When we talk about life, we usually say that it is harsh and unfair for some average people like us. We wear our hardships, pain, and sadness in the cloaks of our clothes to protect ourselves from the trickery and false hopes the world has to offer to us. We are merely humane, for we make mistakes, rights, wrongs, etc. No matter how you are 'perfect' in the eyes of another, it cannot change the fact that you are still nothing among us.
Face the lion's roars and let others face its wrath. Face the heavens and let yourself be shine in glory and innocence. How come some innocents just happen to die in a blink of an eye and let the ones we cherish are left behind? We die, they live in honor. We had the guts and let them slowly took all the things you love, you care for. And feel the hatred and pain that once subdue, you will learn to be unappreciated and be insecure. We're all monsters! No one cares if you're the high and we're the low. We are merely nothing!
We will never have a perfect life and a sacred place to live in for. As long as people learn to get hurt, they will hurt others. As long as people discriminates each one another, no one will understand a person's feelings by the time their faces turn all different types of colors. We are always selfish by our needs and demands, children, good people, religious ones are no exceptions. We are all the same. We are the children being thrown away from the love and care of the holy ones above.
Presharar, a remote hidden village found at Wardington was the most peaceful and rich-natural place the public had ever known. A very rare place where people cannot be compared from rich to poor, men from women, aged ones from little children. Such simple life of the villagers where no wealthy businessmen, politicians, economists and other influential people living in this draft and dull world; Few civilians known the Presharar's existence so they started creating a good community of their own leading to a nonexistent peace they never had in their lives.
Slowly, the community started to make a council and build some monasteries to thank the Almighty Providence (God) for a chance to live in this existing fantasy world.
It was miracle to the villagers to have this opportunity of having a good life to be with one another, until a fatal incident reside the day the sun sets in the middle of the ambient skies.
"Kill him!" order the leader leading them to open fire at them. The man panic and glance back at his lifeless daughter before running away from the scene.
It was the middle of the afternoon since the chase, but the old man named Okiru Kazami was hiding in the base bark of the tree when three of his enemies are desperately looking for him.
The leader seems to be more frustrated that he almost shot two of his companions. "You worthless dogs! You let him escape again!"
"Sir, we'll get him back again. I heard that he had another headquarter establishment just ahead of the harbor decks." the other nervously said relieved that he wasn't shot in the head.
The leader shook his head "No, that Criminal cannot be underestimated….we'll deal with him sooner…..Come on!"
"But what about the girl we killed?"
"Let it be…it will rot like dried onions anyway" and with defeat hanging on their shoulders, they walk out with no pocket money gained from their target.
As the old man checks the boundary, he sighed in relief then recall of his daughter Shiori. Pain and guilt was written all over his face. He can't even think straight anymore.
He was walking in the middle of nowhere until he realizes he was lost when he was thinking dearly of his grandson's finer future.
He was exhausted and tired all of the sudden. He attempts to find something to eat or maybe drink but to no avail, the place is completely deserted.
Heavy rain suddenly engulfed the gloomy atmosphere making the man use his instincts to find a good shelter. Luckily, he found a tunnel just ahead of him that he immediately went for a cover until the rain would stop.
Okiru woke up in a strange place suddenly. He wasn't fully stable and conscious but intensely he heard murmurs just outside of the room.
He straightened up, quite surprise seeing he is in an ordinary house and lean his ear on the door to eavesdrop a very strange conversation.
"Throw him away! He is an outsider! Are you insane?! What if the council knows that we let an outsider here in the village!" he murmur yet anger was felt in his strained voice.
Okiru finally got curious over the length of conversation, until the final lines of conversation came upon the climax.
"Please, we're just outsiders before remember?"
"That's twenty years ago! The Council couldn't allow any person to be permitted to enter the premises anymore!"
Okiru grimace upon the thought of the couple finally agree to throw him away. He opens the door surprising the both of them.
"Oh, sir, we prepare some breakfast. Join us!" the man said heartily totally hiding his irritation.
