Been LONG while, but yeahhh. I'm back. Thanks to my friends and the review i got, i'm gonna keep going with this story. I've been drawing some pictures to go a long with the two chapters that i have up, but i dont know whether i should post them up. Ehhh. We'll see. I might post them up when/if i finish this story. Anywho, i've FINALLY started and finished chapter three. It took me a long time to think of how to start it, but i finished the story in two days. Wasted SO much paper cause i was writing it during my summer classes. I didn't really have time to edit it cause it was on paper, but there are scribbles everywhere from me trying to get things in order. Now i've gotta use time to type everything up. T-T. Well, here you go. I hope at least one person is reading this story? x)
Chapter Three: Time City
Run. Run! Just don't stop. I can't. I musn't. But he's just too fast for my little legs...I can hear his stomping closing in on me.
This wasn't the first time that I'd be chased by a shop keeper for stealing things. Luckily, the past shop keepers were tubby and slow. This time...i was completely out of luck. The man was enormously tall and fast. He was only a few paces from me now. I might as well give up.
About to start our journey, we were completely syked. Unfortunatly, we didn't get very far because we only passed by three cities in to days before we stopped in the city "Is" because May had caught a cold. Darius gave me the job of getting food for us while he was off getting medicine for May.
He had just begun to teach me how to steal things, so usually he'd be around the corner of the block. If i ever got into any trouble, and i usually did, he'd be ready to jump the person while i ran back to May and Ryu who would usually be located a few blocks away.
This time, Darius had to get the medicine, so i had to do this alone. We split up after deciding to leave Ryu and May in a safe place. Darius was counting on me, and i hated letting him down. I had to do this right. But seeing how this was going, i knew Darius would be disappointed in me.
Feeling the wisp of wind blow right past my neck, I realize the shop keeper just barely missed me, so I close my eyes and brace myself for what I knew was coming next. I waited and waited, but nothing came. Confused, i stop running, open my eyes, and turn around slowkly to see the back of somebody's hair. I let out a sigh in relief that Darius had came back after stealing the medicine.
Stepping a few feet away, I my eyes widen as I find that the boy wasn't a Darius at all. He was a complete stranger whose legs and arms are spread out. Looking past his shoulder, i see that the big footed shop keeper had also stopped and was standing a few feet in front of the boy.
The kid smirked. "Don't you adults have anything better to do then pick on little kids? More importantly, little girls like this?"
"Back off you little brat. That little girl stole a basket of food from my shop. I'm not after you so don't butt in. The Big Foot crossed his arms and grinned at the boy, "Plus, I'd just waste my time with a piece of shit like you."
"Oh yeah? Try me you old bastard." The boy dropped his arms, slipped them into his pocket, and laughed. "I bet all the food the girl stole from you that I could beat you with just one of my hands."
"Don't be such a smart ass, kid. I'll beat you to a pulp in just a few seconds." Big Foot pulled out a pocket knife. "I was going to kill the girl, but since you don't know how to respect your elders, I might as well kill you too." The man opened his pocket knife and got ready to charge towards us.
All the boy did was close his eyes and smirked again. "You're making a big mistake here, fatty."
"Oh yeah?" The man licked his knife. "Kid, you're dead."
"Well?" Opening one of his eyes, the boy grinned. "Come at me."
Big Foot came tearing down the side walk and The boy just stood as still as a statue. Horrified, I close my eyes and turn away. All i could hear was a kick, a punch, and a big thumb before silence came. Suddenly, i feel somebody's hand on my shoulder. I begin to tremble in fear, but smacked the hand away as fast as i could.
"Hey now, it's not nice to hit somebody that just saved you, little girl." The voice came from the boy. I turn around and open my eyes in surprise. How was that possible? I look past the boy standing in front of me to see BIg Foot unconcious in the middle of the streets with his pocket knife in the boy's hands. I stood there in shock for a while until the kid waved his hand in my face.
"You pee in your pants, babe?"
Giving him an annoyed look, I push his hand out of my face. "Who the hell are you calling babe, brat?"
