The sun sank behind the mountain foot, drew the sky with soft pink and orange. Through the trees and bushes, a kingdom sprawled out. Across the valley, people gathered around and talked with a shared smile. Three long tables sorted evenly along the hall where foods and drinks were organized perfectly.
No trace of inferiority.
A young recruit warrior took his first ever step into the castle. High-ranking officials filled the hall, wine in hand. Aside from the crowd, he noticed an old woman. She sat with her hands folded to the front, holding a cup of hot tea. But something drifted around her. His feet moved with none of his permission and stopped far behind her. This feeling. This power that old one held was somewhat a shiver down his spine.
"What brings you here, young boy?"
He startled, breath caught. The voice of the old woman came without her turning around. Before he could think, he found himself already bowing to the front, "I-I'm deeply apologizing for staring at you, ma'am."
The old woman giggled and lifted her face up to the recruit, "There is nothing to forgive."
"Th-thank you, ma'am," his throat quivered and choked out.
"No worries."
He straightened his back upright but something stopped him. He traced across the arms and neck. Her face. "Those scars...May I ask about it?"
The old woman glanced down both of her arms. She rubbed those creased parts of her skin. Healed. Yet those stood with her forever much like a reminder. Her head turned up the man, "Ah...It happened long ago. The battle which had ended everything"
"Oh? It was that battle which every single recruit had to read and learn before becoming an official warrior."
She nodded then her face dropped to her fingers. She paused, ten seconds at least. Her fingers rubbed a red string band on the left wrist. And looked up to the recruit, "It didn't happen the way they wrote it."
"Much worse?" His eyebrows rose up.
"Of course it was. But something was not right about it," she continued with her back leaned against the backrest and inhaled. Heavy. "Let me tell you..."
Leaves rustled as the wind softly drifted through. Cicadas hit the note, rang across the forest. The door creaked open as a tall figure sprawled out. A young boy ran out and jumped on his father's arms, "Oaa! Papa's home."
The father returned a grin as he patted the head of the little boy, "Hello, lil Kenji. Miss me already?"
The mother peeked out from the kitchen with her lips curled up, "You're home early today, Haruto."
He twisted his shoulders and motioned little Kenji to sit on his neck. Haruto stood up and Kenji grabbed the hair, "Oaa! It's so tall up hereee!"
Haruto grinned and turned to his dear wife, "Yes, Ayaka." He leaned closer and kissed her head, and glanced down at the hot-boiling pot. The white steam carried mouth-watering scent in the air. And into his nose "CH-CHICKEN...CURRY?!" His eyebrows jumped with the eyelids. Feet jolted around, couldn't stop
"I know it!" Ayaka lifted her left hand to her mouth as a giggle formed on her face. She hit her palm on the right forearm of Haruto, "Be careful. Kenji is on your neck" But a laughter came out.
---
On the next morning, little Kenji's eyelids slowly dragged up as he found himself moving. Bounced up and down. He straightened his body and rubbed both eyes until the world shined around him. He threw his vision around the trees and bushes, "You're awake, lil Kenji," Haruto turned back with the same energy, a wide grin.
Kenji returned a tilt of his head before looking around, "Wh-where are we going?"
"To the lumberjack."
Kenji straightened immediately, "T-to the...LUMBERJACK?!" His face lit up with joy as both feet kicked the air through the gaps between Haruto's arms and body.
"Hang tight!" The corner of Haruto's lips lifted up as he leaned forwards. And his feet shot straight. Kenji's eyelids shot up as his body was pulled behind. The trees and bushes drifted behind them in an instant.
"Oaa!" Kenji burst a loud laugh out of his lungs with both arms raised up in the air.
The tree root grasped Haruto's foot.
Kenji jolted as he found himself falling down onto the ground. A thud. His eyelids dragged open slowly, only to find himself wrapped inside his father's arms. Kenji's head turned up. Haruto's lips were still spreading wide, "Booo!"
