“Shiro, wake up.”
“Jus five more minutes,” Kichirou mumbled, as he gave his pillow another squeeze.
The texture and it's feeling weren't quite right. Instead of soft all the way to the core and cold to the touch, it was soft but firm, warm yet incredibly comforting all the same.
“Shiro, wake up.”
Kichirou pulled his face away and opened his eyes. It wasn't a pillow. He looked up and saw a pair of eyes glaring down at him.
“Good morning, you perv, wanna let me go now?”
“What are you doing?”
“Says the pervert that came in here all drunk, got in my bed and won't let me go?”
“Sorry...”
“Shiro...
…
Are you ok?”
No I’m not, I'm not even close to being ok. I don't even remember the last time I felt ok...
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I’m here if you need to talk.”
...
“Yea, I'm fine.”
Kichirou tried his best to put on his blank expression, then walked out of the room and headed downstairs.
“Shiro, why are you two always the last ones to get up huh? Too much energy perhaps?” Making her intention clear as day, the insinuating grin was for all to see.
“Can it Karin.”
“Our numbers have dwindled, tryna replenish that count?”
Kichirou stared at Karin with ice-cold scrutiny, as if he had looked right into her soul.
“Sorry…”
“Where's Zakin? I still need to talk to him.”
“He already left for business, he said something about hiring some carpenters to spruce up the place he bought.”
“What are we supposed to do then?”
“We could spend the day how we like, look around the city. Oh yea, we can even check out the library. I think Furuya was already headed there.”
“Is that so.”
Furuya…
“Wait, aren't you gonna eat breakfast first?”
“Don't need it.”
“Be careful out there.”
Sigh…
If there was something to be found, Furuya would most certainly be the one to do it. It's not like Kichirou would be of any help.
A free day huh?
If only he was back at his apartment, he could just laze around, play a few games, watch some anime, and order some food delivery. All in a day's life for Kichirou. Other than going to work, those are the only things he ever does.
To his delight, Schnee and Akira were playing with Eralya in front of the inn. There was something innocent and heartwarming to see a child going about their life.
With a quick nod to Akira, he turned to Schnee with a smile.
“Good morning Schnee.”
She looked up and smiled in return.
“Good morning mister.”
As young as she might be, children tend to be more intuitive than given credit for. It's certainly not a stretch to imagine she might at least have an inkling of her kidnapping, and since gathering information from her dad is like trying to get blood from a stone, it was worth a shot.
It all seemed to revolve around her mother.
“Schnee, can you tell me what ha…” Kichirou grit his teeth and caught himself before he said another word.
Just what was he thinking? If there was one thing he should never talk about, it was exactly that.
I really am just an asshole aren't I…
“What is it, mister?”
“It's nothing, I’m going out for a walk. You three have fun.”
Kichirou gave Eralya a quick pat as he glanced back at the inn.
Anywhere is better than here.
Kichirou left the inn, heading nowhere in particular, he just walked in autopilot mode.
She's never coming back.
She's never coming back.
She's never coming back.
But she's back.
And what of it? She came back just to see me? What a load of crap...
Why would she ever come back to see me? The answer is simple, she wouldn’t.
Fool me once, shame on you, teach a man to fool me, and I’ll be fooled for the rest of my life.
I won't be fooled again.
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“Come, come check out my wares, I’ve collected the artifacts from across the lands…”
Kichirou woke up and realized he was in the middle of a market. Normally when he dazed off like this he would pick the path less traveled, but this time it wasn't the case.
“You there, young man, you look like someone with great potential. How about you try one of my many accessories? Make any lady instantly yours with one of these.”
…
Love and lust are nothing more than mere distractions for imbeciles.
“Not interested.”
In an instant the merchant's expression changed from an inviting smile to a sneer meant for those lesser than him: “Hmph, then beat it.”
Kichirou’s expression remained unchanged as he walked away, but not even two steps later a young girl ran up to him holding up a bouquet of flowers.
“How about some flowers for the missus, mister? I picked these all myself.”
Even a god damned kid…
“Sorry, but someone else is gonna have to buy those flowers.”
Her posture lowered and her childlike wonder vanished…
If you don’t wish to be disappointed, then don't ask a question you don't know the answer to, an important lesson to be learned.
“You there, would you care for a free fortune?”
An old hag sat in a small and dark tent, with a crystal ball before her.
Psychic readings, anyone who believes in this foolishness should be weeded out of society. Stupidity only breeds more stupidity, and the world has been too kind to those who would carry defective genes.
Without so much a passing glance Kichirou kept walking, but out of nowhere he was ambushed by two young women.
“Come on handsome, it's already free.”
“Madame M is never wrong with these things you know, just give it a chance.”
…
Despite their slim frames, they were surprisingly strong. Unwilling would have been an understatement, the two of them practically dragged him to the fortune teller and sat him down.
“Give me your hand.”
Let's get this over with.
With a sigh, Kichirou extended his hand. It was then that the old lady tightly grasped his hands and rubbed them intensely before staring into his palm. The old wrinkly hand felt rough—almost like sandpaper.
“Oh, this is terrible.”
Her expression changed abruptly and strangely as if she was one of those actors in the old black and white films—poor and unrealistic by today's standards.
Just more mumbo jumbo. As if anyone could actually tell fortunes. Just tell me the usual BS and get on with it.
“I see that your love life is almost non-existent my dear. You will have great trouble finding true love, your heart bleeds like the river of Ire.”
…
“Is that so…”
“Luckily for you, I have just the solution to your problem. Here, take a look.” The old hag pulled out a small pink crystal.
Kichirou raised an eyebrow: “What is it?’
“Why this is one of my specially crafted love charms. With just one of these gems, you will see an instant turn around on your fortunes of love.”
…
Son of a bitch!!!