"Brat? Hah. Trying to act tough, huh?" The idiot slips the knife into his pocket and raises his hand to pat my head. "Kid you should be more careful next time. Little babes like you could get killed."
Getting angry, I try to smack his hand away again, but he was too fast and grabbed my arm.
"Let go! What's your problem!" I try wrenching my arm away from him over and over again but his grip would only tighten.
"You're gonna need a lot more then that to land a hit on me, kiddo." He smilled and pulled me closer towards him.
Blushing, I turn my head away, afraid of what he'd think if he saw how red my cheeks were turning. He already knew I was embarrassed, however, and laughed. This boy was getting awfully annoying. First he calls me babe and kid, like i'm some child. Being ten didn't make me a kid! I'd be a teenager soon, like Darius. Also, the kid gets the nerves to get this close to me? He was just a little brat.
"Come on. Let's go eat the food you've got there. The big guy won't mind." Still holding me by the arm, he begins to run off, forcing me to run with him.
"Where are we even going?" I was trying to balance the basket in my free arm.
"You'll see in a few minutes."
I began to pout. Where was this fool taking me? I don't even know who this kid is, why should i be following him? I need to get his hand off of my arm. I need to get back. Now. Careful not to drop anything, i try reaching over with my arm carrying the basket to free my other arm from his hand. As i touch his hand, it begins to loosen and i instantly feel relief.
His hand was letting go now, so i begin to pull my arm away, but his hand reached for my hand this time. The boy's fingers wrap around mines and I begin to tense up. Careful not to drop the basket of food, I tighten my grip on the basket of food while the boy's grip tightened around my hand. Once again, my cheeks turned red in embarrasment.
Snapping back, i find myself feeling completely stupid. What was this boy's intention? He shouldn't even be touching me right now. I begin to pull my hand away, but his grip tightens and he pulls me faster.
"Stop wriggling your hand around. You're being difficult. Don't worry, you can trust me."
When we reached the lake he was taking me to, i was compleltely stunned. It was so blue and shiny, like nothing i've ever seen before. The boy let go of my hand and began walking towards the water. Relief and confusion swept over me. I was glad he finally let go, but what exactally were we doing here? I stood there expecting him to say something, but he never did.
"What are we doing?" There was no answer from him. Instead, he plops himself right in front of the lake and lays down on the dead grass. He looks up to the sky and waves his hand, gesturing me over.
I was hesitant for a few seconds, but my body decides to move on its own as it drags me towards him. When i finally gain control of it again, I was standing right behind his head.
"If you're just going to stand there all day, at least stand at an angle where you'd block the sun from my face." Seeing that i was still standing there, he decides to take an apple from the basket I was holding. "I told you. Don't worry. You can trust me. Just relax and sit down." He pulls out the pocket knife he took from Big Foot. " It's not like i'm going to hurt you."
Now annoyed at how casual he was being with me, i sit down a few feet away from him. "Darius says not to trust any body. Especially not idiots like you." I glare at him, half expecting him to threaten me with the pocket knife for calling him and "idiot".
Instead, he begins to cut the apple. "Who's Darius? Your dad?"
"No."
"Your friend?"
"No."
"Your boyfriend? Wow, you're a little too young for a boyfriend, aren't you?"
He really is an idiot. "I dont have one! For your information, Darius is my brother." Saying that, I remember May and how much i she needs me. "Listen, thanks for kicking that guy's ass back there, but i need to get back to my sister, so-"
"Why? Don't worry about her. If she's as fiesty as you, then she'll be fine." He starts eatting the apple he took from me with one and and slips another under his head. The boy looks up at the sky and closes his eyes.
Feeling like I should stay a little longer because he saved me, I pull my knees to my chest. I have to admit, it's really nice here. Even with the dead grass. I watch as the clouds pass by for what seemed like forever.
But each cloud i watch pass by makes me worry more about May. "Uhm..."