Kenji's lips curled up instantly.
"Thuck!" The tree collapsed within two bites of the axe. Haruto wiped the sweat at his chin. Kenji hung the mouth open wide with a steamed bun in both hands, "Woah-" And he traced up his father's face, "You're so strong!"
"You will soon be strong like me, lil Kenji," he said with the lips spread wide at the same spot.
Kenji couldn't help but jumping around on both feet, "Waa! Really?!"
Haruto messed up Kenji's hair and winked his right eye, "Only when you finish your breakfast."
No hesitation, Kenji glanced down at the bun and took a mouthful bite. Haruto placed his arm around Kenji's shoulder as he sat nearby, "Hey! Not like this."
All fun until they came back home. From the doorway, Ayaka stood there with arms folded in front of her chest. A big wooden bowl spoon in her grip. The fist grew visible veins. Haruto jerked his head. Laughter cut off with his right foot hovered in the air. Kenji sat on the neck laughing and it died immediately as he found his mother at the front door.
Haruto put Kenji down. The silence was loud.
Both of them crept. Face dropped to the ground. Couldn't meet hers. One glance, they looked away instantly. As Kenji passed by. Nothing happened. Yet Haruto was not lucky like that. Ayaka pinched his cheek and hit his butt with the wooden spoon, "Where have you all been?!"
Haruto jolted and burst a loud joyful scream. He escaped the grip and fled with Kenji straight into the house.
---
"Kenji? Wake up."
Kenji dragged himself up. He glanced at the clock and found it hit five, only five in the morning. "Kenji?" He pushed himself to the edge and got onto both feet. He dragged himself to the door and twisted the knob. Right after he opened the door, his parents stood there. Not only them. A baby in arms. Kenji left his mouth open, couldn't move. His feet stuck in place.
Ayaka kneeled down near Kenji with a soft smile, "This is your little brother. Koshida Riku" Kenji's eyes pinned down on the newborn baby. Those tiny fingers, curling in and out the palms. And the mini feet hovered in the air. Riku's eyelids shut tight. Kenji couldn't help but gasping in the sharp air and slowly lifted his hand to meet Riku.
"R-Riku?" Kenji held his hand. Soft. And scanned up.
Haruto grinned and ruffled Kenji's hair, "Another trouble maker eh?"
Kenji turned his head back and fixed it on Riku. Those round eyes slowly opened. And moved to Kenji as the arms rose to him, "Oaa-"
No longer after, the house smelled like burnt coal for a week. Haruto and Ayaka stood at the doorway. Coals laid around. They glanced down at their feet before tracing up. Riku and Kenji sat in the middle of the floor. Faces black from forehead to chin, hands darker. Riku pointed at Kenji. Kenji returned the same point to Riku.
Ayaka's wooden spoon came out.
---
The next morning, Kenji led the way and Riku followed behind. They found an ant colony running along the base of the stone wall. Both dropped flat on the stomach, nose two inches from the ground. They watched for hours, neither of them could explain why.
"BOO!"
They all jumped and rolled on the ground, "AAH!" Kenji and Riku turned up. Their father stood there and dissolved into laughter "Ugh You scared us!"
Haruto didn't mind and continued cracking up. He looked down at both of his kids, "Let's go to the lumberjack." They both jolted up on their feet, "Really!? Really?"
"Yes! Catch me boys!" Haruto already got his feet moving up the hills.
Without hesitation, Kenji and Riku fled behind. It took them five steps to make two of Haruto and they slowed down after a hundred metres, and couldn't lift their feet anymore. Haruto glanced back and carried both of them at once. And got home with Ayaka already standing at the doorway but this time she had locked the door first.
Nothing changed. Haruto dropped them on the ground. Kenji and Haruto knew what would happen next, not Riku. Kenji turned back as Riku hid behind him, "Ready to run?"
"What? Run?!" Riku flinched hard and stood behind Kenji.
