The First Year
Yamani Islands, Tsuki Forest.
Gen leaned against the fountain, looking up into the night sky. She let her finger run through the harp, smiling as the music flowed out. Her hazel eyes searched out the moon.
The full moon hung in the sky, surrounded by bright stars. It glowed brightly.
Her silver coloured kimono with a purple obi, made her look like a goddess. Gen's silky raven hair was let loose. Gen's face glowed, free of face paint.
Closing her eyes, she let the music and memories flow.
Angel held up a crystal ball, glowing a haze of gold and red. 'This is the Memory Crystal. You hold it and remember things, and it gets stored in the crystal. When we are separated, put your thoughts and things about your life into the crystal. We can be in touch this way.'
'That's a great idea Angel!' Aiko exclaimed, calling Angel by her childhood nickname. Chiko and Kel nodded in agreement. Angel winced noticeably when Aiko called her Angel.
'Aiko, you know only my mother and grandmother calls me that.' Angel said.
'Don't you like the name? You really suit it you know.' Aiko said smiling, eyes crinkling in amusement.
'Course it does.' Chiko said. 'The angel of the court.'
'All the manners of an angel. Patience, weak yet strong.' Kel said.
'And beautiful!' they chorused. Angel blushed.
'Oh my pretty angel, your eyes are the sky.' Chiko said laughing.
'Your smile is the brightest gems in the world.' Kel suggested.
'Your beauty overcomes me, and my heart fills with love for you!' Aiko said.
They all recited the poem her last admirer had written. Angel blushed deeper, but was smiling.
Angel smiled at the memory and looked down where the Memory Crystal laid its, soft pulsing, red and gold glow. She slipped the small crystal ball into a pocket. Angel whistled a soft tune. A crane flew over to her and bent its head, unmistakably a bow. Angel tied the pocket on to its leg and said, 'Take this to Kel please. Thank you.'
Angel stood back and the crane nodded twice before lifting its wings and flying towards the sky. Angel watched the crane until it disappeared. She sighed. Crouching, she fingered the small etching beneath the plague of the fountain, where it said, Tsuki Fountain.
With another sigh she stepped away and looked at the writing beneath the sign, Chiko, Angel, Aiko and Kel. Forever together, forever friends, forever sisters.
She turned and started the trek towards the palace.
Tortall, Corus. Palace, pages wing. Keladry of Midelan's rooms.
The crane flew into an open window, finding the right person, he waddled towards her. The person turned and smiled as her eyes saw the crane. Hazel eyes, dull with fatigue, and sweaty brown locks hung around her face. She reached towards the package the crane offered.
Kel sighed as she slid down to the water. Sighing happily when warm water touched her skin. She reached towards a nearby stool and took the Memory Crystal. She relaxed her aching muscles. Looking at the crystal while it turned a forest green. Tipping her head back, her gaze drifted towards the window, where she saw the moon. Smiling, her mind drifted. She saw Angel's memories and then started her own.
The first time Kel met Angel was when Angel was playing a hamsachi in a garden. The emotions of the song were so strong that Kel felt like crying. The piece of music was haunting, full of unspoken words and most of all lonely. The solitary sound of the flute was captivating. Kel stood behind the bench Angel was sitting on. As the music faded, Angel turned and saw Kel. Angel stood as Kel was about to kneel and bow, but Angel caught her and smiled. That was the time when Kel knew that Angel will play a big time in her life.
When Kel met Aiko, it was the second time. They were introduced on some meeting but both were bored and uninterested. The second time was when Aiko was on top of the Getsuei Tower. Aiko had been painting the moon. They both chatted and discussed all night and half the morning before realizing how much time had passed. They became good friends after that.
Kel met Chiko when there was a party and Kel had gone into the gardens to take a breath. She had seen a girl with nothing except a short thigh length white silk kimono, twirling around, spinning and smiling. Kel knew that she was intruding on something sacred and private. When Chiko found out that there was someone looking at her, instead of getting angry, she invited Kel to dance with her. At first Kel was a bit shy but Chiko persuaded Kel. They had danced together that night, in a peaceful manner. Spinning and twirling to the music.
Kel had brought these friends together. They spent many happy times together, posing for Aiko, dancing with Chiko, making music with Angel, Shang and glaive training together.