"You know, you're kind of cute for such a little girl." I look over at him and couldn't hold back the blood rushing to my cheeks. "Too bad you aren't older, smarter, stronger, and faster."
Suddenly, my face burns with anger. "Really? Well what makes you so great?"
As he finishes eatting that stupid apple, the boy sets the core of the apple aside as he reaches over. "You're touchy too." He laughs as he pulls me closer. "I was just kidding. Okay?"
He really knows how to make somebody feel embarrassed. I look at his face, ready to yell at him, but his eyes catch my attention. After a few seconds, i begin to feel awkward and begin to sweat a little, so to i try to pull my eyes away from his, but something about them draws me in.
Just by looking into this boy's eyes, i feel warmth. I feel as if i really could trust him. As if I've known him all my life. Like, he suddenly became a part of me.
"Your sweat is getting my arm all sticky." But then again, he's a complete idiot who knows how to ruin everything. He laughs as he reaches up and pats my head again. "Alright kiddo, let's get you back to your big brother. He's probably getting worried." I hate how he treats me like a five year old.
We both get up and his eyes refocus on the clouds. "Where are you suppose to meet him?"
I point back to the direction from which we came from. "Darius told me to wait near the shop somewhere so he can find me easily."
"Let's go." He turns around and begins to head back and I glance at his hand to see it begin to move. I willingly reach forward and brace myself for the rush of warmth he sent me through his hand.
But, I quickly withdrew when i realize he was only slipping his hands into his pocket. Feeling completely stupid and slightly confused, I jam my hands into my own pocket, cursing myself for being so idiotic. Why did I reach for his hand anyways? Cause I'm stupid. That's why.
When we reached the spot where the boy had fought the shop keeper, Big Foot was still laying on the floor, blacked out. I stop shortly to take in how strong this boy must be. Big foot was holding a knife in his hands, yet this kid was able to take it away from him and then take the guy down with two blows?
Aware that I stopped, the boy stops, too, and turns around. "What?" He turns to face the direction which i was staring at and laughs. "Don't wory, he won't be up for a long time. We can wait at the shop for your brother."
"Won't you get in trouble?"
"For beating that old bastard up? Nah. Nobody gives a shit about him. In fact, everybody's tired of his nagging and bitching." He turns around and begins walks toward one of the shop. Stopping, he leans his back against the wall and props one of his foots against it. Crossing his arms and closing his eyes, he lifts his head up to face the sky again and sighs. "You know, you don't have to wait for my permission for you to move closer."
"I'm not waiting for your permission." I walk over to him and lay against the wall like he is. "I'm perfectly capable of doing whatever I want, whenever I want by myself."
"Well, aren't you little miss independant? Especially when I was the one who had to save you from that old geezer."
"You're the one who rushed into my business. It's not like I asked you to save me."
He chuckled and then the silence came. I look over at him and took the time to examine his face. He looks gorgeous to me, but I would never have said that out loud. His hair looks so soft, even though the color of it was redish-brown. His face was perfectly shaped. The eyes lashes that could reach his eye lids when his eyes were open are so thick and long, but it didn't make him seem feminine at all.
The boy looks around eighteen years old, making him a four years older then Darius, although he certainly didn't act mature. I've been with him for less then half an hour and he's been smiling and joking and teasing me.
"Get enough, kid?" He opens one of his eyes and looks over at me. "I don't need my eyes to sense the stares you're giving me."
"There was a bug on you. That's all." I quickly turn away, mumbling how stupid I'm acting. Silence breaks out once again, and it begins to annoy me again. I have to break it somehow.
"Uh..." But what was I suppose to say?
"Yeah?" He opens both of his eyes and turns to face me.
I was still unable to face him, but now he was expecting something to come out of my mouth. I'll just blurt something out. "Are you...going to talk to me again after today?" Where the hell was I going with this? I begin to regret saying anything and wish for the silence that seems so good right now.
"What do you mean kid?" He sounds as confused as I am.
"Uh, I don't know. Just...nevermind." I feel so awkward. More awkward then when were staring at each other.
