Chapter Four: Accident and betrayal

Well, living with the miners was not easy at all. They were not too nice, it didn't mean they were cruel, just…you know…miners….Actually, after waiting so long, I wish I could taste the acceptable things…you know….a little dreaming about nice life, delicious food, good clothes, et cetera. But, those things were just a wish, I had to live the tough life again.

For example, the food they gave me was always so hard to chew, tasteless, and cold...they rarely warm the food after they kept it. I mean….like bread. They got the bread, kept it for days, and ate it without warm it first. The taste was always horrible, and sometimes I was afraid the food had already been rotten. So, the first thing to live with the miners is…you have to improve your stomach ability, how strong is yours until it can accept unhealthy food everyday.

And sometimes, they talked slowly each other, almost whispered about something you never know. If you come over them and try to know their topics, they would know it easily and stop talking. They would tell me to sleep and not to interfere adults business. Sometimes I had a feeling that they could betray me easily, and what made them didn't do that soon?

But, my thought wasn't wrong….they betrayed me…may be they thought I was just a little boy, struggled and survived in the underground cave just by the good luck, didn't know anything, and they thought I've told them everything I knew…just about how it felt to live underground.

But, of course they're wrong…those stupid fish brain guys….how could it be...I wasn't just an ordinary boy, I will be the king of the world! And king must be smart. They never knew about Spirit of Fire, about shaman battle, they didn't even know what shaman battle is, they didn't know anything about shaman. And I, still remembered my old principle, that I forgot for a while, but I've already memorized it again…

There are only two kinds of shamans

First, shamans that can be used, and

second, the useless shamans…

They didn't even allow to those categories, so there's no even one reason to keep them any longer if I don't need them anymore.

But, I never wanted it happened. I never wanted that…That time, I even started to think how about being a nice guy…lives in peace, may be? I started trying to be kind…but they betrayed me! THEY BETRAYED ME! I never understand about that. I meant….I had another think coming that time…May be after my arising, I could say good bye to them nicely, no need more violence. But, they forced me to do that.

Their betrayal to me…Started at one night when Buj and I were talking. I thought we could talk as friends, but they don't. I knew, they had been rich enough to buy me a ticket to Tokyo. Just a ticket…..a single trip…they could expand money because I wasn't greedy to ask for my part. I even never disturb them while mining the gold…I trained and exercised every day.

One night…when the air was cold and the wind blew fast.

"Hey Hao, how are you doing?" a man came in into my tent, when I was trying to keep warm by sitting near to the campfire. I turned my face and saw a big body was sitting besides me. It was Buj….he talked to me more than his two friends. "Oh, Buj. I'm good here. How about you?" I asked him back. "Oh, I'm doing great here. Today I found so much gold, you know," he spoke with a smiling face.

I wasn't sure I wanted to tell him about that, but I needed to, because I've been waiting so long to go to Japan, to meet Yoh and his friends…to know what the next plan I had is. However, he said he found much gold, and I knew he had been rich. It wouldn't be hard to give me some money to buy a ticket.

"Buj…I need to talk to you," I said softly. He was eating buns greedily when he stared at me. "Really? About what?" he asked with chewing mouth. I was quiet for a while, and before I told him my mind, he spoke first. "Don't tell me...By seeing your expression, I know it's not a good news, right?".

"No, no Buj! I'm not telling you a bad news. It's about our deal," that time, I wasn't scared to talk to him. I've got my power, and if it's not because I still had heart and I was thankful for his kindness not to kill me, I would kill him for a long long time ago. "Okay…what deal? I mean…you have what you want right…the tent, the food, the bed, what else, little kid?" he snapped after being silent for couples of seconds.

"My ticket…my plane ticket to Tokyo…" I uttered firmly, full of confidence. He smirked and laughed for a minute. I got confused that time, and I couldn't accept that…he thought I was kidding! It's my dream! "What's funny!" I almost yelled at him.

He still laughed a little, and he said those words to me after he stopped laughing like a dotty buffalo. "I mean…Hao…you don't need to get there, it's nice being here….don't you see the desert around us? It's fantastic to be here!" he suppressed and embraced me. That time, I still didn't realize the fact…the truly fact they hid from me…

"But, Buj….I've been waiting for that so long…I really want to go to Tokyo, and you said you didn't mind to buy me a ticket when we made a deal," I complained. Buj glanced at me. "Well, we talk about that later, little boy. Now, can you hand me the beer there?" he pointed at the clay bottle. "Beer? You're not gonna be drunk until we finish this important talk," suddenly, I was so worried about being betrayed.

"Okay, no problem. If you don't want to hand me the beer, I'm gonna get it my self," he stood and walked to the clay bottle. "Buj, you promised. I let my home to be destroyed, and you will give me my needs, included a ticket to Japan. Come on, you have enough money to do that," I muttered unhappily. I saw he opened the bottle's lid and drank whatever that was inside the bottle. "This time, you don't know what you're talking about, kid. But in the future, you will thank me. Believe me, helping me get the gold here is better than roaming in Japan," and after uttering that, he walked to the door, and went out from my tent.

