Zef
"Hahaha! Again!"
This laughter.
"Okay, but only one more time."
That nostalgic creaking of old chains.
"Hahaha!"
This same dream again, huh.
"More! More!"
"Fine, but if father yells at us you gotta do your famous pout. Go on, give me your best one."
That big, goofy frown… those beady eyes masking such happiness with a thin layer of sadness.
A face I can barely remember anymore.
My chest grew heavier. If there is a God, they're far too cruel.
"I said, waaake up!"
"Ugh, goodness Shaki, must you be so violent?"
"Anyone ever tell you that you sleep like a dead person?"
"Dead people don't sleep, and could you get off of me, I'm struggling to breathe here."
"I'm only on top of you because you wouldn't wake up, and be honest." She said with a grin, "You like me on top, don't you?"
I gave her a soft nudge as she rolled off of me, her body going stiff as she laid on the other side of the bed.
"Please Shaki not now." I groaned, sitting up as I rested my face in my hand.
"Bad dream again?" She asked as she sat beside me.
We sat in silence for a brief moment before I nodded.
"Well then." She said with a sigh, "Maybe I really do need to sleep with you, you know I—"
"Shaki."
A blanket of silence draped over us as she paused.
So quiet in fact I caught the rhythm of her soft breaths.
"This is more than a bad dream, it's like… torture."
"Every single night constantly reminding me of my greatest failure."
"Your brother." Shaki mumbled beneath her breath.
I gave a hesitant head nod as a long exhale escaped my nose.
"It's a repeat of that day… and I can't change a single thing."
"Over, and over, and over, and over again."
"I see what's left of his face… I see my left arm."
"And I'm just here, looking in from a screen. No matter what I say my words never break through."
"Just… looking in."
I sighed once more, standing straight with a stretch. "I'm grateful Shaki."
"For what?"
"You woke me before the worst part."
**
???
"Left."
"Left."
"Left right."
"Duck."
"Again."
"Left."
"Left."
"Duck."
"Ow!"
"I said duck, yet you threw a punch."
"Damnit old geezer, did'ya have to hit me that hard!?" I yelled, rubbing at my cheek.
"I hit you because you still aren't dodging on reaction, besides—"
"Yeah yeah gramps, pain is just an illusion."
Grampa Yaha… he's been looking after me ever since I could walk.
He's basically my second father, just older and wiser.
"Hmmm indeed, strengthen your mind and your body will follow suit."
I sighed before collapsing onto the dojo's floor. "You say that, but is it really true?"
"You dare doubt your elders!?" He questioned, waving his cane around. "Hm, you have a warrior spirit indeed!"
He leaned over my body, a smile stretching across his face. "In this life child, us humans are very similar to flowers and bees."
"Goodness gramps, lay off the—"
"Law."
Eyes widening I shot up from the floor, straining my body as I stood as straight as I could.
A lump of nervousness welled inside my chest as he walked in.
"Y-yes father?"
He paused for a brief moment, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "Rise from the ground… Sir Yaha."
Looking to my side, Gramps' head was bowed, kneeling on the floor as his cane laid neatly in front of him.
Only my father could force this type of reaction from him.
Gramps laughed. "What? You don't think my old knees can take it?"
"I know they can… but a man like you doesn't need to bow to anyone."
Gramps smirked, slowly reaching for his cane. "You flatter me Master, now what can I do for you? It must be important seeing you traveled all this way."
His eyes locked on mine, looking me up and down. "How is Law's training coming along?"
Using his cane to stand, gramps patted at his knees. "Do you want the truth, or to be satisfied?"
"Oh come on gramps!" I blurted as he couldn't contain his crackling cackle.
"I expect more progress on my next visit." He said with a sigh. "I can tell by his creativity he hasn't grown."
That nervousness pressed on my chest even harder.
"It will be done Master." Gramps said, raising his wrinkled hand to pat my head.
After sharing a smile with Grampa Yaha, father turned to me, his expression quickly fading.
His words came out cold, his tone dull.
"Your sister demands you."
I gave a singular head nod as he turned to leave.
