In My Life
I didn't know what to do for a while, and for that while, I was finding writing this to be a tough task. Actually, I was just going through a dry spell, and reflecting on what I had written before. Yeah, if I could go back, I would definitely fix a lot of it.
But you can't go back. You can only go forward and improve. For all you writers out there, remember that, and never stop writing!
And now, shutting myself up, onto the next chapter. It's more of a mini-inset than anything, but enjoy!
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Now on every seventh day of every summer, there's a not-quite illegal tradition to be held in the town square. Run by Rick and Popuri, the chicken boy and his little sister, chickens from town and all around for miles gather in the middle of square for the smallest event since Asashoryu became the 68th Yokozuna of the wrestling world.
Chicken sumo.
While chicken sumo is supposed to be fair and clean, much like sumo wrestling itself, a flashes of chicken fluff were oscillating and dashing around the town square in utter trepidation, the townies tripping over their own feet just to get a hold of something. As everyone bumbled about, the cause of the whole mess stood her ground, clucking proudly in the center of the featured rope ring.
Brando.
From a painful fall smack on his back, Rick slowly dragged his head off the ground with every vulgarity grumbled under his breath. He turned to watch Officer Harris chase a crazed chicken out of the town square and towards some homes. From the other side, Popuri shrieked as another crazed chicken barreled her down a midst all the chaos, Kai quickly coming to her rescue as he seemingly effortlessly plucked the chicken into the air.
What was worse for Rick was seeing Popuri making those stargazing eyes at Kai, the ladies man that he was. He smacked his head on the pavement again, staring up at the lovely clear sky in lament.
Poor Cliff didn't know how to soothe the ruffled chickens either. The similar dumfounded expression tacked onto every face in the crowd of farmers that gathered in the far corner just put out that they had no idea what to do. Cliff shrugged and decided to take a walk over to them, and as he went closer noticed that they were discussing the situation in moaning voices.
"Man, if the old man were still around, he'd handle those hens!" said one farmer in a nasal voice, shoving his callused hands into his dirty pockets.
"Yeah!" another farmer declared. He was a younger lad with a twinkle in his eye. He pounded his left fist into his right hand. "The old man would get 'em, one, two, three!"
With a nod, a third farmer crossed his hands over his chest broad.
"It's all that damn newbie's fault," he began in a gruff voice. All the other farmers looked up at his face in awe the instant he spoke. "That kid from Strawberry Fields doesn't know what he's doing."
With that, Cliff stepped up to the crowd with a ready-to-do good look on his face. And stood there.
"It's the Strawberry Fields kid!" one of the farmers declared with the point of a finger.
The young, excitable farmer stepped up.
"Let's get 'im, boys!" he chirped, raising his fists in a tense and badly imitated boxer's pose. He jumped up to Cliff and went right into trying out the hold one-two, but Cliff just stepped back while the kid had a punching spasm. He looked to the other farmers, jutting out his lower lip and cocking his head in a befuddled expression. One of the farmers noticed him, and piped up.
"What is it?" he asked in a neutral manner.
Cliff took a deep breath, biting his lip a bit.
"I'm not the guy from Strawberry Fields," he muttered, eyes cast down. He looked up, something stronger taking over and reflected in his eyes. "But Makoto is a hard worker, and one day he's going to be great!"
"Yeah… he sure is!" the built farmer from before piped up, again forcing heads to turn up to look at him. "But where is he now, hmm??"
Something came about in the air at that moment, as soon as the wild clucking of the chickens ceased, and one by one everyone felt it and turned to the center of the square. And right there in the broad daylight that mostly bounced off his yellow tunic stood Won a slyly smiling, all hens placated and clucking contently at his feet. Many comments, either directed with praise to Won or just muttered out in amazement flew about for the next minute and a half, Won nodding with pride.
From the other side, Kai folded his arms over his chest with the roll of his eyes.
"It's the wine thief!" he murmured half-under his breath. Popuri, from right next to him, looked over with an inquisitive look on her face, being about as inquisitive as such a free spirit could get. For a moment, she dove into a deep puddle of thought.
"Didn't Makoto steal the wine?" she asked Kai, head tilted. With a look to her and back again, Kai murmured something into his cheek for a moment. Eventually, he did come back to her.
"Errmm… Never mind, Popuri." With a groan, he turned to the center of the square only to see Officer Harris shaking Won's hand and handing out more praise for the chicken tamer.
Rick was off in his own corner, pushing up his glasses as he scoffed at Won. Kai looked over at the chicken boy, to the chicken hero, and back at the now attentive chicken boy with a slick grin. Rick snarled, making a quick gesture with his fist shooting up behind his perpendicular forearm.
With a little chuckle under his breath, Kai continued to grin as he turned back to Popuri. By now, most everyone was calling it a day and heading back home. As Rick headed to the center of the square to close up the festival and sort out all the chickens, he looked over his shoulder to see his sister walking off to the beach with the smooth talking Kai.