All of a sudden, Haruto stood in front with his arm covering both of the kids, "Don't worry, boys. I can do this."
Without a warning, his cheek pinched again "I CAN'T DO THIS. RUN!" They all scattered in different directions.
Kenji twisted the doorknob as Riku rushed him "I'm scared. Quick!"
Too late, their mother had read this move.
The mother dragged their father to them. They all jolted back and fled away, only to find their parents rushed into the house. A groan. Kenji and Riku stilled. They looked at each other, "What happened?" And their feet moved into the house. Haruto sat on the chair and poured a full cup of water in his mouth.
Those eyes. And the grin. Not the type they were familiar with.
---
That was already two years ago. The axe bit deep into the tree "Thuuck!" And again. Leaves shook and branches dropped to dirt. A sharp gasp of air drove in Kenji's lungs. Fingers curled and tightened around the handle. "THUUAARK!" The tree cracked and slowly collapsed to the right.
Little Riku frowned nearby and carried wood logs on his back, "You have to do this every single day," he placed them down at the warehouse nearby with a long exhale.
"Yeah. Heavy, isn't it?" Kenji wiped the sweat rolling down his chin. "Since you begged to follow so this is what you get," he giggled.
"Uhgg. Not fair!" Riku frowned and stomped on the ground. Kenji spared no care but a laughter out of his lungs, "Then you go chop the tree."
Riku turned away and crossed his arms at the chest. Kenji walked over and pat his back. He handed Riku ten rusty coins, just enough for some candies. His smile lit up instantly and couldn't stop himself turning back.
"Here, Riku. Get yourself some candies."
"Ahh-Thank you, brother."
He made his way down the hill, crossing trees and rocks. A narrow street with stalls on both sides - people pressed themself through the tiny gap in between them. Riku stood outside from the crowd. He looked around and moved to higher up the hill nearby. He tiptoed and stole a glance of where the snack stalls could be. Left lane. And carried his attention to the right.
Eyebrows rose up as he saw colorful packs organized on a stall deep in the market. His feet moved with no hesitation. And found himself inside the crowd. Five more stalls to reach the one he needed. People pressed in and the heat of summer made it worse. Harder to gasp the air. He finally got to the snack stall - opened space.
"What can I get you, young one?" An old man stood behind the stall. His eyes could only open half way as the soft skin had dropped down after time. Riku turned down the stall. Traced from the left to the right. And stopped at the red pack of candies. He reached and picked it up. Sour Candy. He met the seller's sight, "How much is this, uncle?"
He leaned forward slowly and adjusted his glasses, "Oh...That. It's 10 coins."
"I'll take this," he took out the tiny pocket that Kenji had given him and handed all the coins to the old seller.
"Thank you," The old man softly smiled and left his hand open to the front as Riku put ten coins into the palm. Riku took the sour candy pack and bowed at the seller, "Thank you, uncle," And made his way out the market. In a flash, a sudden grasp pulled on the candy pack as it lost Riku's grip.
He jolted to find a little kid running into the crowd with his snack.
His feet threw forwards instantly, "Hey! Give it back!" Riku pushed through the crowd as he could only see a grey of that kid's shirt.
"Oh hey?!"
He kept shoving in, no matter how heavy he drove into people. As they broke through the open air again, he shot his arm straight. And pulled the shirt of the little kid as they fell onto the ground. Riku crawled up and dragged himself to that robber. A woman stopped him with a sharp grasp on his right wrist, "What do you think you're DOING?!"
"He stole my-," Riku twisted his head back.
She tightened her grip, "You beat that kid like that. JUST FOR A SNACK?"
The crowd spared their glance at the scene. Riku glanced around only to find all the attention was on him. And whispers echoed around his ears.
"How selfish he is..."
"He doesn't look like a toddler though?"
