Learning to Live: (Chapter 4): For another
The colors were infinite. There didn't seem to be a beginning or end.
In fact there didn't seem to be anything at all to this mysterious
place. Yet she could feel everything. She felt as if she was being
glided in a sea of mystic colors; always changing and never in a
consistent pattern. Looking around her, Sakura wondered what place she
was inhabiting. Could it be a prognostic dream? As she continued her
descent, Sakura pulled her hand to her neck. However, she felt her
neck bare. Instantly she looked down only to find nothing. Nothing at
all. Sakura began to feel a wave of fright take her over. Not only
could she not feel her necklace, but she couldn't even see herself.
She couldn't see her arms, legs, body or anything. Yet she could feel
them there.
After some time of drifting, Sakura glimpsed upon something. As he
got closer she saw that it looked like a crystal diamond that was
slowly spinning. Sakura gasped as she began to get to close. She was
going to hit it. She shut her eyes tightly waiting for the impact, but
it never came. However when she opened her eyes, Sakura felt like she
was slipping through some kind of gel-like liquid. She thought she
would drown for a moment, until she realized she could breathe.
Looking around in the diamond, she could see what looked like shards
of glass. Each piece contained its own color. As the shards drifted
nearer Sakura fleetingly wondered if she would get cut. This was not
the case as soon as one shard touched her unseen figure. As it clashed
upon her form the shard became like water washing over her; yet this
also brought the color the piece contained-as if restoring Sakura to
her true self.
The shards came faster and soon Sakura was able to see herself again;
in her natural state. Sakura then felt herself being pulled from the
diamond chamber and once again into the infinite color scheme. Sakura
let herself relax a bit. She didn't mind that she was exposed, for
there was no one around to see her. Drifting softly along, Sakura let
the colors dazzle her. She smiled as they seemed to play back and
forth with one another.
But something was different.
The colors started to separate into their own elemental spectrum. Yet
as she watched, the blues were taking over. Soon the blacks melded and
the whites were also woven into the pattern. The colors were becoming
more tangible and began to consume the space Sakura occupied. It was
only a few minutes more when Sakura began to choke. She was choking on
water. She was underwater. She struggled for a moment before gaining
the ability to use her arms.
Sakura swam upward as fast as she could,
praying she'd make it to the surface in time. She inhaled in a breath
of water too early, and staggered. With one final push, Sakura broke
the surface coughing and choking; her lungs expelling the unwelcome
obstruction. She slowly waded to shore, and collapsed lightly on the
ground. After a few moments of regaining her senses, Sakura looked
around her. The air was warm and inviting; the scenery docile. She
began to see images she recognized. Sakura knew where she was.
She was in Tomoeda.
-Learning To Live-
Cherry blossoms littered the ground like an earthen blanket. Snow
fell endlessly, but it never reached the ground. A gentle breeze could
be felt blowing across the face of the observer. A smile came to the
viewers lips. This was a place of harmony and peacefulness; a small
sanctuary of one's living soul. It was beautiful, and any other being
could get lost in its erotic atmosphere. Yet the invited would not
lose him self here. One's who was invited into the soul of another, could freely walk about; never having to fear harm or dangers. Yet those who chose to enter by force were ultimately destroyed in the end.
Eriol smiled and stopped next to a particular Cherry Blossom tree. The tree itself look no different that the others surrounding it. Its feel, however, is what separated it; distinguished it as special. It was, in fact, the representation of the very Cherry Blossom tree that Nadeshiko Amamiya had fallen out of, only to land squarely on Fujitaka Kinomoto. While the soul's bearer didn't create this representational tree, it was here. In fact, this was part of the soul from the beginning, past from mother to child. Undoubtedly, many pieces of the soul were inherited in such a manner; yet the vast majority was created through experience and one's life.
Eriol turned and viewed the scenery once again. The gentle snow fall that fell almost everywhere, but never touched the ground, represented Yukito Tsukishiro. The Cherry Blossoms and petals represented her own life. The scattered Peach Blossoms amongst the Cherry were her brother. There were also Lily flowers floating over pools of crystal clear waters. He knew this was in representation of her best friend, Tomoyo Daidouji. The winds that blew were warm and gentle, and carried the most beautiful and soft feathers on the wind. He had no doubt those belonged to her mother.
In one area, Eriol vaguely thought of as a garden, were scattered Peonies blooming brightly and strongly. There was a little Koi pond with a little bridge over it. It had an eastern touch to it. Some parts looked as if the Peonies had grown wild, and spread all out and reached into other areas; as was evident by the bushes mingled with the trees. However, most looked to have been trimmed and prunes. While not physically possible, it was a soul's way of keeping things in check. Eriol nodded slowly to himself. At one time, he was sure that the Peonies had covered this entire little world.
Eriol continued onward, enjoying himself to a blissful peace. Not many people could harbor such beautiful souls as this one; but this was Sakura. He wouldn't have accepted anything less. Walking along, he suddenly felt a strong pulse of familiarity. Turning, he noticed another Cherry Blossom tree. Like the tree he examined before, this one too was special. He wondered to himself as we walked towards it. It had called to him. Why would that be?
Stopping just before the tree, he gazed at it for a while. Something indeed was familiar about it. Unable to come up with a reason, he trotted forward and placed a hand upon its trunk. It took only seconds for the tree to tell him why.
It was the tree in which he formally met Sakura.
Under this tree, he had kissed her hand.
Laughing lightly to himself, Eriol pulled away and grinned.
Sakura was truly a wonderful person. Her soul was so positive and bright.
"Yet I am a figure of black, standing on a canvas of color." True enough, the garments in which he wore were black.
"I must go. I mustn't overstay my welcome." Smiling, Eriol turned back, and began to work his way back.
