug him in his sleep, Yuri was confused, but the precious warmth of the bed, the gratified feeling of a filled stomach, gradually lulled him to sleep.
He woke up late the next morning, a pair of clothes laid waiting for him, one that is just right for his size. He donned the clothes, then warily stepped out of the room. He found Samus sitting by the window, smoking a pipe. The older man turned his head just then, smiled behind his beard and gestured towards the table.
Not knowing what else to do, Yuri complied. He found a huge chunk of bread, slices of cheese and meat on the table. He couldn't remember when he had last time seen so much food, laid just for him. The smoked ham tasted heavenly, reminding him of happier times, and the traitorous tears was back.
Afterwards, Samus sat on the opposite side of the table, still smoking his pipe. Yuri still felt wary as to what his ulterior motives were. He learned that day about the son Samus lost, one that is the same age as him, had the boy lived. Yuri felt the first stirring of sympathy, realized that he and the old man shared the same grief of losing loved ones.
It was one of those moments Yuri would never forget even to this day, the older man has tapped the contents of his pipe in a shallow bowl, then looked at him with eyes that seem to bore into his very soul.
"Ye my lad will grow up respectful like. Ye may not like me being yer father and all that, but I sure want to raise ye up like yer me own. I'm gonna teach ya ta smith, none in this here village is more esteemed than the smith, them folks would soon forget ye were once an urchin who brewed up trouble."
"Why me?" He asked, unable to believe that this man was willing to take a chance on him, a strange boy.
The corners of Samus eyes crinkled as he smiled. "A boy like ye, un who dinna bow ta whatever hardships fate threw in his way, have the soul of a true forger. It takes more than muscle an' brawn ta learn the trade ya know. Like me said, if ye had been listenin', ye remind me of me son. Ye gat the same reckless spirit, spittin' mad even if ye be the one who's wrong." Samus laughed then, though his eyes looked sad, once more remembering his own little boy.
He owed so much to Samus, more than he could ever repay. Yuri had vowed to himself to make the old smith proud, learning to forge wasn't an easy task, and he'd wanted to give up countless of times, but Samus won't hear any of it. It was Samus' sheer stubbornness and determination that kept him going.
And he could still see the pride in the old smith's face every time he'd inform their clients that it was Yuri, not himself who had forged their valued weapons. They were skeptical at first, unable to believe how someone so young could produce a fine sword that rivaled Samus' work himself. Yuri had to prove himself, by forging in front of them, just to let all doubts lie.
Gone was the ragged urchin, who had pawed through people's belongings, who had lived in the wild…in its place is this smith, respected, renowned in the land.
But Yuri hid a secret that no one knows, no, not even Samus.
The forbidden arts of Soul Fusion. A legacy from his father.
Yuri knew that if even one suspects that he is the 'Winged Beast' that prowled through the fields, hurting no one, but evil none-the-less for aren't all vile looking beings creatures of the Devil himself? He knew that he would become an outcast, alone, unwanted once more. So he guarded his 'curse' carefully, couldn't risk anyone knowing what he is capable of.
And on top of the list of people is Alice.
He's terrified at the thought she'd turn from him if she knew the truth about his person. Just like that day he first met her, he had been working in the fields, replacing a farmer's broken plow when he heard the thunder of hooves. He had used his fusion powers to help her, surprised to find a petite girl, one who had remained composed after what she have been through, most girls would have broken down and begged for mercy, but not this girl.
She wasn't exactly a ravishing beauty, he had seen girls prettier than her, but her features pleased him more than anyone he can remember. Violet eyes with dark blue flecks, and shiny, lustrous hair in the palest shade of blond he'd ever seen. He felt an instant attraction that would have sent him running that time, had he known what those feelings were. And by the time he realized, he had been caught too deep to do anything about it.
More than a year since that day, and he fell deeper in thrall with her. Even Gepetto seemed younger now that Alice was there to care for him.
And now, picking berries with him, shaping his fond childhood memories, making them more precious.
Alice laughed as she saw the stain of berry juice in the front of his clothes. Yuri ate more than he dropped in the basket, he even got red smears around his mouth, he looked so boyish, so charming that she gave in to the urge to wipe his lips with her kerchief. Yuri was startled when she reached up to touch him with a piece of linen, even after all this time, he wasn't used to her tender touch, always unexpected, doubly precious to him.
He just had to kiss her that moment, the urge was so strong, to deny it would be suicide.
Her lips were so soft, warm, flavored by berries he was sorely tempted to devour her, if he hasn't already. There was no gentleness in his kiss, just pure, unadulterated hunger that seemed to feed on itself. He crushed her in his arms, urging her lips to part beneath the insistent pressure of his tongue, stealing the sweet secrets of her mouth, stealing her breath, he made her want to forget to breathe, while liquid fire replaced the blood in her veins…
Just then there was a sound that broke them apart. It came from the trees, a rustling sound that came from a distance.
Yuri felt his skin break out in goose bumps; his instincts warned him of forthcoming danger. Protectively, he placed himself between Alice and the approaching threat.
Alice sensed the imminent danger too, she clutched at his arm worriedly. The woods were known to be quite safe as her creatures only prowl at night, but…remembering the monstrous 'Winged Beast' that haunt their village, Alice shuddered. Yuri's no match for a monster that size, one that is impervious to all weapons known to man.
Her instincts clamored for them to flee the place, but the way back to the village is the direction where the menace was coming, to head on the opposite way would lead them only deeper into the woods and more peril.
Alice closed her eyes and sen a silent prayer for protection, then slipped her hand to his. Yuri clasped her hand and gave her a little encouraging smile.
Nothing is gonna hurt you, he promised her quietly. Not when there's still breath left in my body.