"BUJ, YOU CAN'T BROKE YOUR PROMISE JUST THAT! BUJ! " I shouted at him, but he just walked, left me behind with all anger and disappointment. I kept thinking of that until the night came. How could it be! I've trusted them, and held my desire to kill them because sometimes I felt they would betray me no matter when, it's just a matter of time. I knew that from the first time, but I still tried to think positively. But, my heart was right. They were just same like other people around me. Betrayer, rotten, unfaithful, sly, tricky, crafty, egoist, and something like that.

It was few hours past midnight when I was still thinking about that. I lied on my bed, and felt concerned. What would I do…? "Spirit of Fire," I called my spirit's name softly. 'Yes, Master,' Spirit of Fire answered me. I knew sometimes my spirit could give me good advice. "What do you think should I do…I'm sure something fishy is going on," I mumbled. 'Isn't it too soon to use your power?' Spirit of Fire responded. "Use my power, you said? So, you mean I'm right that there's a betrayal here, right? The beginning of the betrayal," still with soft voice, I stated what's in my mind.

'It's enough for today, Master. I think you better sleep now. Tomorrow we still have to climb the mountain and exercise there,' Spirit of Fire decided to end their conversation. "It's suspicious," I still whispered. Then I got outside the tent and sat there. Looked at the stars until I fell in sleep.

The next morning, the truth behind everything slapped my face. It started when it was still early in the morning. I hobbled to their tent, because I wanted to know, did they have more fur blanket for me? It was cold and I thought I could ask for more blanket. My quilt wasn't enough to protect my body from the freezing breeze. They were eating pistachio when I came to their tent.

They were talking slowly too. For a moment, I thought I would come back to my tent, and wouldn't listen to their talk. But, I walked steadily to their tent, I kept my ear on their tent…listened to what they're talking.

"I think, being with that kid has no use for us…just throw him away…we could live without him, and we mustn't feed him anymore. We can save much money," Heroin spoke while he was eating. "Yeah…I think so, plus…he still remembers the deal we have made…his silly ticket to Tokyo. He told me last night, he still wants that ticket," Buj agreed his friend's statement. "But, by the way…I'm still haunted by his words…you know…his words when we met him for the first time," spluttered Jig.

"Okay…what kind of words?" Heroin asked him. "He said…um…'don't ever think to betray me. Aren't you scared to the power of a boy struggling alone in the underground cave'? Yeah...something like that that…" Jig explained. The others listened uninterestedly. "Okay…" Heroin broke the silence there. "It's just a little kid's words. We don't need to be afraid of that. You watch TV too much, Jig. You are frightened by a little boy's threat? You are dotty as doughnut Jig," Heroin suppressed.

"Yeah…I think Heroin is right. Stop thinking that, Jig. You better start to think how we could get more gold nuggets," murmured Buj. "Okay, okay…But I think he's not an ordinary boy. I mean, what kind of boy that could live there alone…just ate the spiders, the scorpions…and something like that? He's not a boy. He's a monster! You got to believe me this time," Jig still tried.

Monster! Monster! What a silly old mackerel he was! They were the monster. Okay, whatever he said, I would fulfill his words. I would be the monster for them…I would be the monster they would never be able to beat, I would be the nightmare for them…Live is a dream, right! So, as the truth, nightmare came when you were dreaming, so I would come in the night, when they were dreaming.

When the night came, I got out from my tent, and I came to their tent. I walked few meters and opened their leather door. "Ah, Hao. Come in, come in. We were talking to you," greeted Heroin friendly. I smirked and came in to their tent. "Well, sit here, besides me. Jig, will make you some tea, right Jig!" Buj gazed at his friend and pointed a place next to him. I sat there and saw Jig was warming the water, and he took a basket full of tea powder bottles.

"What kind of tea, do you like, Hao?" ask Jig. "Um…." I thought a little. Well, I didn't know much about tea. "I suggest Earl Grey. It has good smell. You're gonna like it," said Bus. "Okay. Earl Grey is fine, Jig. Thank you anyway," I uttered. Jig smirked weirdly and back to his work. I saw he put some teaspoons of powder tea.

"So, Hao…what do you want to tell us?" asked Heroin. After that sentence, I could feel my heartbeat grew faster and faster. I glanced at them. "About my ticket to Tokyo. I think now I'm ready to go there. So, I want you to buy me the ticket," I muttered slowly.

They didn't say anything for few seconds. It's just silence there…That time, I was still kind hearted, if they wanted to give me the ticket, I would hold my desire to kill and leave them forever. I would meet Yoh and give shit at them anymore. Suddenly, I heard a very loud laughs. First, I didn't understand…But….soon enough, I could realize what was happening. My idea met laughter.

"What's funny!" I mused loudly and angrily with the crimson dyed my face. They still laughed like a hyena, except Jig…he just laughed sacredly in order to look normal as his friends. But I swore, I could see the cold sweat filled his face. "Why are you laughing, YOU SILLY OLD MACKEREL!" I shouted at them. Finally, they stopped their laughed and their mocking turned into shocked and afraid expression.