"Certainly…" said Okiru as he settles in his seat provided by the aged woman.
The couple apologize Okiru for inviting him over their home and escorted him to the borders just outside of the village.
But Okiru hasn't done with his intentions yet, and his intentions you ask?
Obviously, to gain and control the village for his own after learning some valuable resources and information when he was still in the village.
And the thought of overtaking the village's limitless treasures of unknown jewelries, precious crops grown, number of gold mines and other strange yet priceless things have him think not only for his own benefits but knowing the danger of keeping his grandson with him is very high, for his safety he presumes.
It took him eight months, observing the village traditions, cultures, the villagers' movements and mostly the Council's way of protecting the village. By the time, the full moon rises, the Criminal Okiru manage to infiltrate the defenseless village, killing people in the process without the Council with its Main Watchmen knowing. Same goes for letting Shun with his assigned men acting like villagers to live the village inconspicuously.
Chapter 11
Lavender
"Oi! Come back here!" the monk shout at the troublesome young disciple of his after stealing a small baguette which was suppose to his breakfast.
But mischief Shun look at him in amusement and showed his tongue "Beh! Can't catch me old man!"
"Please child, I rarely have my tummy woke up in the morning." said the old man panting while chasing the young boy.
Shun blew a raspberry at the monk again and run away from the hallway, laughing his wills out.
Suddenly, he saw a familiar girl at his age slowly walking at the hallway carrying a very heavy mountain load of laundry. She looked very trouble in carrying that huge pile of clothes obviously.
Shun look at the pitiful girl and smirk as he push her voluntarily thus making the girl slumped on the floor with the clothes scattered on the floor; some are even at the stairs.
"Hahahahaha!" he laugh at the girl again and look at her like a defeated soldier while picking the clothes carefully.
Shun saw the girl again at the top of the hill. She must be watching some clouds as she absently look up in the sky.
He carefully walk behind her, making sure soft grasses he step couldn't utter a faint sound and scream with all his might making the girl shout and scream as well.
Shun look at her frighten face, it was priceless! It never fails to amuse him every time he sees her horrified face all over again.
Few seconds that she cried making Shun stand proudly and mentally pat his back for a good job indeed.
But his urges of taunting her doesn't give in as he mocked her for the ninth time
"Ahw! Is little Alice going to cry now?! Hahahaha! No wonder you're so fragile! You haven't eaten a good amount of rice and a fish have you? Tsk tsk!"
The girl only cried and pleaded "Leave me alone!"
"Nehehehehe! You're a creep and a loser! All alone and weak! Surely you're brain isn't that smart anyway, no wonder Mother Samuel usually give you almost of the chores at the chapel! Hahahahaha!"
He laugh, she cried, Shun always win to taunt the girl all the time leaving the girl cried and felt hopelessly look herself pathetic in front of him; that's how they knew each other 11 years ago.
"Okay children! Lunch time!" Mother Samuel said happily as she gives some food to her children.
"Alice…."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Clean the dishes while I'm gone alright?"
"Okay." she chirpily said
Shun took a look around the dining table seeing the kids eating their lunch quietly. He glances at his seatmate and swiftly grab and munch her lunch.
The girl could only look at him surprise though this is how he usually wins her over and keep taunting her for being a thin and a fragile girl.
"Hahahaha! I'll just keep eating your lunch until your stomach burst dork!"
He eat comply with his hunger of eating her delicious lunch, the same he wanted to satisfy his urge of mocking the poor girl again. The other kids could only look at them, leaving the girl cried silently. She couldn't possibly get her lunch through force so she just accept defeat and just let him win over his childish antics.
When lunch is over, the girl went to the washing bin to clean a quite pile of dirty stained dishes. As Alice was about to rinse each of them, Shun managed to give her a squeal as he spray her some bucket of water he carried earlier. Then, He purposely break the dishes she clean earlier giving a frightening clash as it made contact to the floor. Then he scurried away leaving Alice left dumbfounded and look at herself feeling embarrass.