I could sense he was staring at me. After a long period of time, he finally spoke again. "You mean, will I still be your friend?"
I turn to face him and see the big smile across his face. I lower my head and stare a the floor in embarassment. I guess that really was the point I was getting at, but it seemed so stupid to ask, yet I blurted it out from nowhere. I slightly nod my head.
"You really do need to get smarter."
Wondering what he meant, I look back up at him, but see his hand coming towards me. I begin to move my head back, but it was too late. He flicks my head and laughs out loud.
"What the hell was that for?" I wait for answer, but he just smiles at me. Understanding that it really was a stupid question, I look away from him again. "You could've just said no."
He chuckles and i begin to feel engraged. Was it really necessary for him to make fun of me?
"Do you even have to ask?" I turn back around and look at him with surprise. "I was your friend the moment I saw you running away from that old bastard. I don't beat people up for just anybody. You're obviously my friend after what we just went through today."
Still shocked, I stand there staring at him. He smiles at me once again before looking back up at the sky.
"Kid you really don't know anything do you? Don't be so surprised. You're a good kid, so I'm no letting you go so easily. You need me to watch after you, anyways." He grinned. "You're too stupid to watch yourself."
"Yes, she is." The boy opens his eyes and looks at the source of the voice. I look, too, to find Darius standing a few feet in front of us with May on Ryu's back. She looks even worse then before. Guilt rushes over me. How could I forget about her like that? "In fact, she's just plain stupid."
"Darius-"
"What'd I tell you about talking to strangers? They can be dangerous." Darius smirked. "You're just lucky you met this guy instead of some freak."
My eyes widen from surprise. They...know each other?
The boy smiles at Darius. "Long time no see, kid. I didn't know this was Aiko when i first saw her. I was surprised when she told me Darius was her brother's name."
Darius flashes a smile back at the boy. "Stop calling me kid. You're only a few years older then me. How come you're not with Balthazar?"
"That old slab of fat? I left him. He was getting on my nevers." Balthazar...so he introduced my brother to this boy? "Plus, he taught me everything he knew. No use staying around him anymore. It's time I start my new life."
May suddenly begins to cough uncontrolablly, so Darius quickly grabbed some food from my basket. He stuffs some of the medicine into the food and tries to feed May. "Come on, May. You have to start eatting. You'll feel better." Reluctantly, May begins to eat.
While Darius was out getting her medicine...what was I doing? Trying to make a new friend? Looking at the sky? I'm a complete idiot.
"Her coughing's stopped and she's gone to sleep." Darius stands up to see the worried look on my face. Walking over, he reaches one of his arms out and wraps it around my neck to pull me closer. "It's okay. She's fine. Don't beat yourself up."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been fooling around. I should've been here waiting for you a long time ago." I dig my face deeper into Darius's chest.
"Darius, I'm sorry too." I over to see the boy staring at Darius. "I shouldn't have distracted her."
I was waiting for a response from Darius but he didn't say a word. I look up at his face which was still looking down at me. He looks so worried, yet relieved.
"As long as both my sisters are safe, there's no need for apologies." His eyes soften as he looks into mines. "You had me worried."
"So. What are you and your sisters doing here anyways?"
Daris slowly let go of me to face the boy. "We needed to gather some stuff for our journey."
"Oh? And where are the three of you and a little mutt plan on heading?"
"Where ever we feel like." Darius looks away from the boy and gestures Ryu to walk over here. "But, I'm planning to head to 'Time City.'"
My eyes widen. Darius never said anything to me about having an actual destination. Especially a place like Time City.
The boy, however, looked indifferent. "The City of Time. That's where the Hawks started and ended right? It should be in ruins by now. What would a couple of kids like you want with a city like that?"
"I'm surprised you didn't hear it before me." Looking back at the boy, Darius's eyes became serious. "The Hawks have changed their name to 'the Ruthless'."
"Of course. They renamed themselves that after losing the war, but they disappeared after that."
