It was morning. 10:30 to be exact. Ryou is awake and bouncing around the living room. It's his birthday, and he's barely acknowledged me. He looks over every now and then, but he never comes close.
Guy comes out of a room with a few gift bags. There was a woman by his side. A very pregnant woman. This woman was almost identical to Ryou. Same fluffy, white hair, same blue eyes, same pale skin. She's pretty.
The woman walks over to Ryou and gives him a hug.
"Happy birthday Ryou!" She chirps. Her voice is soft and raspy, like she's sick.
Ryou wiggles and sways. They chat for a bit, and Ryou walks over to me. He's looking at me. He's looking at me!
"Look at what Papa got me!" Ryou exclaimed, he picked the ring up. No second glance to me.
"Wow! That's so pretty!"
"Yeah! Papa got it while in Egypt! He said it was magic," It is.
Ryou jumped a bit, and turned to look at me.
"I forgot you were there! Mama look! A ghost!" He was gesturing wildly in my direction.
"Oh," she has a look of confusion and disbelief. "I don't see anything, but I'll take your word on it."
Ryou frowned slightly, and looked at me again. "What's your name?"
I'm not sure. It's been awhile since I heard it.
"Ok. I'm Ryou,"
I know, your dad told me. He didn't say how old you were though. Or anything else.
" Ryou," his mom interrupted, "I'm going to make you breakfast, if you need anything just ask."
"Ok," Ryou sat on the couch. He patted the space next to him. " Sit with me, I wanna talk."
So demanding. Alright what do you want to talk about? He hasn't brought up last night, so I won't either.
"Why do you look like that?"
That's rude. Look like what?
"I'm sorry!"
It's fine. What do I look like?
"A shadow with different coloured hand prints on it," interesting. I thought there would be something more. "Wait how come you don't know what you look like?"
Like I said earlier, it's been awhile. Is there anything else about me? What colour are the hands?
He thinks for a bit. His big, pale blue eyes wander over me for a moment.
"Red, orange, yellow, and brown," he says. "Some are really small too! And you have eyes."
Oh really? I'm glad i have eyes. I wouldn't be able to see you if I didn't.
Ryou giggled and agreed.
Is there anything about yourself you want to tell me?
"My favorite colour is blue," A fine choice, "I like drawing and sculpting."
Sculpting? Isn't that difficult?
"Sometimes. But mama helps, so I don't mess up that much."
Ok. How old are you? It's your birthday and you haven't been making much of a deal about getting older.
Triumphantly, Ryou held up five fingers and happily said, "I'm six!"
You are? I guess it's better than how old I thought you were.
Ryou puts his hand down and stands up. His face almost aligned with mine.
"How old did you think I was?" Is he trying to be intimidating?
Four maybe? You're small.
Ryou puffed his cheeks and pouted. "I am not small!"
You are.
"AM NOT!" he was yelling now.
Ok, ok! You're not small. You're average.
He smirked at me, and sat back down. There wasn't much else I could talk to him about. I want to keep talking, but what could I say? I know barely anything about myself, and the things I do know, or assume, aren't something a kid this young should hear about.
"Why are you covered in hands?" He suddenly asked.
I'm not sure. I doubt I looked like this before I was trapped in the ring. Right?
Ryou stood up and walked until he was behind me. "You have long hair,"he stated.
I couldn't really cut at any point. I Was dead for a while, and I doubt I would ever find the opportunity to shorten it.
"I like your hair. It's so fluffy and messy." Of course it's messy.
He stayed behind me for a bit, so I turned my head to see what he was doing. His face was scrunched slightly and his hands were holding streaks of what I guess was my hair. When had he grabbed it? My hair is a dark black. No other colour is present. It has none of the shine that normal hair has, none of the flowy strands, and none of the normal volume I've seen in hair.
What are you doing Ryou?
"I'm trying to braid your hair, but it's hard to separate it."
You don't have to braid it.
"Yes I do! You'll look pretty!"
No I won't, I will look the same.
"Liar, I want to see your face better."
Then move the hair out of my face.
"Why can't you do it?"
I don't know where it is. He grumbled, but walked back to my front and sat on his knees. He raised his hands, and, I think, brushed aside my hair. "You have pretty eyes." He said.
Just as I was about to ask what my eyes look like, his mom called him. "Ryou, Breakfast is ready!"
Ryou hopped up off the couch, ring in hand, and ran to the room where his mom was. I followed. The room was mostly beige, brown, and white. Brown cabinets, beige counters, white floor. It was a kitchen. There was an oven, a fridge, a microwave, and other unidentifiable objects. Ryou was sat on one of three seats at one counter. I stood beside him.
His mom placed a plate of something in front of him. It looked teeth rottingly sweet. Toasted bread with some thick, shiny sauce spread over it, a dollop of what I thought was butter, but it's too pale to be that, and red and blue berries. It looked good, but sickening.
"Happy birthday, I hope you enjoy your food." His mom's voice was less soft, but it was still raspy and a little airy.
"Thank you!" Ryou dug his fork in the barley food and happily munched it.
What are you eating?
Ryou looked at me, his mouth still full, and said, "It's french toast," Is it good? "Yep! Do you want some?"
I don't think I can eat. Thank you though.
Ryou tilted his head, and continued eating. A small smile grew on his face. His cheeks puffed out a little. I take this moment to finally get a good look at his appearance. Ryou is pretty. Really Pretty. His white, fluffy hair falls down his back, his bangs curl around and frame his face, his eyebrows are round, thick and ever so slightly obscured by his bangs. His eyes are big, round, and a sparkly pastel blue. I want to pet him.
I reach a hand out, and place it on Ryou's head. The first thing I noticed was the stark contrast my hand and his hair had. A pitch black, and a pure white. The next thing I noticed was, his hair didn't feel like anything. It wasn't soft, stringy, smooth, coarse, or crunchy. It felt like I was touching air. Still, unmoving, unnoticeable air. I lifted a strand and gently, I thought it was gentle, tugged it.
Ryou jolted and let out a sharp yelp. "Hey!" he cried, "what was that for? That hurt!"
I'm sorry! I didn't think I pulled it that hard.
"Mama! The gost pulled my hair!'' What a little snitch!
His mom came over and rubbed his back. "That wasn't very nice of him, was it?" I did not pull his hair!
"He's lying! He did!" I was just trying to test something! It was an accident.
Ryou pouted, got up from his seat, and put his now empty plate in the sink.
Do you want me to make it up to you?
Ryou nodded, and grabbed the ring. "Can you draw with me?" I'll try.
