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Now, read!


Singing to the Wind

Chapter 4

Blooming into Obscurity


A week passed, and Hikari's emotional shell was showing signs of cracking. She had begun to smile again, albeit softly and ever so rarely. She was now going on routine strolls in the village again. It was rather settling to do something for the sake of being busy. It keeps minds off of touchy subjects.

In truth, what she was feeling was not sadness. Sadness was to be expected, and it was there, but it was overshadowed by a much more startling emotion. Anger at her mother's departure from the world made her feel empty, and unwanted besides. Hate at Ellyria for leaving, anger at not being able to make her come back, and despair because it was such a hopeless matter. Nothing could be done about it at all, and Hikari hated that more than anything.

She wondered if, given enough of these visits, she would actually heal. Perhaps the sight of happy children would eventually stir something, and she would be able to move on at last. Maybe even as soon as this time around.

What Hikari could never have predicted on this outing, was that a single boy was stupid enough, daring enough to attempt steal while she was there. The boy most certainly had not been thinking about it. And that wasn't it. He dashed in front of Hikari, and tried to grab her cherished necklace. Needless to say, he was startled when she pushed him away, none too gently, and held him there on the ground where he fell, without touching him. He saw her eyes. They had turned black, and small fires were burning in their centers, hot and bright and fierce. As any boy would do upon seeing any such sight, he burst into tears from fear. Her eyes returned to normal, and she shook her head as though coming out of a trance. The boy's mother rushed over.

"Are you okay," She asked her son, checking for broken bones. Shehadn't seen what had taken place, so she figured that he may have just fell on something.

"He's fine. But you may think of teaching him the importance of knowing what is his," Hikari retorted. "Nonetheless, I don't think he'll steal for quite a while." Miraculously, her speech was back to some sense of normalcy. It even had a hint of cheer in it, which was odd, considering that she'd nearly been robbed.

With that, the mother took her son home, and Hikari trudged back up the path to her palace. For some inexplicable reason, she felt so much better. Maybe that incident had helped to make her let go. Of what, though? What was there to really let go of?

Hikari answered her own question. Perhaps it had been the anger at her mother that had left her. She searched around in her feelings, and knew it to be true. She could no longer feel any anger.

And so, in the year 1012 a.d., Hikari forgot how to hate.

In the following years, she traveled to many villages, towns, and cities. She usually dressed in less conspicuous clothes. But she still stuck out. Her red hair was quite the abnormality. As she went around, she tended to find those who needed help. And she helped them, often totheir great surprise. She somehow extinguished a building fire as it was about to trap three young children, and then told them to go back to their mother. When they told her that they were trying to get free food for their other siblings, she laughed and followed them back to their home. There, she pulled loaves of bread from her sleeves, and freshly killed ducks and hens from behind her back. Then she told the children not to steal, and that it would only lead to bad things. They nodded vigorously, having thought that she was a true miracle, and were willing to do whatever she said. She left them, and the oldest thanked her profusely as she walked down the street.

The next city over, she flew (not literally, of course. That would be very odd to onlookers) in front of a horse and cart to save a small puppy, and handed it back to its owner. The girl handed her a gold piece and told her that she was a princess. Hikari simply told her that she didn't need the gold, but thanked her for offering. The princess began to ask her many a question, from where she came from to asking her if she would come to the palace. The questions were many, and all in quick succession.

Hikari wanted to decline, but felt it would be rude. So once inside, she accidentally made a comment on how she had the same of one painting. She had only been trying to be a nobleman's version of polite, but the princess said that it wasn't possible, that she had the artist specially make it. The princess told Hikari that she must be mistaken. Hikari chose not to push the issue any further.

The princess showed her around the castle, all but openly bragging about everything there. Well, okay, so she was actually bragging. And gloating, and rattling on about goodness-knows-what. It was all 'look at...' this and 'dear me, have you ever seen...' that. What can we say, the girl had no shame. She did, however, have plenty of pride.

As they passed a monstrous picture window full of actual glass, Hikari saw that the sun was getting low. She began to say that she really needed to depart.

"I must get home," She insisted.

"Well, where is it," The princess asked, being quite impertinent about it. "I can have my carriages take you there." The princess obviously wanted to show off to the townspeople. Hikari was not impressed at all.

"I'm afraid that it would take you three days to get there by carriage,and more than twice that on foot. I'd prefer to go alone." Hikari did not want this nosy brat finding out about her secret. She thought that
the princess was annoying enough as it was. And annoying royalty don't usually know how to keep secrets.

The princess was stubborn, but eventually agreed to let her go byherself. The guards, however, were given orders to track her, because the girl just couldn't take 'no' for an answer. Needless to say, they lost her. As soon as they fell asleep, she took flight.

Unfortunately, her story was spreading throughout the land by word of mouth. The people blew everything out of proportion. They gave her powers so vast that she was made into something of worship. It really got ridiculous when she started getting stories from her own villagers. She'd wanted to help people, and not have to live up to any grand expectations.

So she felt the need to disappear.


Hikari- Hello, masses! Do not fear, for if you thought the wait for this chapter was long- oh, what am I saying? You people don't review, so how would I know what you think? I'm only half psychic, you know. I can't possibly read between the lines if there are no lines to read between!

Terra- What she's trying to say is that she is very dissappointed with the reader participation. But, of course, she tends to beat around the bush, so-

Hikari- Terra, I forgot you were coming!

Terra- - as a result, her short attention span kicks in. Pay no attention to anything she says unless it was something she learned in school or off of her dad- they're the only true things.

Hikari- I'm a fairy, 'cause I can lick my elbow!

Terra- That is a worthy example of something that, while extremely entertaining and a good joke, is most definitely not true. She is not a fairy. However, she can lick her elbow, and that baffles me to no end- I've only ever met one other person who could do that.

Hikari- (makes some strange hand signs)

Terra- What do you mean that the gay priest wants to steal Hecksie-kun's pie? That's mean of him!

Hikari- No, I said that the gay priest wants to make me climb a tree so he can cross the bridge. I thought I taught you what the movements meant.

Terra- I forgot, so sue me.

Hikari- Okay. Uncle MAAAAARRRRRRK!

Terra- I meant figuratively, not literally. And doesn't your uncle Mark live in another state?

Hikari- Oh, yeah.

Terra- You know what? Let's just end here. It's been nice meeting you all, but Hii-chan has to get back to eating. She has this problem where if she doesn't eat for a while, she kind of... how can I say this? She pretty much kills people with her glare and bad temper. So she really needs to eat now.

Hikari- Hypoglycemic is the word, Terra. And bye, oh wonderful readers who I would so love to hear from!