Milky moonlight washed over the land as night enveloped the Spooner Continent. Not a creature stirred and the countryside was quiet, save for the purring of crickets. All was well and as it had always been, except for a dissheveled body that lay strewn over a worn earth path, still, and lifeless as a ragdoll. Marron moaned softly and his eyes flickered open. He sat up and tried to shake off the grogginess that clouded his mind. As he looked himself over, terrifying memories swam into Marron's mind and he remembered how he'd ended up sprawled out, unconsious on the ground. His heartbeat accellerated as he saw several rips in his kimono, exposing his pale, moon-washed skin. His bare chest was blotched purple with bruises and he had no doubt that his face was in a simillar state. He could tell that his left eye was very blackened indeed. The skin around it was sore and swollen.
Marron numbly closed up his kimono as best he could (the first two clasps had been ripped apart) and shakily got to his feet. Feeling as though his legs were laden with lead, Marron trudged back to the cabin.
The others had held out as long as they could waiting for Marron to return, but eventually, sleepiness got the best of them and they begrudgingly went to bed hungry. Gateau, Chocolate, and Carrot were thoroughly pissed.
"Damn! He gets sidetracked so easily!" Carrot said grumpily, yanking off his shoes and and tossing them in the corner.
"Yeah, we should've sent a real man to do the job." Chocolate aggreed in a syrupy voice as she threw her arms around Carrot from behind.
Looking as though he was doing a very odd version of the limbo, Carrot slid out of her embrace and strode briskly away -FAR away- to the opposite end of the room and flopped down on the floor. Gateau took off his shoulder armor and grumbled something about irresponsibility and head in the clouds.
"Well, I'm worried if no one else is," Tira said as she tapped her foot in agitation. "You three know as well as I do that Marron is not one to be late like this. What if something's happened to him?"
"Hmph! My brother needs to learn to deal with things on his own. I'm through being his guardian angel." Carrot said haughtily "I'm tired of him always clinging to me like a little kid. From now on, Marron's on his own."
Chocolate was shocked at Carrot's words. Be could be really stupid at times, low, cynical and dirty, but he'd never acted this *harsh*...and especially not about his brother. She was so moved by Carrot's speech that Chocolate actually let him sleep alone that night, rather than snuggling up to him and hugging him like a teddy bear the way she usually did. When Gateau had removed all of his horrid armor, he stretched out on the floor and and closed his eyes. He missed Marron's subtle presence and the sound of his gentle breathing. On the other hand, Gateau had spent many a sleepness night watching Marron, with passion and desire burning within. As the boy innocently slept just feet from where he lay, it took every ounce of resolution Gateau had not to grab Marron and pull him over to his side. For the first night in a long time, Gateau would get a good night's sleep.
Tira folded her shades and placed them inside one of her shoes, then settled herself down on the floor near her sister. As sleep crept into her mind, Tira silently prayed that Marron would return soon and in one piece.....
Tira woke with a start. Chest heaving, she sat up and ran her hand over her strawberry hair, trying to remeber the dream that had cut her beauty sleep short. All that she could recall was a stream of tears glittering like minuscule crystals as they sprinkled into a black abyss and a muted voice crying out for help.....
Tira woke with a start. Chest heaving, she sat up and ran her hand over her strawberry hair, trying to remeber the dream that had cut her beauty sleep short. All that she could recall was a stream of tears glittering like minuscule crystals as they sprinkled into a black abyss and a muted voice crying out for help.....
Feeling the need to shake off the heavy feeling the dream had left her with, Tira got up and stepped outside the cabin. The young girl sat in the doorframe and dipped her hands into the saucer of water that was sitting nearby. She wet her forehead and inhaled deeply the cool night air, feeling refreshed and calmed by the serenity of the moon-bathed countryside. Then she gave a little jump as the bushes rustled as a silhoutted figure emerged from them.
Marron stumbled toward the cabin and fell against the wall, panting. He turned and slumped on his shoulder against the cabin, feeling as though all essence had been drained from his trembling form. He felt cold, cheap, dirty and used. It was so unfair. Why him? When he didn't even like it when people with innocent intentions laid a finger on him. When he'd taken up a life of peace and virtue. "Because I'm easy." Marron answered his own question and hung his head in shame. "I'm so weak, fragile and useless...people always insist on walking all over me. They take advantage of me..." Marron clenched his fist. "...because I can't fight fight back..." Marron's depressing thoughts were interrupted as he felt a hand rest gently on his shoulder.