His heart hammered as he pulled his hand back. Not enough to escape. She pushed forward and pulled his hand closer. She leaned closer and stared straight into Riku, "Go do something better!" She released his wrist. Took a piece of cloth to wipe her hand before throwing beneath Riku's feet. The crowd stilled. Some left to continue what they were doing. Some stayed to stare.
Riku stood there and looked down at the cloth. Attention dropped down to his wrist. The skin was red where she had gripped. He hadn't done anything wrong. He knew that. Vision blurred as tears rolled down his chin. And yet, knowing didn't help.
He made his way through the crowd with his face pinned on the ground. They all moved aside to avoid even the slightest touch from him.
Tears dropped down onto dirt each footfall.
---
The ground darkened by two droplets. Kenji laid another pack of wood in the warehouse as sweat escaped his skin. He sat down for a breath and scanned around the work area. Everyone else was working relentlessly. But he caught something on the corner of his left eye.
Behind the restriction tape connected from tree to tree, there was a tall skinny man standing at the bush. Restriction area. It was told to be dangerous since there were some crazy myths about the creature that hunted people.
Kenji angled his face to the tall man, "Hey sir!"
"It's not safe to be there!"
The other workers twisted around for a sight of a figure where Kenji stared at. One of them asked, "Hey kid, who are you talking to?"
"There. Someone is standing behind the tape," his arm shot straight to the bush up hill. Spun his head around. No one. A cold air blew to his face and crawled up his back. His feet moved back slightly before he could understand.
"Hey Kenji, you've been pushing yourself a lot since the illness kicked in your father."
Kenji froze in place. Stared at the last position where that strange figure stood.
"I know you have to do this for your family. However, pushing like this hurts them as well" He landed his palm on Kenji's shoulder. While the other workers shared a tiny talk, "Could it be the..."
"Tch. It hasn't happened for ages. What are you even thinking?"
"But what if..."
The conversation faded when his thoughts spoke louder. He knew that he had been pushing himself. Who could replace him? No work meant no money for his father's medicine. Kenji shook his head and smiled with sweat rolling down his face, "No. I can still work."
"No. Go home and take care of your father," the man gripped both Kenji's shoulders.
Kenji stood there. His palms were burning from chopping wood every single day. Arms and back ached at the slightest move. Yet he bit it off for his family.
The lumberjacks gathered. Most of them sighed and shook their heads, "You know what?" They all reached their pocket and shared coins into one before placing it on Kenji's palm "Take care. Don't even try to break yourself."
"We all work here and we cannot let anyone struggle."
Kenji focused on the pocket of coins in both rough palms. His body stiffened. Head slowly turned up at the men from face to face. Something locked his throat, couldn't break a word. An old one slung an arm around his shoulder, "No worries, kid."
"Tell your father that we miss him," he patted his shoulder and let Kenji go.
Kenji dropped his gaze down at the pocket again. He immediately bent over, "Th-thank you, everyone. I will remember this!"
They all watched with a shared smile. Feet twisted back and Kenji made his way back, through the trees and found the road he had been passing by for two years. Each time his eyes met those trees, it felt like the first time on his father's neck. Kenji bit it off as the medicine store was ten meters ahead.
"What can I get you?" A tall herbalist walked to the stall in front of Kenji.
Kenji didn't need to think about it anymore, "Medicine for tuberculosis."
The herbalist turned back and scanned around the boxes on the wall shelves. He mumbled, "Tuber...culosis." Both hands searched around while tracing down all the name tags. Kenji stilled at the front yet he could see the visible frustration on the herbalist's face. He came back out with the medicine. Leaned forwards and he already counted all of the coins before Kenji handed him.
"Kid...I hate to say this," he sighed, "the price has risen a lot. Yesterday, it was around 60 coins and it's 100 now." He shook his head, dropped it down and lifted back up to Kenji.
Chest locked as Kenji's heart paused a beat. His fingers tucked into the pocket, counted again. 80 coins. And again. Still 80. Headed up instantly, "But why?"
