Hidoko

Saturday, January 03, 1998 9:23:57 PM

Past2.

He walked onto the middle of the field and watched as the sun set. The wind blew and he felt a chill running up his spine. He felt the grass brushing against his legs, up to his kneecaps and wondered how isolated it was. He could see no recent paths created. Obviously he would have to get off the field and find a suitable place to sleep before the sun completely sets.

He trudged on, and managed to catch a glimpse of a village. He advanced, and knocked on a door.

"Yes?" It was a pretty girl who answered the door. Soujirou smiled, and the girl blushed.

"May I have permission to stay at your house? I mean, I might have snake bites when I wake up if I sleep outside."

"Wait a minute." She fetched her mother.

"What do you want?"

"May I stay in your house for a night?"

"Another homeless?"

"Yup." He smiled wider, the expression he gave his brother before he killed him.

"Please come in, if you will pardon the messiness."

The only messiness which he saw was a half drunk cup of sake on the coffee table.

He took his things off him and gestured about where he should put his things.

"Anywhere if you want."

"Here is okay?"

"Sure…" the girl said, as her mother got to preparing the guest room. He sat down and the girl brought him sake. He said a thanks and drank it, looking around. He was reminded of his younger sister, how bloodied she had been on the field. Anyway, in any case it did not make him feel anything.

He stared into the sake and stared at his own reflection.

He remembered how his sister had always been a companion of his. She used to hit him, and he never counted it as a form of respect. But they got along well, along with Soujirou’s twin. Ichirou was never like Soujirou. Soujirou was emotional, and Ichirou was calm and collected, keeping his emotions inside and waiting for a chance to let them out. Syusan was the youngest. Soujirou got along better with her than Ichirou, and anyway Ichirou was a loner. In fact, Soujirou used to get along well with anybody. Syusan sometimes got spooked by Ichirou, and Soujirou would get in between.

Soujirou loved Ichirou and Syusan, so when they quarreled he would felt like a rope used in a tug-o-war. Sometimes, he would run away from all that by playing the flute. Syusan told him that his flute sounds were warm, like the essence of Life, Innocence, and Green, Syusan’s favorite color. No matter what, when he played it, everything would seem to stop for him.

But that was a long time ago.

Syusan told him that even Ichirou would seem happier when Soujirou played his flute, and of course Ichirou denied it. But Ichirou almost never told anybody what he thought, so Soujirou never got to know whether it was true or false.

Syusan could also tell Soujirou’s feelings when he played the instrument. Soujirou put his feelings into his tunes, and Syusan always comforted him or soothed him.

He loved Syusan, and Syusan loved him more than anything else.

He could still remember…

"Are you okay?" The girl looked at his thoughtful expression and frowned.

"Yeah… I’m fine." Soujirou looked up easily at her, smiling, and she relaxed.

"If you have any troubles, you’re welcome to tell me." She said shyly.

He nodded.

"Thanks."

Finally, when her mother came, he was brought to his mattress in his room. He settled down, put out the candles, and sat down on his mattress. He thought of lots of things.

He pulled his coverings up, laid down and went to sleep.

It was a sleep full of dreams.

Author’s notes…

Friday, January 09, 199811:33:20 PM

Hi again…

Thanks for reading this though I have nothing to gain. Hey, I’m not complaining.