"Only to reappear. They've been rebuilding their clan over the past three years, recruiting as many people as they can. I heard them asking a man in an ally near the shop I stole the medicine from. They're gathering together in Time City in a few year with thousands of new members."
No. This couldn't be. Not again. It was hell the first time. I had went through that horrible period and I didn't want to go through it again.
"Ai." Snapping back, I look over at my brother whose eyes were burning with anger. "I know you think that mother was killed in a car accident, but she wasn't. She was captured by one of them. You were only seven at the time, so I didn't want to tell you, but she was. She was taken away by a man named Ryan and he took her away to give to his crew as if she were a bone to toss to dogs for a job well done. Atticus was away fighting of in Time City. That's the real reason I don't respect him. It's because he was fighting for everybody else but us. He wasn't protecting us."
His eyes begin to change. Instead of anger, his eyes show sadness as tears roll down his cheeks. "He wasn't there for Mom, you, May, or me. Instead, he left us, so I had to step up."
I never saw Darius like this before. Seeing him so sad makes me feel sad, too. My eyes begin to get blurry. This...is what happened? "Why...How...?"
"Mom was cooking in the kitchen one day and told me to make sure you and May were okay in the living room, so I did. When i came back, that bastard Ryan had broken down the door and was already standing in our kitchen. Mom was facing him with a knife and realized I was standing behind her in the kitchen doorway. She quickly closed the door to the kitchen and locked it with they key which I think she slipped into her pocket.
Quietly and quickly, she whispered to me, telling me to take both you and May to the Attic. I wanted to refuse. I wanted to fight the bastard my self, to protect mother. But Ryan's voice stopped me. He was demanding for her to leave with him, but she refused. I heard a punch and mom's scream, then there was silence.
I stood in front of that door for a few minutes before I heard footsteps again. Suddenly the doorknob jiggled, and I thought it was mother. Relieved, I opened my mouth to ask if he was gone, but Ryan's voice interrupted me before I could say anything. He was talking to Ruth. Shocked stiff, I stood there again. It wasn't until you walked up to me and pulled on my sleeve, Ai, when I remembered what mother wanted me to do.
I quickly lead the two of you upstairs and up to the attic right before Ryan knocked the door down. He told Ruth he was sure that mother was keeping somebody from him, but Ruth suggested she was just trying to keep her valuables from being taken. They took almost everything from our house.You and May were asleep by the time they left, so I carried you two outside before they could burn down our house.
I ran and ran until I reached the woods. I was exhausted by then, so my eye lids were too heavy for me and i fell asleep shortly after we reached the woods.When I woke up, you two were still asleep, so I quickly ran to The City, our city. But all I could see were ashes and ruins. I fell to my knees and hands and wept as I remembered what that bitch had said about how mom was protecting her valuables...She saved us by sacrificing herself."
His voice trailed of for a few seconds and then started again. "Ai, we were her valuables."
Waiting a while for my mind to take in the story, I look at Darius. Then, out of no where, i begin to cry. I was only seven when she died, and I didn't cry, but i still loved her. Being told that she died in a car accident was one thing, but after hearing the stories about how the Ruthless treated women they captured...and then hearing that my mother was one of the women. It's too much for me to handle. I have to let it out. Mother didn't deserve that. She was too nice.
"She didn't deserve it at all..." After a while, I realize the shaky voice that said that belongs to me.
Darius wipes his tears away, steps towards me, and pulls me close again. "I know, Aiko. I know. That's why I'm going to go stop them before they start something again." He put his hand on top of head so I look up at him. "I'm sorry I lied to you.You were so young. I didn't want you to feel the way I did, or see how much of a coward I was. If only I had just-"
"Idiot!" His eyes widen as he looks at me. Tears were rushing down from my eyes now, but these were tears of anger. "Mother didn't want us killed. She saved us. Don't regret anything. Don't let her death give us regret and sorrow because we didn't do anything. We couldn't! You did what you had to do. What she told you to do. So don't let her death be meaningless and have it go to waste! Mom wouldn't want to see us like this. She'd want us to be happy and to smile! She'd...want us to find the meaning of true love and restore it to this world and remind everybody how important it is to this world."