"Look what you've done! Don't you even know how to wash?! Now I have to buy up and gave another expense for the church again." Mother Samuel shouts at Alice in which the girl bowing at her for feeling sorry about it despite the fact that it wasn't entirely her fault.
"Clean up this mess!"
As the girl was picking the shattered pieces, Shun slowly walk and push her behind thus making her fall back in the floor.
Alice flinches as she saw a scratch and a tint of blood on both of her arms. Shun grin and stalk off not even cared that she is hurt…..or she is crying silently in the middle of the afternoon.
Shun was strolling in the marketplace looking for something interesting and glance upon a small necklace glimmering a certain merchant was holding. With stealth speed, he manages to get the necklace and replace it with his apple. He run away from the merchant who was left surprised as he was about to sell it to the buyer.
As Shun was making his way back at the main village, some guards suddenly grab his arm and glare at the boy.
"So, you're the lad that's been stealing the goods at the place. Not a very good sign for a little child being raise by the priests now are they?" One guard spoke up leaving Shun struggle and persistent to be free from their grasps.
"Let me go! Let me go! It wasn't me anyway!"
"Then why are you holding such jewelry on your possession? You have to give it back child…." The other one said, in a pleasing sense.
As Shun will be taken away in custody, he happens to glance at the girl buying some groceries at the store. Shun smirk secretly and look back at the two.
"It wasn't me! I was being told by my mate at the church! She's the one who threaten me and force me to do the dirty work." then Shun point out the pure and clueless girl who happened to look at him back curiously.
The two guards eventually let go of him and went after the girl, still confuse over their line of interrogation.
Shun grin and give her a wave back as he walk away freely, silently thanking a coincidence happen to him.
As Shun was going back to his room, he happens to hear some shouts and cries just outside of a particular office.
"You pathetic! Know-it-all! Stupid mongrel! You really have the luck of putting the priest's and your beloved bishop's name that low!"
"Please believe me...I didn't."
"You wretched witch!"
"Please believe me! I didn't-"
"Worthless scum!"
"WAAAH! " and the girl sobs heartily.
Then the door opens revealing a very frustrated priest. Shun already recognize him as their main priest in their chapel. Then the sister name Mother Samuel happens to follow him behind.
"Take her to the dungeon. Leave her be for 10 days. That should let her discipline and learn her lesson for stealing things from others."
"Aisht forgive me brother, I can't even understand that girl's attitude. She isn't that helpful in the chores I gave her every day."
"Hmph, that's an idiot for you. It's a good thing we have Shun in the place. Such a good boy, unlike that stench of excuses"
"Oh Shun, you're here?" ask Mother Samuel as she look at him far away the corner.
"Uh yeah mother….sorry to disturb…"
"Not at all son, Go back to your room. Next morning, we will have pancakes together okay?" the priest said and ruffling his hair making Shun grin and walked out like a pleased soldier he is.
The priest went to Mother Samuel and nod in which the nun quickly obliged and drag the helpless and beaten girl in the cellar.
3 years later….
"Here…" said Shun and shyly gave a necklace to the lonely girl
The girl could only look at him bewildered. Technically, she was trying her best to avoid Shun so many months now and almost all the villagers acknowledge him by his diligent presence. It was days that they eventually graduate from merely children to deacons.
She admits it; she felt defeated. She worked hard to be a well-discipline and a hardworker lad but sometimes, she ended up being in the last row and almost, she wasn't gaining any acquaintances in the process during childhood. She never had the time to learn what's love and care when her parents die in an instant. It was unfair, she knows that.
*Shun sure is lucky to have the attention to himself*
"What's that for?" she asked to him. And yes, she is still scared that he is still the same childish prank lance and an arrogant jerk that never stop to annoy her.
"A present…you know….I had known that I did mistakes to my friends and especially to you…so I thought….well…."