The second his figure faded I dropped my shoulders, sighing as I bit at my lip. "Sister this sister that, everything's always about my stupid sister."
"That'll wrap up today's session." Gramps announced as he walked towards the dojos arches.
"I gotta question gramps."
He stopped, slightly looking back to me without fully turning. "Hm?"
"Why'da kneel to your own son?"
His face twitched as he tried to cover his amused expression.
"What's so funny!"
"That is my son in name only." He said, slowly stroking at his gray beard, "Of course I love him like my own, but we do not share the same blood."
"What does blood have to do with anything?" I questioned as gramps continued through the arches.
"In our life… more than you could ever imagine."
**
Damn it all.
Knock Knock Knock.
"Open the door!"
A muffled "It's unlocked asshole!" came from inside.
I swung the door open, stepping in as the smell of sandalwood and pine wafted in the air.
"Father said you wanted me?"
She sat on her bed holding onto a doll made of straw and yarn.
Her eyes darted around and her breathing was unsteady.
"You good?"
"Shu…"
"Hm?"
"Shushy is missing!"
. . .
Shushy… her pet cat that father got her for her birthday last year.
She named it Shushy because its meow kinda sounded like someone shushing, and now I have to help her find it.
"How annoying." I muttered, my thoughts accidentally leaking out.
"WELL IF IT'S SO ANNOYING THEN BEAT IT!"
"I wish I could, but father's orders."
Standing from her bed she stormed past me, bumping my shoulder as she left, mumbling "Asshole." beneath her breath.
"Come on, don't be like that!"
She raised her middle finger as she continued through the door.
With a sigh I followed her as we walked outside.
"Zytra is talkative today." She said, shielding her eyes from the sun.
"Don't be weird." I added, "You talk about Zytra as if it's a person, it's just some raggedy forest."
"This raggedy forest is our home you idiot. And be quiet or you'll anger the spirit."
I could feel the grin creep on my face. "Don't tell me you still believe those old fairy tales?"
"Do you ever stop talking? And they aren't fairy tales, they're real stories told about through generations."
"You're the most gullible person I know sis, let me tell you what they really are."
"Some ancient artifact ancestor felt a hard gust of wind and called it a spirit, they told their kids who told theirs and so on."
Ignoring me with a slight pout we ventured deeper into the forest.
"Shu!"
"Shu!!!"
Both my feet and head ached as she called for Shu over and over again.
"Look sis I don't—"
Crunch.
A tree branch?
"Shu is that you!" My sister shouted as she ran towards the source of the noise.
Something's off.
I looked towards the sky as the thick trees blocked the sun.
**
"Gramps, I'm tired!"
"Your body or mind?" He responded with a snicker.
"Both." I groaned, dragging my feet as I closely followed.
"Whats the point of this anyway gramps, I wanna go—"
I walked straight into his back, biting my tongue as I came to a halt.
"Why'd ya stop moving!"
He shushed me, pointing to the thick trees above us.
"When the trees cover our sun, we are no longer gifted divine protection."
"Divine protection?"
"Our training will end here today. Retrace your steps and go home."
"What about you Gramps?"
"I'll be a bit behind, I just have to see something really quick, now go."
**
"ANGELA WATCH OUT!"
A monstrous pair of claws dug into her chest and slashed through her stomach.
"Shit!"
A bear-like beast slowly emerged from the shadows. It walked on all fours as its jaw hung low, almost as if it was dislocated.
Its fur was red with sharp needles running down its back. It raised its paw, licking Angela's blood from its nails.
It kicked her limp body to the side as she crashed into a tree.
"Shit, shit, shit!"
It pounced on me before I could think of a plan, swiping at my body as I narrowly dodged its paw.
This isn't a fight I can win.
The beast blocked the path to Angela as its loud roar blew my eardrums out.
A loud ringing played in what felt like the center of my brain as warm blood trickled down my neck.
It started walking towards me slowly, as if the beast was mocking me, or enjoying itself.
Stumbling, I fell on my butt as I crawled backwards.
The beast stood on its hind legs as drool poured from its mouth. Its jaw hung so low it nearly touched its hairy chest.
