Adoption

Six years ago

Kazuki sat, shivering in the hollowed out tree trunk where he had made his temporary camp for the night. All he had for warmth was a small, scratchy woollen blanket, no help again the wind and rain that beat down on that cold winter night. Freezing and soaked, Kazuki couldn't help thinking back to the barely remembered life he used to have. He couldn't recall many details, but he remembered that he was never this cold, hungry or alone. Suddenly, he heard a twig snap. The boy immediately stopped shivering and crouched down, looking like a deer that had just detected a wolf. Kazuki had no weapons, but he knew that while he was in this forest, surrounded by animals, he would never be defenceless. The boy saw a shape moving slowly through the darkness, directly towards.

"Who's there?" Kazuki shouted.

The shape carried on moving towards him.

"I said who's there?" He shouted again, reaching out towards a small stone he could throw.

"Oh, sorry," the shape wheezed. "My hearing's not what it used to be…"

The shape shuffled into the moonlight. Kazuki's eyes widened as he recognised the old man he had talked to that afternoon.

"I thought I saw someone out here," He said, not shivering in the least, despite the freezing wind and rain. "It's awfully cold out here… Why don't you come back to my house? It's warm and dry and I have a spare bed there since my sister…" He trailed off.

Kazuki eyed him suspiciously. Kazuki could not remember the last time someone had offered him shelter, if it had ever happened. He had not trusted himself to a human in many years. In his opinion, animals were far more reliable and trustworthy. Still… the idea of a warm bed for the night was appealing, and Kazuki could not help feeling sorry for the lonely old man. Kazuki chewed his cheek. He knew what it was like to be alone. What's more, Kazuki could not help but feel some connection to the old man, as if they were somehow… Kazuki didn't know, but for some reason, when he looked into the old man's face, he could see nothing but genuine kindness.

"My name is Daichi, by the way." The old man added. "It means: 'Great Wisdom,' ironically…" He laughed.

Daichi held out a hand to the shivering boy. Without hesitation, Kazuki took it.

They walked together through the forest. The two of them kept quiet, neither attempting to make conversation. Daichi had told Kazuki that he lived in a small hut in the woods, not far from here. They walked side by side, a few feet apart on the narrow dirt track. Although Kazuki felt he could trust the man, who seemed harmless enough, he had only just met him, therefore was still wary. Kazuki walked with his head turned towards the ground, shielding his eyes from the elements. As such, he did not notice the traveller until they had walked right into her. Their heads collided and both of them staggered back with cries of surprise and pain. Kazuki looked at the traveller. She was a girl, round about the same age as Kazuki. She had short, silver hair and was dressed all in black, like Kazuki. She was carrying a bulging cloth sack over her back. The girl rubbed her head, exposing large, purple eyes. Kazuki stared at her. She blinked and smiled at him, embarrassed.

"Sorry…" They both said at the same time.

The girl hurried on down the path. Kazuki stared after her.

"I like your eyes!" He called after, immediately wishing that his badly thought out comment got lost on the wind before she heard it.

The old man stared at her too. "Strange girl…" He said to himself. He looked up at the pouring rain. "Should have asked her if she wanted to come with us…"

Daichi's hut was actually larger than any home Kazuki had seen before. It was a single floor building, roughly thirty metres long and fifteen metres wide; bigger than Kazuki would have thought an old man would require. Daichi walked up to the wooden door and opened it.

"You didn't lock it?" Kazuki asked.

Daichi smiled. "I have other means of security."

Kazuki looked at him suspiciously as Daichi shuffled inside. The boy followed him in. The old man immediately asked him if he was hungry. Kazuki smirked; he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't.

The two of them sat around Daichi's dining table, in front of a wood fireplace. Kazuki had never had ramen, but was too busy wolfing it down to note the taste. Daichi stared at him in silence while slowly working his way through his bowl. Suddenly, he put down his chopsticks.

"No parents then?" He asked.

Kazuki stopped mid-bite. He shook his head and carried on eating, more slowly, while staring at the old man. Daichi was bald, but sprouted a short grey goatee from his chin.

"So you've been on your own?" He asked. "That must be hard."

Kazuki gazed at him in silence.

Daichi sighed. "I know what it's like to be alone…" He said, staring into the fire. "My sister left me ten years ago. I haven't seen her since." He looked back at Kazuki, who was staring at the old man with a sad look in his eyes. "In fact, I've had very little human contact whatsoever since she left. Sometimes I think there's nobody I can trust…"

Kazuki chewed his ramen thoughtfully.

Daichi glanced out of the window. "Kazuki-kun," He sighed. "Do you ever feel like you would more willingly trust an animal than a human?"

Kazuki froze; he thought exactly that.

"Animals have no desire to betray or deceive." He continued. "Sometimes I think I'm not human."

He stared into Kazuki's eyes; Kazuki stared back.

"Apparently you are already very friendly with animals of all kinds." He said, smiling knowingly. "I was very impressed with the way you tamed that bull. You acted bravely and heroically."

Kazuki coughed. "Thank you, Daichi-sempai…"

"Care to tell me how you did it?"

Kazuki opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak. "Er…" He mumbled.

"It's OK," Daichi said, "I won't tell anyone, you have my word." He smiled reassuringly.

Kazuki stared into his kindly face. "I… told it to calm down…" He told the old man.

"Just like that?"

Kazuki cleared his throat. "No…" He replied, scratching his knee nervously. "I used… um… bull language…"

Daichi laughed. "Bull language!?"

Kazuki sighed. "I knew you wouldn't believe me…"

Daichi wiped a tear from his eyes. "On the contrary, young Kazuki," he chuckled. "I do believe you!"

Kazuki looked surprised. "You do?" he exclaimed. "Why?"

Daichi smiled. "Because I've done it myself."

The two of them stared at each other.

"Kazuki, listen to me." Daichi said seriously, leaning in close. "We are the same. We both have an affinity with the animals of this world. We both have this gift. I recognised your potential the moment I saw you."

"How?" asked Kazuki, bewildered.

"You have a look in your eyes." Replied Daichi. "I can see in you a great understanding of nature and its powers." He grabbed Kazuki's hand. "I can teach you these powers, if you will let me…"

Kazuki stared at the old man. He knew it was true about his ability to speak to animals; he had always had that ability and it was the one thing that had made him an outcast in the first place. But what the old man said about the powers of nature… was that also true? Kazuki drummed his fingers on the table. He had always felt like he was capable of something more, could this be it? He looked at Daichi's wrinkled hand grasping his. After a moments thought, he placed his other hand on top.

"Ok, I'll do it," He said into Daichi's beaming face, "Daichi-sensai…"