And amongst all of this, Won became nothing short of loved and admired by the townsfolk. The exotic man opened up his own stand on the beach the next day, selling interesting little random trinkets. There was a lot of jewelry, all meticulously hand-made and ranging from the most complicated to the most simple, selling necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings to suit anyone's taste. Complementing the jewelry were crop and flower seeds of all sorts that Mineral Town has never come to see, including the pineapples he had sold to Cliff.
Who knows what else Won had? People were flocking to see what he was selling next, lining the salesman's pockets thicker by the hour. From the bright window of the empty and open Seaside Lounge, Kai let out a sigh from the nearest table to the door.
It suddenly makes sense why Won framed Makoto! I know he didn't do it out of hating Makoto or anything, but he did it to get himself a good rep. I feel kind of bad for Makoto, things don't seem to be going right for him as I've heard. Thing is, he's not the bad type at all.
-From Kai's Journal
While Makoto was off on the wild sheep chase, Strawberry Fields was left in the hands of the good-to-honest, hard working Cliff. Cliff enthusiastically met the dirt and nasty chickens of Strawberry Fields for a little pay and some noodles, and even took the liberty of bunking in the farmhouse until Makoto returned from his mystical journey.
There was no sign of Makoto since he had left, and Cliff was getting a little anxious. He knew the basics of what he was doing, and planting seeds wasn't much of a problem for him. He took care of the chickens all right; they seemed a little stupefied from yesterday's affair, giving him no reason to need his gloves when reaching over them for their eggs. Everything was just hunky-dory at Strawberry Fields.
The problem was that Makoto never told anyone that he had left. Looking up from his work briefly, Cliff noticed that Makoto had a visitor. Little May hovered at the entrance to Strawberry Fields, looking just as worried as Cliff felt With all the anxiety coalesced in her eyes, she watched as Cliff walked on over to her.
"Hey little girl," Cliff said softly as he got down on his dirty knees. Meeting her at eye level eased her a little bit, but Cliff noticed the stains the subtle tears had left under her large eyes.
May wasted no time crying, and cut right to the chase.
"My gramp-pa said…" she began a soft voice, trailing off for a moment. She sucked in a deep breath before continuing. "Gramp-pa said that Makoto should've been back by now."
Cliff nodded gently, extending and arm to her shoulder with a pat that soothed her for a moment.
"Hey now, don't worry," Cliff told her. "Makoto's a tough guy. He'll be back soon, I promise." Cliff's assuring smile did nothing to alleviate his own clambering worries. "Besides, he wouldn't want you worrying about him, eh?"
With a little smile, May shook her head, her braids flinging back and forth.
"That's a good girl," Cliff replied, maintaining his own smile.
He got up to return to his work, giving May the invitation to hang around and play at Strawberry Fields as much as she wanted until Makoto returned.
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And of course, it was another uneventful morning down at the Mineral Town clinic. The clock was the only thing ticking with activity on the hazy summer day, so dreadful. Not working away today, Elli stood behind the counter with a sigh and a drab expression as she thought to herself about the new wonderful day on the job, and about Makoto.
It doesn't seem quite the same without Makoto around. He definitely doesn't realize this, but he makes things a little brighter for me. I just hope he's okay.
-From Elli's Diary
It was the third day Makoto had been gone.
Like a rusty nail to a balloon, the phone clattered and buzzed with the first phone call of the day and burst every thought in Elli's head as she reached for it. Preparing her facade, she picked up the phone and instantly connected with the mouthpiece.
"Good morning, Mineral Town Clinic. How may I help you?"
For a moment, there was nothing but heavy breathing. Elli arched an eyebrow, waiting for the person to speak. She waited, the person stalled, and she waited some more "How may I help you?" she asked again, a little more flustered.
"Legs… explosion…" the voice on the other line took a lot of effort to heave. "Sheep… explosion… paraplegic…"
And it finally dawned on her.
"Makoto??" she shot out.
From the other line, a crazed shriek of what was possibly an old lady rung out. It was followed by a harsh, metallic clang of a smack and the cursing of a young male.
"Makoto!! Where are you??" Elli asked in a tense voice, doing her damned hardest to keep her voice down.
Her spirit was yanked down with the flat buzz that followed.
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Yup, like I said, a mini-inset. I wanted to really set some more plot up while Makoto was out. The next chapter should be a blast... Drive My Car will be the featured song.
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I've got another fanfic in the works, The Guide to a Healthy, Downtrodden Existence. Actually, the first chapter is up right now. It's all about Doctor Tim spillin' his guts… sppppppppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllllll... And yeah, anyway, enough whoring my fics, and on to shout-outs!
Zomaelgustar the Wanker- M.I.A, I hope your comp works in time so we can see more juicy Country Home Living goodness… and Crazy Love Affairs juiciness…
Anime26angel- Oohhh… all the evilness… wouldn't you love to see? Thanks for reading my other fic too! Can't wait to see more of Horizons now, eh?