"Uhh…It's okay Shun; I never force you to give me what I want anyway…." she said and looks up to the sky. It was always her habit; whenever she felt so alone and no one to comfort her, she just look up to the funny looking clouds making some imagination and feel doing something exciting in a while.
She felt something cold in her neck and gasped seeing Shun slowly put a necklace in her fragile neck. What was almost shocking to her that his face is mere closer….almost too close to hers.
"There…" and sit beside her and also look up to the sky.
"Heh…that looks like a dog chasing a rat." said Shun absently.
Alice looks up as well and smile "I never know you had the imagination like that."
"If you want, I could invite you at the treehouse I made. You could get a closer view at the clouds."
"Hmmm…"
"Hey Alice…" he stares down at Alice's face in which in time she look at his eyes.
"Hmmm?"
"Do me a favor"
"Huh?"
"Wash my clothes for me." and grin mischievously making the girl back off and sigh
"You're going to be my servant from now on. I mark you anyway!" Shun continue
"What?! Ho-"
"The necklace! Bwahahahaha!" and roll of his laughter leaving the girl flushed in embarrassment.
"Oh okay….uhmm Shun…"
"Ye-Yeah?" he manage to control his laughter and look at her again
"But even like this, we're friends now right?"
"O-Okay" and manage to stop his chuckles, still manage to stifle from her stupid fantasy
*Friends? With this idiot? Bwahahahaha!*
"Sir, please be careful with your actions next time okay?"
"I can do whatever I like pal…tell my gramps to just leave me alone!"
"I can't do that sir, The Criminal specifically said to watch over you while you're in the target village. And to clean up your dirt when I've heard you've been dealing such pranks at an early age…"
"Shut up…"
The man looks up to his cellphone and passes it over to Shun.
"Your grandfather wants to call you by the way…"
Shun just grab the cellphone and listen to his further nagging.
"Damn you boy! Watch your mouth while my men are keeping an eye on you! I even have to persuade the priests and the guards to even let you go and just ignore you to at least lessen your enemies and all-!
"I don't want babysitters, old man."
"And stop calling me old man!"
"Then leave me in peace!"
"That, I cannot do…"
"Why not!?"
"Sooner or after, you will learn to be a responsible leader at hand. When you're old enough to take care of my business, you will leave the village with a good fortune from them at hand!"
"So meaning I have to take your position? Hmm good trade though….but on one condition…."
"And what is that child?"
Shun heaved a sigh before he answer "Just….give me time and…"
"..."
"You have my word"
Shun was looking at the window as the floating clouds are surrounding the high moon. He sighed once again and checked over the documents. The following week, he would be joining an auction with his companion black dealers on what they had gathered at hand. Maybe he could get another trophy for his collection. He glances back and smiled when he saw a very funny shape figure cloud. It was a little girl holding a cotton candy at her hand.
Author's Note: Another update *yawns*...
I would like to thank the following for their lovely reviews
shadowwing1994
[I'm glad that I made you happy...and please update okay? I really dont remember details of the entire chapter being that happy (the action and bloody scenes). It makes me think that you like bloody murder and actions or something...0.0. Nevertheless, I'm happy that I made you happy...that's all...nothing more...please update okay?]
InnocentDiamond
[You're right, ever since that Alice isn't appearing in the seasons...and probably the ONLY main original character being thrown other than Julie (They even brought Runo at the final! Unfair) She deserves a statue or something...and I didn't even know that it some person can fire a person on the man's hole...I mean isn't it too dangerous for the sharpshooter itself? And let me give you a hunt: Robin isn't Raj...but your theory is right and can be the man...I'm not saying your wrong...but the further the story goes, sooner or after you will slowly learn...err...I said too much...much be my wedding jitters...but I'm not engaged yet...oh well.]
BunnyTea
[Oh lalala...I'm getting pretty used up for your inspiration...I mean I'ce been browsing the section and you're quite an updater and a great story maker. If I had time, I could review your stories okay? Thank you and thank you for the review.]
Thank you and have a healthy life!