"No more material found in this place. We had to ask the nearest city and this was all they gave," the herbalist placed three remaining packs of Tuberculosis medicines on the stall. He sighed and shook his head, "I paid 295 coins for just this, no more."
He went silent at those packs. Kenji headed up, "But I can return the money tomorrow...I promise!"
The herbalist dropped his head again before meeting Kenji again, "I'm sorry, kid. I have more medicine bills to pay," And straightened his back, "I can't help you today."
Kenji went rigid. And withdrew his arms away from the stall before he nodded, "Th-thank you, sir," he dragged both feet to the market. Lost himself in thought and bumped into someone. "Hey!?" The air left his lungs and immediately bowed down, "My apology, sir!"
He crept away. That stare. He could feel the anger dropped on his shoulders. Kenji shook it off as he found the meat stall. And paused at the chicken until his throat could finally break a word, "Sir. How much does it cost for a chicken?"
The man stopped cutting and drifted his focus to the chicken, "60 coins."
Kenji tilted his head slightly and pulled out the pocket. He handed the seller the coins, "60 coins. I will take that."
"Alright."
The man checked again before nodding and packing the chicken. Within one and a half minutes, the chicken was ready to go. Kenji grasped the handle and lifted it off the stall. He bowed, "Thank you!" His feet started moving with his face dropped to the chicken in the grip. Knowing this was his father's favorite food. Still couldn't solve the health problem.
His fingers curled tightly. Teeth gritted yet he continued. The roof of his house emerged slowly. Even so, Kenji caught a familiar glimpse of someone on the field. His face turned right and found Riku sitting alone with a pack of candy in his hands. His face couldn't lift above.
No hesitation, Kenji's feet jolted forwards without his permission. Ten meters ahead, he called out, "Riku!" And next to Riku, "Hey? You're okay?"
Riku froze. Kenji noticed the faint red on Riku's wrist. He sat down next to him, "What happened?"
"A boy stole my candy pack..." Tears escaped Riku's face and soaked the sand, "Not only that. A woman insulted me in front of many people for being selfish..." Throat quivered and cracked mid way. He laid the candy pack down, only to have more hands to wipe the tears. Kenji heaved his arm around Riku's shoulders and pulled him into a hug, "Don't worry, I'm here. Tell me more."
He breathed in hard through the nose as the back jolted up. Kenji wiped the tears on his face and Riku continued, "Nobody listened and I couldn't explain...," he paused, "I was just trying to get back what belonged to me..."
Kenji wrapped both arms around Riku and tightened, "I'm sorry to find all of those happened to you today," Kenji placed his palm on the head of Riku. Then he released yet his grips stilled on Riku's shoulders. His sight fixed to Riku's face as he wiped the remaining drops of heartbreak, "I'm here for you," he messed Riku's hair up, "They're just mean. You did nothing wrong though."
Riku sniffed hard with no more tears lingered on those eye lashes. Riku traced down Kenji's hands and found no medicine. He grew visible worries, "Wait. Didn't you buy the medicine?"
Kenji paused. His focus dropped to his grip before he shifted back to Riku. Hesitated. Yet he shook his head already, "The herbalist said I could come back tomorrow," he paused, "Don't worry. Our father will be fine."
Riku sat there and paused at Kenji for a second. Then nodded. He dropped his face down and found the candy pack. Tore it open, "Let's try this," he slid his palm in and pulled out two pieces, "One for you and one for me."
Kenji patted his head and took the offer, "Thank you, Riku." They both took the candy in their mouth. And another. Riku tucked his fingers in the pack again. Though, Kenji rested his palm on Riku's shoulder, "Save some for mom and dad."
"Oh! I forgot," Riku scratched his head and pressed all air out of the pack. Grasped the top of it and twisted the bottom. Kenji handed him a piece of candy, "Here, that's for you."