"Uuu….Hao, that's not a good mouth for a kid like you," mused Heroin, still mockingly. "Even that I'm still a kid, but I know surely that…I'm one hundred percents smarter than all of you. So, give me my rights, now! Hurry up!" I spoke loudly and extended my hand to them. "Wow, wow, wow, look at that. Who's arrogant now…" mocked Buj. I felt my blood all was pressured and boiling. "You know what….it's hot here…" I murmured, what I meant the burning anger.

"May be….the night breeze will help you…you can walk outside…the night breeze always helps…" spluttered Jig a little tremblingly, while he was still stirring the tea. I stared at him calmly, but still with sharp eyes. "Good recommendation…" I whispered. "Okay Hao…you, continue making tea, Jig. So, now I know that you're a money lover, Hao. Tell much how much money do you want?" uttered Buj.

"As much as the price of a ticket to Tokyo," I told them. "Hmm…no," Buj decided easily. What! What! WHAT! Just a 'no'! "What…" I whispered after choking. "Yes, I said no. It's too expensive. Okay, I have an idea…how about we give you some money, enough money, so you can have a vacation to Disneyland," said Heroin. "Disneyland? You suggest me to go to Disneyland? O, you are cheesy, you know…" I started to be light headed. "Which Disneyland? Tokyo Disneyland? I will be pleasant to go there," I continued.

"We said we wouldn't give you a ticket to Tokyo, you dull-witted boy," suppressed Heroin. "The earl grey is ready, now," Jig broke the anger wave between us. "Oh, you shit, Jig! Take it away now. We're in serious conversation. Then, like a little kid, Jig took the cups away from us, put it on a table, and sat next to Heroin. "So…the point is…you don't want to give me a ticket to go there?" I asked them slowly for reconfirming. "Yup," answered Buj firmly. "So…I have to kill you…" I whispered again.

First, they laughed again, but they stopped when they saw my serious face. "Yeah…laugh as much as you can now…because you cannot laugh again when you're dead," I mocked them with the evilest smile I ever have. "You, snobbish little bullshit, what can you do!" Heroin said meanly, they didn't believe me. "Knocked and the door will be opened for you, seek and you will find it, ask and you will get it, try and you will taste it…" the soft whispered blew from my mouth.

"How arrogant you are!" Buj yelled at me, took a firewood, then he ran to me, wanted to attack me. I smiled a little…"It's the time for you…to know the truth…" I spoke slowly. "Spirit of Fire…" I muttered. Then, suddenly a big burning flaming fire, appeared behind me, and he scared them well. As usual, I stood on his hand, and my spirit lifted me up. They looked so afraid, so shocked, so surprised, so frightened…Ha!

"What….what…WHAT THE HELL IS THAT, GODDAMIT!" Heroin shouted with a sore voice. "Your voice is bad, Heroin. You need to drink much," I said firmly with a shrill voice. It seemed they wanted to go and fled me. "O o… you can't keep away from me that easy," I uttered again. I felt that time I became cruel again, and my killer desire had touched my heart, I showed it to them through my eyes. "Let's play…Tom and Jerry…you know that cartoon, right? I am Tom, and you are Jerry Heroin, Buj, you are Jerry's little brother. So…what are you waiting now, ha! Tom is coming," I yelled at them piercingly, so they could hear my voice amongst the sound of fire from Spirit of Fire.

A second later, when they still tried to flee, I burned Buj…I let Spirit of Fire showered him with his flaming red fire…I let the night turned into a day…I let he screamed like a surrender beast…And I enjoyed that moment…I enjoyed to kill the one who betrayed me…After the scream was over, then I came over Heroin…the trembling guy. "No, no! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Hao. No, no! Don't kill me!" he broke into sobs, and asked for forgiveness.

"How sweet, Heroin. Now you're apologizing…" I said softly, and saw he nodded so many times like a little lamb in front of the hungry wolf. "But it's too late…You have awaken my killer desire, now! You ought to think first before you do something, you are such a junk! Holly cow, wake up and smell coffee, pal! You have reached the end of your life. That's all…this is your whole enchilada," I mumbled.

"You look jinxed and cursed for me. Burn him, Spirit of Fire," I said lazily. All of sudden, fire was everywhere. The tent was almost destroyed and roasted. The only thing I could hear except the burning fire was the desperate shriek from Heroin. Actually, I didn't want to do that…but they forced me to do that…they made me do that…I never want to be cruel again…I never want to kill other people again…but they would kill me if I didn't do it first…it's their fault…

After Heroin's death, I decided to rest for a while…"Put me down, Spirit of Fire…" I mumbled slowly, and he did it. After I stood on the floor, I saw Jig was frightened there. Then, I came over him, to the corner where he was trembling, like seeing a monster. I was thinking how about trying to calm him down? But, soon enough, I knew that it's not wise. In fact, I would scare him more if I did that.

I sighed, the image of cruel guy seemed never gonna leave me….Then, I took the cup, and I smelt it. Hmmm…he was right, earl grey had a good smell. I drank it until there was no drop left. After I put the cup on the table again, I smirked. "Nice tea…" then I left him alone. I walked out from the tent, and began my journey from that desert. So, I stepped on the ground as the beginning of my trip to Tokyo…

to be continued