"She's right, Darius." Both Darius and I turn around to see the boy looking up to the sky. I think the both of us had forgotten he was still standing there. "My mom sounds the same as yours. She gave up her life to save me from the Ruthless, too." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Your mom's looking down at you guys right now, and so is my mom."
The boy smiled and looked back at us. "So why don't we smile for them, hm?"
I look up at Darius who was looking up at the sky. Suddenly, a smile comes across his face. Relieved, I smile too and look up at the sky with him. The three of us, Darius, the boy, and I stood staring at the sky for a while.
"Darius, we can't lie to May. She has to know the truth. We'll tell her when she turns six, but we can't wait any longer then that."
"I know." Darius face lowers as he looks at the boy, then at me. "Thanks you two. I've been hating myself for a long time now."
The boy also tore his eyes away from the clouds to look over at Darius. "Haven't we all hated ourself for something?" He smiles and walks over to us. "I think we should stop them. If not for revenge, then for the sake of the world. The Ruthless awaken once again, and they're bound to take over. The world's not in the condition to take them on right now."
"Then again, neither are we." Darius glances over at May and Ryu, then me, and then back at the boy. "Plus I need to find a good place to keep my sisters safe over there."
"No! If you're doing this, I'm going with you. I'm not going to be some burden nor am I going to lose you. If you go, we go together. I'm going with you even if I die. I'm not scared."
"But you don't even know how to fight, Ai." Darius sighed, "I'm not going to leave you behind like Atticus did. We'll find more people to join us and I'll leave some members with you guys in Time City. You'll be close, but safe. I won't-"
"I'll train! You can teach me what Balthazar taught you!"
"Even if I did, it won't be enough. I'm nothing compared to Balthazar and him." He points to the boy. "One year isn't enought to learn everything he's got to teach people, Ai. It's not that simple..." He let out a sigh.
"I can teach her." The boy put his hand on my shoulder. "I've learned everything from Balthazar. I could teach you, too."
"But it'll take too long to teach two people at once. Time is not something we have right now. Years will seem like they're passing by quickly while we're training." Darius looks at the boy. "And we can't even stop by Balthazar's. He keeps moving around"
"It'll take to long to find him..."The boy sighed, too. "Then we'll recruit our own people. Balthazar's best student lives about thirty cities away, but he's on the way to Time City. I'm sure we can get to him. he can train you. Maybe we can even get him to join us. It'll take about a half a year, maybe longer to reach him, but we've got no other choice."
Darius looks into my eyes once again. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?"
I nod my head feriously. "Of course I am!" I flash him a smile.
"Alright, but you can change your mind anytime you want, okay?"
Shaking my head, I glance over at the boy. "If he's learned from Balthazar, he's got to be good. Darius, you're already pretty strong. I'm not going to give up or give in. I'm ready for anything.
The boy smirks. "Alright, if we're going to do this, let me gather somethings and we can be on our way."
He begins to walk towards the lake once again and Darius, May, Ryu, and I follow him. On the way, Darius tells me that the boy's name is Haruko, which means "shining brightly". When we reached the lake, Haruko went to get something from under a small bridge the stretched across the lake.
When he came back to us, he shows me his kitten named Ioa. She had extremely long ears and her tail had a ribbon on it attached with a bell.Haruko then shows me that Ioa flies. She was simply adorable and Ryu had no problem with her.
Leaving the "All City", the city we were just in, I realize that with the two new members in our group, training was going to be easy.
END--i wonder when i'm going to be able to write chapter four. Haruko's original name was suppose to be after my friend. He read the first two chapters and demanded that i named a character after him, so i thought "what the hell" and decided to name this new character after him. Unfortunatly, my friend isn't as good looking as i'm imagining the character in the story. XD! If you're reading this, i'm kidding. :D. Ahaha. Well my other friend Christina told me I should rename the character and we decided to name him "Haruko".