"I'm sorry… Angela."
Closing my eyes, a single moment passed before warm blood spewed on my face and body.
Looking up, the beast's head leaked vibrant blue blood.
"Hey… a-asshole."
The beast collapsed inches away from me as Angela sat against a tree.
She held her doll as a needle penetrated its head.
"G-get off your ass and h-help me… Lawrence."
I shot up from the ground, wiping blood from my face as I ran to her side.
"Shit! Ang, you good?"
"Does it look like I'm good asshole? And you say shit too much."
"And you say asshole too much!"
I looked down as three claw marks ran down her body.
"I'm gonna go get help alright, just sit tight."
"No!" She yelled, grabbing my arm, "You better not leave me here!"
Taking a deep breath I helped her up, trying my best not to touch her open wounds.
"Stay with me Ang!"
"Stop yelling will you?"
"Well if you don't close your eyes I don't have to yell!"
We trudged forward step by step. My feet still hurt, but not as bad as she's hurting right now.
Once far away I laid Angela down, taking off my shirt as I wrapped it around her body.
I looked up to the trees above us as they still covered the now setting sun.
"Damnit."
Tying a knot at the end of the shirt I swung her arm around my neck.
"Alright Ang, work with me here."
"The trees are letting up, we gotta go Ang come on!"
She was out cold, but still breathing.
I dragged her body along as heavy rumbles erupted from behind me.
Turning my head the beast charged forward, dried blood chipping off its face as it ran through trees and dense bushes.
Looking at Angela's doll that hung from her pocket I noticed the needle had fallen out.
"No, no, no, no, no." I quickly mumbled as I pulled the weight of her body.
Its footsteps grew heavier as my chest began to tighten.
"I have to do something!"
But what can I do? Damn it all!
Coming to a stop I laid Angela down as I stood in front of her.
"Alright asshole, let's do this!"
I raised my fists, placing my left foot forward as I attempted to calm my breathing.
The beast locked eyes with me as it got closer.
My legs shook with fear as I braced myself.
"COME ON, COME AT ME!"
The beast roared as it stood on its hind legs once more.
It went to pounce, but stopped itself.
The beast dropped to all fours, sniffing around before roaring and walking away.
I dropped to my knees, looking towards the clear skies.
"Divine protection huh?"
My legs were too shaky to stand, and my pants were wet at the crotch.
I laid on my back as the night sky began to snuff out the final rays of sunlight.
"I never doubted it once."
**
"So let me get this straight. Not only did you fail to find your sister's pet, you also almost got the both of you killed."
"Theres more to it than that father."
"I AM CHIEF RIGHT NOW… NOT FATHER."
I wanted to speak, but couldn't, like a muzzle held my mouth shut.
All I could do was lower my head in shame.
"You're a disappointment, you know that? Me and your mother should've stopped after your sister was born."
"Go home… and don't let me see you outside its walls. I will wait for an explanation from your sister and if she suffered from your cowardice… you will be exiled. Now leave, get out of my sight."
Without argue I stood up and left.
The walk home was a quiet one.
"I really messed this up." I said with a sigh.
Getting to the house I stared at the wooden door, reaching for the knob as the ruffling of leaves caught my attention.
"There's always something." I muttered.
Slowly stepping towards the forest's edge the bush shook again.
"Hello!?"
Nothing.
Taking a step closer something emerged from the bushes.
"No way… SHU!"
There stood Angela's cat Shushy.
It pranced up to my leg, meowing as it rubbed against me.
"Well look at this, I guess things do work themselves out."
I caressed Shu's back as a voice called out to me.
"Move and you die."
My body froze as footsteps crunched through grass.
What felt like a man's hands patted me down before he took a few steps back.
"You're good. Can't be too careful, right?"
Shu ran by his side as I turned to see a taller boy.
He wore a coat of beast fur and his clothes looked beaten and worn.
There was a paint brush tied to his waist with string, acting as a makeshift holster.
Bending over he grabbed Shu, cradling him in his arms.
"Hello, I'm Simon. What's your name?"