“I’ll pass, thank you tho…”
“Are you sure? I’ll offer you a special deal with this one, a discount seeing the trouble you are in.”
…
“I’ll be just fine, thank you.”
The hag's expression soured as he waved to the two women waiting outside, and those two promptly removed Kichirou from the tent.
Damn it all to hell… is it a crime to be single???
To follow the cookie-cutter path of life, to fall in love, get married and have children, there was no other choice apparently.
Nothing really matters at the end of the day. I came to this world alone, and I will die alone. A fact of life.
Kichirou turned to a side road to get away from the crowded market street.
“Darling! I’ve been waiting for you.”
What the hell? Not another one…
A girl had flown into his arms, she looked up and smiled.
“Huh?”
A goddess in the flesh.
He could feel his cheeks blush, she was stunningly cute. Her hair was everflowing and kissed by the sun, a shade of natural orange that Kichirou had never seen. Her rosy complexion blended seamlessly with her silk-like skin, enough to make any woman jealous in comparison.
And that damned smile… she could hold a candle even to…
“Kheehe.”
Kheehe?
Kichirou looked up, and two men with shit eating grins were approaching him.
“Come on beautiful, why are you running?”
“I told you guys I'm not interested. This is my betrothed, so stay away from me.”
So that's it.
“Aww, come on now, why hang out with a nobody like him? Come with us and we’ll show you what a real man is like. You don't mind if we borrow her for a bit, don't you buddy?”
Nobody!?!?!?!?!?! Trash? Useless? Mistake? Me? Mistake? Me? Trash? Useless? Worthless?
ME!? ME!? ME!? ME!? TRASH?!! ME!? ME!? ME!? ME!? ME!? WORTHLESS?!?! ME!? ME!? ME!? ME!? ME!? ME!?!!!
“Leave, before you can't anymore.”
“Ho, you got any idea who you’re threatening punk?”
“No, it's fine. We did go too far, sorry about that boss, let's go.” The taller one warped his arms around his buddy's shoulders and turned away.
“Bro, what the hell was that!? Since when do we ever back off from an insult like that!?”
The man leaned in and spoke in a manner not to be overheard: “You’re still too green. Why bother fighting to the death for some chick when we can just go look for others.”
“Fight to the death? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Didn't you see his eyes? That's why I said you're still too green.”
Now those are true trash.
“Thank you.”
“Dont worry about it.”
Kichirou turned to leave.
“Wait! One good deed must be repaid with another, though I don't have any money.”
“Don't sweat it, anyone would have done the same.”
“I was right, you are a kind soul.”
“Huh?”
“I read people? And I can see the dazzling light in your soul.”
Oh no… Another nut job…
“Here, take a card.” The girl took out a deck of cards from her pocket.
She’s being nice, just play along…
Kichirou counted carefully and picked out the 14th card from the left, and to his surprise, it was a blank card.
“It’s um, blank?”
“Close your eyes, take a deep breath and count to five out loud, then your fate will be clear.”
Kichirou let out a sigh of defeat.
“Fine,” Kichirou obliged.
"1… 2… 3… 4… 5…"
He opened his eyes and the card was still blank.
“Uhhh, the card is still blank?”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yea I'm sur…”
The card wasn't blank. Kichirou rubbed his eyes and took another look, it really wasn't blank.
What the hell?
It was a fractured night sky with a crescent moon at its center, the cracks resembled that of shattered glass, with each piece having a slightly different tint to the night and the moon. Like a pizza cut into many pieces, each with different toppings, some had a single star, some with many stars.
“Ho.” The girl smiled as she opened her eyes.
“Very interesting.”
“Uh what does this mean exactly?”
“The ninth sky. Like many truths, many paths lay before your eyes,” she paused for a second before continuing: “However in your heart, only one true path lies ahead, grasp it and never let it go.”
… The sky is only shattered into eight pieces, why is it called the ninth sky then?
The true path, could it ever be so simple? So visible? So obtainable? There would be no suffering, no confusion, only the truth.
If it was only that easy.
“I’m Reine, and you are?”
“Kichirou, you could just call me Shiro.”
“Well Shiro, I’ll be seeing you again.” Before Kichirou could even reply she pulled him in and kissed him gently, and ran off.
What just happened?
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd. He looked at them with compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things. Don’t worry my little sheep, everything will be alright now.”
What a strange girl.
The path the heart knows. What's to say that the heart knows anything? Emotions swing and so does desire. What does anyone truly want? What do their hearts truly desire? Not easy questions to answer.
Is it?
Take what's dear to you and never let go. If you need something ask. If you miss someone, tell them. If you want something you have to fight for it.
And what is the end result? Nothing matters, for nothing is eternal, no love, no faith, no oath or promise lasts forever. Everything breaks eventually. Then why struggle in the first place? For what reason do we live? For what reasons do we struggle in vain?
“To be happy you silly.”
To be happy for any vague amount of time, we struggle and we fight for that sense of happiness. Even if it was just for one year, one month, one week, one day, one hour, one minute, or only one moment, we will fight for what we must.
Then what am I fighting for?
“A promise.”
“It's a promise then.”
I am sorry that I hurt you.
I never wanted to lose you.
The short time we spent together, had I the chance to go back I would.
To smile and laugh by your side, how I wish I could.
I need to apologize, there’s no more time.
I was a fool, giving up was my crime.
Now that you no longer care.
My soul had begun to tear.
I wanted you to know, I just want another chance.
We can take our time and enjoy it, like a slow dance.
You might not understand why I feel this way.
Finding you, a needle in a stack of hay.
I was always a loner, we met by fate.
Forever shall I wait…
I promised, that's right, forever…
I really am just an idiot.
How would the conversation even go?
Emotions boil over each and every time he sees her face, the face of disappointment.