Chapter 3: A Tale of Two Girls
Let me tell you what had occurred. I remember the day we meet Faye Rin and Horu. The day we arrived in the Village Hidden in the Forest it was a dark and stormy night. Much like it is today. At first the villagers were hesitant to allow us to remain. They held tales of a swordsman and a white wolf that traveled together. Rather untrue tales. Though we were able to convince them of our good will when they came under attack from a rival village. It would have been the end of the Village had we not been there.
The only place in the village we could stay was in the home of Faye Rin and Horu. They were less then thrilled with the idea but accepted none the less. The Elder gave them little choice. We remained in the village for several months, in that time we became welcome into the village, accepted as part of them. It was nice to belong somewhere, to have a home after so long on the road...
Master I believe they fell asleep. Fen says midway into my tale. Looking around I see that he is right. It is rather late. Well into the next morning.
"So they are. It seems that some things never change. People still fall asleep to my stories."
Indeed they do. Perhaps we should do the same. He suggests as he curls up near Rini and Hotaru.
"You go ahead. I'm gonna stay up a bit longer. I need to think." I answer as Fen yawns before resting his head on his paws.
If you are sure. Do not stay up to long or you will never sleep.
Waving back that I understand I head out on the patio and look up to the sky. It amazes me how no matter how many centuries pass some things never change. The stars that I remember from my youth are the same as what I see now. I still have trouble believing this is the same world that I knew. So much has changed. Buildings that reach the skies. Horseless carriages, what they call 'cars'. Moving pictures. It is true that we were advanced in my time but nowhere near this. "If only you could see this Rosa."
"Who's Rosa?" I hear a voice ask behind me, causing me to jump slightly. Turning I see Rayne standing in the doorway. "Sorry if I startled you."
"No it's okay. My fault for zoning out like that. To answer your question, Rosa was my wife. She died before I became Elder. Her death is what put me and my brother at odds with each other."
"Did he have something to do with her death? If you don't mind me asking that is." She asks a little nervous. It's obvious that she doesn't want to upset me. She doesn't realize that she has every right to know. I wasn't sure at first but now, looking at her in the frame of the door, hair amess from sleep, I am taken back to the first night I meet Rosa. It was under similar circumstances. When I gathered the original Celestial Guardians.
"Yes it was my brother's doing. We had been married for two years by the time this happened. We were also expecting our first child." I see her cover her mouth at that. The tears are forming in her eyes. She's recalling what happened. I can see it in her eyes. "I was furious when I found out that my own twin was responsible for her death. I hunted him down and we fought for a week straight. It was in that fight that I got this cross scar I bear. He fell from a cliff in the end and I thought that was it."
"He survived though. That was him we fought when you arrived." She says more to herself then me.
"Yeah. This time though, he will fall for good. That I promise."
After a quiet moment she speaks up, "We should go to bed. Bunny and the others had a trip to the beach planned for today. They insist you join us. Before you say no, you don't really have a choice. She'll drag you there."
"Alright. Since I don't seem to have any other choice, I'll go. Though I don't have anything to wear to a beach."
"Darien has an extra pair of shorts you can use. He hasn't used them himself. A bit too big on him. They should fit you fine though. You are built a bit bigger then he is." She says walking back into the house. As she walks I can't help but notice as her hips sway slowly back and forth, hypnotically. 'Damn.' I think to myself. She definitely has a nice figure. There is no denying that.
Quickly snapping myself back to reality I catch her glancing back at me and I swear she was smiling. Maybe I was just imagining it. Must be.
Heading in different directions I head towards the room Rei pointed out to me that I could use for the night. Nice little room perfect for a single person. Walking up to the futon, I take my coat off and set it on a chair nearby before pulling my shirt off and placing it in the same spot. Glancing at a mirror on the desk I look myself over. For a Serus, I'm rather tall. About 5'11"-6'3". 333lbs muscle. Came from years of fighting and my time in the Arena during my slave years. A time I'd rather forget. Unfortunately I can't because of the scars I bear. Most of my upper body is covered in scars.
Many of which have been used to make tattoos. Ten years of my life I spent in the Arena fighting for my right to live. It wasn't till Rosa bought me from the Arena that I knew freedom. Though she was my owner, she treated me as an equal and in time she gave me my freedom. I was no longer tied to any but my heart would not let me leave her so I stayed. 'Rayne. Have you realized it? The bond we share.' With a sigh I turn from the mirror and lay down. 'I really shouldn't think of the past so much. It wasn't till I arrived here and saw Rayne for the first time that I began to think of what was.' I lay there looking up at the ceiling just thinking. It has been so long since I felt so relaxed with someone that I had no problem talking with them about Rosa. 'The beach, eh? Well at least it's a chance to unwind. I've been too strung out lately.' As a bit of an afterthought as I slowly doze off, 'Rayne'll be there. So it shouldn't be too bad.'
To Be Continued...
Hold Onto The Past But Don't Let The Past Hold Onto You.