The time when they decided to get drunk was hilarious. They had slept over in Angel's rooms in the palace. They had raided their father's liquor stock. There was wine, sake, whiskey and ale. Even the emperor joined them for a few minutes. They had all gotten drunk. The hangovers were even more hilarious. There were major headaches and lots of moaning.
'How fast time had passed. One year gone. Seven more to go.' Kel murmured.
In the distance, the palace bell rang. 'Blast. I'm going to have to hurry.' Kel muttered.
She hurried out of the bath and put the crystal back into its pocket and tied into the crane. 'To Chiko, thanks.' Kel carried the crane towards the window and the crane flew out of her arms. Kel watched until the crane disappeared into a fleck into the sky then turned back to her rooms.
Carthak, Academy of Dance and Fine Arts
Sweeping her arms gracefully, Chiko stretched her leg. Spinning a few pirouettes and turns. She finished her routine before-bed stretch. Stripping her uniform, a purple leotard; a junior's uniform, she pulled on her night gown. And waited by the window.
She saw the crane and stepped back. The crane landed gracefully in her rooms and offered the crystal.
She sat on the bed with the crystal. Chiko turned her head towards the window and saw the moon. Smiling slightly, her mind drifted.
The memories of her sisterhood flicked through her mind.
The temple where their sisterhood had been blessed, stood isolated in the valleys of the mountains. The temple of Hisakata. The temple of moon. Memories of them kneeling together in the altar, taking the oath of sisterhood.
The happy times they had together. Exploring forests, hiding in hidden tunnels in the palace, and just simply sitting together.
Their special fountain, where it lay, hidden in the Tsuki Forest. Where they spent time together.
'How I miss those times. How I missed you, my sisters.' Chiko whispered. Tears spilled silently down her cheeks. She stood up and walked to the waiting crane, where it rested with food and water. She tied the pocket to its feet and said, 'Aiko, thanks.' and let the crane out of the window.
She turned back towards her bed. Chiko blew the candle out and let drowsiness overcome her.
Copper Isles, Palace
Aiko stood against the wind, with her arms outstretched. She tipped her head backwards. Wind pushed her auburn locks out of her messy bun. Laughing, she opened her eyes. Dark blue eyes gazed at the full moon. Lifting up the hem of her blue skirt, she sank to the floor, her eyes never leaving the moon. She saw a crane flying towards her; she smiled as she recognized it.
Aiko took the crystal from the crane. Putting the crystal in her lap, and wrapping her arms around her knees, she sighed. Memories, she thought. Memory time.
The Tsuki Fountain. Their fountain. Aiko thought fondly
Chiko leaned against the fountain rolling her ankles in circles. Angel was rippling her fingers across the strings of her beloved harp, humming slightly. Kel sat on the grass flicking the shukusen open and close. Herself, sketching a floating lily in the fountain.
'What do you think is the meaning of life?' asked Kel.
'Hmm…' Chiko murmured, lifting her leg diagonally.
'Meaning of life?' Angel whispered.
'The meaning of life is to live and then die.' Aiko said.
'Is it?' Kel said.
'No, the meaning of life is to live it to the fullest. To succeed before you die; before you leave this world.' Chiko wondered.
'The meaning of life is death.' Angel said, her head lifting up from her playing.
'What do you think happens when you die?' Aiko asked.
'An endless sleep.' Angel said softly.
'A world of darkness.' Chiko said.
'Death sounds so lonely.' Kel said.
Silence descended then. All lost in their own thoughts.
'What do you think will happen to us? What do you think the separation will do to us?' Aiko wondered.
'It won't do anything to our relationship. We all have the same blood remember?' Chiko said. Aiko nodded.
'Will we be like this in eight years?' Kel asked.
'Yes and better.' Angel said.
Aiko jumped up suddenly, 'Hey, do you think our children will be like this?'
'Who knows?' Chiko said drowsily. 'Who knows if we are going to get married or not?'
'True.' Aiko said and slid back down on the ground.
'Let's get married together.' Chiko suddenly suggested.
'Ok! That's a great idea. How about having children at the same time?' Kel said sarcastically.
'How can manage that?' Aiko wondered.
'Well, we have our wedding together. So we'll probably have our wedding night at about the same time, right?' Angel suggested.
'Well, it seems like someone thinks ahead.' Aiko teased. Angel blushed, making her features seem more striking.
Smiling at this memory, Aiko smiled and turned back into her rooms, with the crane following her.
hamsahi- flute
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