It would be Eriol's next visit until he would find something to make him worry.
Just ahead on the path, had he ventured further, he would have found it.
A single red tulip, coming into bloom, surrounded by Black Mulberries.
- Learning to Live -
Akusui Oodobi ran. He had no idea why, or wear exactly he would end up; he just ran. There were answers he needed and questions he had to ask. One was foremost in his mind at all times:
Why do I feel empty?
Akusui hadn't really found anything he could really do with his newfound freedom of life. He'd looked into a few ideas, but they didn't seem to work out for him. One such job in which he briefly held turned out badly, and even called into question what humans actually were.
It was a little job at a small aquarium shop. The store specialized in selling fish of all kinds. This had made him very happy at first, as it was close to his nature, and former natural self. It hurt that he couldn't commune with the fish he fed and took care of, but he was still happy to watch their antics and see them swimming peacefully. Things were fine at first, as he believed all these people to be like his Mistress; kind and loving.
"Momma, Momma! Here, look! These fish are cheep! We can get a bunch!" A young boy spoke to his mother.
"Alright, hunny, we'll get these then." She nodded in acceptance.
Akusui smiled at the idea of the boy buying so many fish. He began to get the little net and scoop them into the little bags provided.
"That'll be 8.38. Glad to see you back Mrs. Kina." Spoke Mr. Epison, the manager.
"Yes, well, Tome insisted we come here and buy some fish for Kiki." The lady spoke.
Akusui smiled happily as he scooped up the last fish and tied the bag into a knot. He had heard the woman clearly, and had, as innocent as he was, thought that Kiki was perhaps a little sister, and this was a gift.
"Yeah mom, Kiki will love them. I usually try to get her some fish every two weeks." The boy gave an odd smile.
Akusui stepped off the little later. Funny, he knew these fish lived for a good long time-
"My, he sure is spirited." Mr Epison laughed.
"Yes, he just loved feeding our cat those little fish."
Akusui froze in place. Had he heard them right? Feeding their cat? These fish were going to be feed to a cat! Akusui knew the stores sold cat food of all kinds, even food already made with fish that were meant to be eaten. These fish were fish to love!
Tome turned towards Akusui and began to grab the little bag. Out of instinct and reaction, Akusui yanked the bag back. Tome yelled at the other boy for this action, and they proceeded to play tug 'o war with the fish. It ended in a sad mess and Tome let go, Akusui flying backwards. The little bag of fish hit the ground and spilled open. Flipping over, Akusui gazed in horror as the little fish struggled to live. He quickly pushed as many of the little fish as he could back into the little bag. Two of the little fish were not so lucky and lost themselves under Tome's foot, and the boy began to close in on Akusui.
With a movement of grace, Akusui whirled himself up and grabbed a water cup next to an open tank. Scooping water in the cup, he dumped the remaining fish in it and frantically dashed outside. His manager, the woman and the boy were all yelling at him in harsh loud voices.
Akusui had ran as fast as he could and as far as his legs would take him. He had gone a good considerable distance until he could not take anymore and found a tree to collapse under. He began to cry at the fact that he'd allowed himself to be so naive, and that he couldn't save all the other fish. Who knows how many times he'd already sold some of the poor things to their death.
It was about two hours later that he had began walking, and found himself standing at the edge of a ledge. Beyond that was the ocean, stretching for miles. He contented himself by watching it and listening.
" Mommy.. wook! He haves a fwish! I wanna fwish too, mommy. I nawme it Fwishy!"
Akusui turned and saw a mother with a tiny girl in her arms. They were walking along the sidewalk and began to pass him by; seemingly heading towards town.
"Perhaps later, sweetie. Fish are expensive and Mommy needs to buy you new clothes first." The mother cooed in her daughter ear.
"Aww…" The little girl whimpered sadly. Her eyes looked a little teary.
Akusui stood up and trotted up to the woman, tapping her lightly.
"Yes?" She turned to face him.
"Here." Akusui handed the little cup to the child. Her face brightened as she took it and held it close.
"Keep them happy, and they will love you." He smiled and waved as he walked off back towards the ledge.
"I will! Tank ywou, mistur!"
"Thank you, dear. She'll adore them." The woman spoke softly and continued on.
Akusui started to slow down in his running until he completely stopped. It had been a situation in which both good and bad had taken place. However, he still was taught that day that there were people who were not at all kind or caring about others as they should be; regardless of the fact that the others were fish, in this case.
Looking around, Akusui noticed his surroundings as familiar. It some a small park in which he had faint memories of. There was a slide with a penguin, and a swing set. Just a little ahead was a bridge that ran over a river of water. He felt a pull to this place, as if it was a place he'd been. As he took a few more steps further, his body flashed in a spark of cool. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in a while; one he use to have regularly. He darted forth and began to look around.
"Is this real, or…" Spoke soft feminine words.
Akusui looked for the source of the voice and to his surprised eyes, found a woman crouched along the riverbank. He jumped over the bridge he was on and landed on the bank's ground, dashing up to the woman. As he came upon her, she rocked back on her knees, holding her arms across her chest; attempting to keep herself covered as much as possible. Seeing her face, Akusui felt his heart jump and for once felt he'd find what he was missing.
"Mistress!" Akusui happily called and sank down to her, falling into a hug and let him self cry tears of joy.
Sakura without hesitation caught him in the embrace, and after settling herself in thought, hugged him back with warmth. She could feel in him a turmoil waging a battle.
"Akusui… it's alright. I'm here. You found me." She lightly pulled him back and titled his head to look him in the eye.
"Now let's get back home, were we can talk." She smiled lightly and lovingly at the boy whom was once her water spirit.
Akusui smiled back and rubbed his face, his eyes shining in the moonlight. Final peace.
