I've been working on the next installment of this story for a while now. It was slow, it was stubborn...it just refused to come. And then I sat down in Spanish class today, with orders to research a city in Spain for a project. I opened up Microsoft word, put my hands on the keyboard, and lo and behold, this chapter came out (backwards, but that's beside the point) in about forty-five minutes. It's short, it's different, and I have no idea where it came from...but here is the unplanned chapter three. Hope you enjoy it, and please review :)
Chapter 3
"A Recipe for Eternity"
His fingers itched to write.
He was readily prepared, equipped with his well-worn journal, his fountain pen, and a soft, down-stuffed chair only a few feet away from the warmth of a lush, crackling fire.
But the words were stubborn, and slow in coming.
Thrice, the slender tip of his pen had met the snow-white paper.
And thrice, it had pulled away after lingering for brief, fleeting seconds.
The desire was there. It was there, dancing eagerly, hungrily, elatedly within his breast – the urge to create art, to create music, to paint a magical, mesmerizing picture with the twenty-six characters that were the ambassadors of an undreamed realm.
What was missing was the fire, the spark, the sudden glimpse of the world that was at once within and without. Inspiration.
And no words came to him.
So he sat in his chair, fingers trembling with a barely suppressible yearning to give meaning, to give a sketch of one of the universe's numberless songs.
Flames leapt and swooped within the fireplace, casting a soft glow over the room, over the walls and carpets, over its three occupants, creating light in place of shadows, and shadows in place of light. The effect was surrealism rooted in reality.
His eyes grew tired of the image of the blank white page, and begged for permission to take some time to wander. His mind sighed, disappointed in its failure to open up a fountain of dazzling beauty and wisdom, and reluctantly let them go.
Their wandering led them in a circuit around the room, before falling on his two companions.
" 'Tou-sama, 'Tou-sama, how big is the universe?"
"Bigger than the sky."
"And how big is the sky?"
"Bigger than the oceans."
"How big are the oceans?"
"Bigger than the mountains."
"How much bigger than the mountains is the universe?"
"Infinitely."
"What is 'infinitely'?"
"That's eternity. Never-ending."
"Then where can we put eternity, if it is so much bigger than everything else?"
"I can put it in the sky, in the oceans, and in the mountains. I'll tell you a secret: my eternity rests in this very room."
"Really? Where?"
"Well, now, how can I show you? It never ends."
"Where is my eternity, 'Tou-sama?"
"Your eternity is yours, 'Chibi-chan, and you may put it where you wish."
"Ahh…"
He smiled, eyes growing heavy. The warmth of the singing fire and the rhythm of the cosmos beating all around rocked him, lulled him to sleep, as an infant in its mother's arms.
His eyes closed, and for how long they remained shut, he did not know. When he opened them once more, articulated words had, as if by magic, fallen into his heart, mind, and soul. He blinked once, and when his sleep-fogged vision cleared, he saw in front of him the golden spark of inspiration. And the words fell into place.
His pen fell to the paper, and his brush flurried over its canvas in firm, confident strokes. The melody pour out, note by note, stanza by stanza, beating perfectly in time with the dance steps of the flames, the tempo of the snow, and the drumming of his heart, dropping as crystals into a jade-green pool of nature.
Then his pen stopped, and the melody rode on, upon the soundless wind of that marvelous world.
Ryou smiled softly, satisfied and complete. He placed his notebook gently down on the table, setting his pen on top. He stood up, grabbed a nearly blanket, and walked over to tuck it softly around Bakura and Shadow, both of whom were sleeping soundly, side by side. Shadow lay curled up, enclosed within Bakura's fond embrace, the serene, tranquil smile etched on his lips mirroring the one which, for the first time in over five millennia, could also be found on the face of his father.
Xxx
A Recipe for Eternity
Measure out a sky full of hope
An ocean full of joy
A mountain range of patience
And a universe of love.
Mix and pour into two hearts
And place them side by side
Now watch:
Regardless of the weather outside
Unhindered by shadows, raindrops, night or hail
Assuredly, steadily, boldly, tenderly
The hearts will wrap around each other
And join, tied by a braided string
From Heaven
And surely, a beautiful, glorious bud will sprout
Grow
Strengthen
Bloom
Into a towering tree
Standing confident and strong in the face of the world
Rooted firmly in a foundation
Of one unquenchable heart
