A/N: Uwaaah. Havn't been writing for a while. Have mainly been distracted by other things, but I thought I'd sit down and write a chapter of 'What are these tears for?' Sorry its taken its time to get here, but better late than never, right?
What are these tears for?
Chapter 3 – Uncertainty
A Long, selfless silence.
A far-away dream.
Can I take you with me?
You are as fragile as a dove,
But your tears are filled with strength.
Can you still accompany me down this winding road?
A feather falls through tainted wind,
Is it a blessing from an angel?
Or a wilting emblem of doubt?
Even thinking of loosening this tightly gripped hand,
Would seem like such a foolish thing to do.
But even so, you begin to slip from these fingers.
You begin to fall, you begin to fade.
If I cannot catch you and pull you back up into my reach,
I don't think I could go on.
I want you by my side.
I want your hand entwined with mine.
Can you still dance with me?
Can you still dance through this everlasting banquet?
Even when you're gone?
A single traveller walked through the village. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes told tales of loss. As he passed through their streets, as he walked through their markets, the people began to whisper of the single traveller, they wondered of his past, they wondered to when he would leave, they wondered what was in the bundle he bore so devotedly on his back. The next day, the traveller left the village and moved on to the next one. Then, he reached another village, where the residents would ponder over the curious traveller, until; after weeks of drifting, he met with a long, winding road.
"Not long now," he muttered, beginning to walk.
As night grew to a close, he rested his bundle and violin against a cave wall, and took shelter from the bitter rain. He slept, but his dreams were filled with tainted smiles and vindictive malice. It was a never-ending circle for this man. Sitting alone, sleeping with these infected dreams and travelling to his destination.
The man the townspeople called 'Rain' this was because when he entered their towns, he would somehow bring the rain with him, and take it when he left.
It was funny really, for his name was Rain, and he did take the rain with him, as he did his tears.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Step Up
Take this chance
Your happiness is all I need to take with me.
You know that, right?
You know that I will always be with you.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Rain woke from his dreams in a cold sweat. It was a long time since that voice had echoed through his mind. He stood, and began to continue up the path.
"You must be crazy, traveller, drifting up these mountains," came a slow, cheerful voice.
"This path leads to the mountains?" asked Rain, surprised.
The man laughed, "Sure, and dangerous ones to match that,"
He was a short, round man, with a large, wrinkled forehead, half covered by the shadow of a large, flat cap placed over his head. He wore a green trench coat, bulging with different trinkets and charms, two woven barrels were strapped around his waist, they must've been heavy, for the man was stooped over, watching Rain with small, bright eyes and a beaming smile.
"I'm getting close," said Rain quietly.
"I'm Furl, a humble peddler, what is your name?" asked the peddler, stretching out his hand.
Rain shook it, "My name is Rain," he said.
"What brings you to this part of the country?" asked Furl,
"Something I need to do," replied Rain.
"What's in your bundle, traveller?" asked Furl.
Rain didn't reply.
"That's okay," smiled Furl, "It's none of my business,"
"It's a body," replied Rain, forlornly.
Furl's beady eyes widened in surprise. He said nothing.
"It's the body of the girl I once loved," said Rain, looking away.
"Why do you carry the body of your lost loved one? Surely it isn't healthy to hold on to the past-" Furl began.
"I'm not holding onto the past!" snapped Rain,
"Then why-?" asked Furl.
"I'm going to bury her. She would've wanted to have been buried with her grandfather, so I'm travelling back to her hometown." Said Rain.
Furl nodded, grimly, "I see, traveller,"
Rain carried on up the path.
"Hold on," shouted Furl, from behind.
Rain turned.
"What if I told you that you could see her again?" asked Furl.
Rain looked confused, "I'd think you're crazy,"
Furl reached into one of the baskets, and produced a single blue stone.
Furl reached out his hand to Rain, "Take it," he said.
Rain looked baffled, "How can a stone let me see her again?" he asked.
"Just take it," said Furl, dropping it into Rain's hand.
Rain examined the stone, it was an icy blue colour, with veins of white running through it, the surface was smooth and shiny, it wasn't like any stone he'd ever seen.
"What is it?" asked Rain.
"A wish stone," said Furl, "This stone grants you anything you desire, anything that you want, it's yours, if you want it,"
"How much?" asked Rain
Furl thought for a moment, he smiled, "It's free,"
"Free?" asked Rain
"I'm giving it to you," said Furl, before beginning to head off down the path.
Rain looked at the stone in contemplation.
"I'm meant to believe that this works?" Rain called after him, raising an eyebrow.
"Maybe you do, maybe you don't, I bet that won't stop you from trying it though," said Furl with a knowing smile, he raised his hat in a farewell gesture, "Goodbye, traveller," he said, before continuing down the path without a glance back.
Rain looked at the stone in disbelief, he dropped it into his pocket before continuing up the mountain, his eyes forever watching the road in front of him.
It was a stormy, tedious day. The day when Rain would use the stone. The wind raged and whipped between the weak spindly trees and there was a smell of smoke hanging in the air. The sky was a dim grey, like a watercolour painting. Rain stood on the mountain barricade, looking up at the blotched clouds, when, the rain began to fall. Like a song, it fell as if in rhythm and melody. At first it was light, continuously dripping and falling coldly, then, as Rain climbed higher, the rain got heavier and heavier until they were like falling nails, piercing into the mountain edge and into Rain's flesh. He grimaced, climbing onto a rocky ledge, nowhere near as out of contact with the freezing cold rain. He sighed and breathed in heavily. For one of the first times in his life, he truly wished everything could all be over. The grey sky became darker and darker, and the rain began to fall lighter and lighter. Soon, everything was lighter. If there was someone who'd never before felt the pain of loss and loneliness before, they'd consider it a complete blessing, as, of now, Rain couldn't feel any darker. Without thought, he closed his eyes. If she was here, he wouldn't even be bothered by the cold rain or the heavy winds, if she was here, maybe he could find a tiny amount of strength. But she wasn't. And there wasn't anything that anybody could do. Not even a small, round man with a peddler's cap. Rain thrust the blue stone across the ground. The stone rolled across the rocky surface and lay still. Rain looked at it and couldn't believe what he was seeing. The stone, that had one lay dim and icy, was now a tremendous royal blue colour, and letting off an array of shining lights.
Rain picked up the stone in hi palm. It felt so warm, and the lights were so bright. He sighed. If there was ever a time to believe in myths. This would be it. He held the stone close to his heart and thought.
On one hand, he could free himself of his immortality. His nightmare would truly be over, he could live a life of somebody normal. Somebody who had the chance to live and to die. But, nobody knew the path of the underworld. Nobody knew if it was a place that you had to face alone. Nobody knew if anything existed at all. If he died, without seeing Machika again, he couldn't face it. So, the only option would be to bring her back. They had promised together that they would stay together and break Rain's immortality. Everything could continue as normal and Rain would smile again. Rain sighed. Feeling unlearned and confused, but even so, he grasped his hand around the warm, glowing stone and began to wish with all of his strength, he began to pray and to hope, he only thought about one desire as he held the stone tight and continued to do so until he fell into a deep sleep, underneath the pouring rain.