No hesitation, Riku left his mouth open. Waiting. Kenji grew visible amusement as he placed the candy onto his curled thumb. Left eye shut and tilted his fist towards Riku. Thumb shot straight.
"Pew!"
The candy firmly landed on the tongue. Riku jumped with both arms shot up, "Oaah! Nice one!" Kenji tightened a knot on the candy pack as his lips spread wide, "Let's go."
Kenji and Riku made their way back to the path. The roof of their home grew taller each footfall but it somewhat carried an invisible weight. Kenji gasped hard with his body stiffened. The sound of each foot to the soil faded as the noise grew louder in his mind. If he didn't get his medicine today, would his health get worse? Kenji exhaled and placed his palm on the forehead. I would blame myself for the rest of my life...
A pull on his sleeve shattered his imagination. He looked down, finding Riku grasping his hand, "Oh?" Riku slowly lifted his head. Tears already flooded as his index finger pointed to their house. Kenji followed. Heart paused a beat when he caught a familiar glimpse at the threshold before the doorway.
His father. He sat on a chair and smiled at both of his children.
No hesitation, Riku released the sleeve and threw himself straight to home. He kneeled in front and clung to the father, couldn't stop the tears. "Riku...," Haruto's palm drifted from the top of Riku's head to the back. And again before looking up.
Kenji stilled. He couldn't hear the wind anymore, only his heart. His eyes burned as he blinked back the tears dried. It didn't work. A sharp gasp came out of Kenji's mouth as he walked to his father, "Dad...You can walk now."
Before Haruto could answer, Kenji placed the chicken down. Both arms already wrapped around his father. A smile broke across Haruto's face as he pat Kenji on the back. Warm wet on Haruto's shoulder.
"I'm back with you...," Haruto said with a hoarse voice. No matter what, they clung harder. Just want to be with him longer.
Daylight gave out slowly. The family of four gathered around the campfire in front of their house. The fire flickered as a wind gently drifted by.
"It's been 2 years right...?" Haruto glanced up at the stars and back to the faces of those who had taken care of him. Ayaka. Kenji and Riku. He nodded and left out a giggle, "Thank you..."
Ayaka rested her head on his right shoulder while Kenji and Riku sat together nearby. Ayaka turned to Haruto's face, "Did you know that Kenji had been working early each day?"
Haruto nodded and traced at those rough palms of Kenji, "I'm so proud of you..."
He glanced over at the children, "I'm afraid I cannot find the same sons like you all in any other life..." He softly smiled, "So it's a luck to have you all...Really is."
Kenji and Riku looked at each other, shared giggles. Kenji turned back, "Don't worry, dad. We always want to be your children."
Haruto couldn't help but burst out a grin, the energy was back. "Oh come here my boys!" They all held tight.
Haruto placed both palms on their head, "Kenji...Be careful of your work," he paused before turning to Riku, "And Riku...Listen to your brother. I know you both love each other a lot," Haruto giggled and patted those backs. They had once been his palm width.
"It's late now. Let's sleep, shall we?" Ayaka tilted her head slightly but no one cared to release. Even herself. Then Riku snored in Haruto's lap. Kenji's gaze dropped down and gently stepped back. Haruto smiled, "Let's go to sleep. Everyone."
Riku didn't mind waking up. Just warm on the back. Bounced up and down slowly. Softness. Haruto closed the bedroom door and glanced out through the front door. Kenji put out the fire. He found his dad waiting at the doorway, "Dad. Let's go rest. I'll get in soon." Then he followed Haruto in the house.
Kenji froze. Cold on the back. His head twisted back instantly. Nothing.
He peeked out and scanned from the left to the right. Same result. "Kenji...?" Haruto tilted his head, "What is it?"
Kenji paused and turned back to his father, "Nothing. I thought I heard something," he pulled the door closed and locked inside.
"Let's sleep." The light clicked off as the house stilled.
From the outside, a dark footstep rustled the bush. Towards the house.