"Marron?" a timid voice floated softly from behind him.
"Tira....." Marron said vaguely, with out turning around. Even if she couldn't see his face, Tira could tell something was definitely wrong.
"Can we talk?"
Silence.
The two stood, unmoving in the calm atmosphere the night provided.
"Are you alright?"
Marron didn't move. He remained silent, choked by suppressed emotions. How he longed to pour the whole, terrible story out to her, but, no, he would never allow himself to loose those emotional stallions that snorted and bucked against that stubborn fence. Though he knew that Tira was very kind and understanding, Marron was just not ready to let go of the reins yet.....
Tira was getting impatient. Though she respected others' privacy, the fact that her friend was hiding something from her was somewhat irritating. Before she could stop herself, Tira seized Marron roughly about the shoulders and yanked him so that he turned to face her. "will you look at me when I'm talking to you and tell my why-" Tira cut herself off when she saw Marron's face. In the bright moonlight, she could clearly see the horrendous blue-black moon that had blossomed around Marron's left eye.
Part of his kimono was unclasped and Tira could see more purple blotches on his chest, defying his ivory skin. Seeing his neck, Tira recalled the time she'd almost plunged to her death into the depths of a great canyon. The sorcerer hunters had split up to explore a new area of the Spooner Continent.
Tira and Carrot had been assigned to scout the terrain around a great canyon. As they were strolling along the egde, Carrot, accident prone as ever, had unintentionally bumped into Tira, sending her falling backwards into the abyss. Luckliy, his hand closed around her wrist just in time.
Though he'd almost gone over himself, he'd managed to prevent her from tumbling into that dark, gaping void. After he'd pulled Tira to safety, she noticed that there were red marks on her wrist where Carrot's strong fist had clamped around it. These red marks were exactly like those that were around Marron's neck, this night. Tira gasped. Someone had tried to choke him. As Tira took in Marron's battered form and his eyes, gleaming with unshed tears, a heavy feeling of regret came over her.
"Look at him...he's been through a brutal ordeal already, and here I am, bullying him further." Tira mentally scolded herself.
Marron averted his gaze and shrank away from her, sitting silently on the soft grass. Not exactly sure of herself, Tira sat down beside him.
After a few seconds' silence, she extended her hand and it found the side of Marron's face. He shied away from her.
"No, it's alright," she soothed, "I won't hurt you."
Something inside told Marron he could trust Tira, so when she reached for him again, he accepted her hand. She gently turned his head so that he faced her. She whispered an incantation and her other hand began to glow with her healing powers. Tira carfully ran her fingertips over Marron's mauled eye. He could feel the swelling go down as her magic took immediate effect. Her fingertips moved lower and gently caressed his sore neck. This was very soothing, so Marron didn't make any move to stop Tira, who'd opened the top part of his kimono and and was now going over his chest. That ruthless vagabond had savagely fondled Marron because he wanted something that Marron was unwilling to give, but Tira's touch was warm and full of promise. She didn't want anything from him. She was doing this because she was concerned about him. Because she cared. This new feeling left a unique impression on Marron's heart and he finally began to relax. When Tira had finished and the boy's skin was restored to it's original, pristine state, smooth and pale as a lotus blossom, Tira withdrew her hand.
"Feel better?"
"Yes, " Marron said, which was only a fraction of the truth.
Tira's healing powers had taken care of everything on the outside, but those internal wounds were still hurting like hell. Although the emotional scars would be with Marron for life, it was the least Tira could do to ease the pain for him. The next thing Marron knew, Tira was settling herself in his lap. She lifted his arms wrapped them around her shoulders. She recalled reading in a therapy book that if a guy was upset or stressed, he should hold a girl in his arms because the touching and closeness were emotionally healing. A girl's heart is a fragile thing and a guy knowing she trusted him with something so precious gave him a special feeling. Tira let go of Marron's arms but they stayed around her. He was holding her on his own. Marron brought the girl close to his heart and everything he'd kept bottled up inside now poured forth in hot tears. Tira felt his breath grow shallow and labored and she shifted so that she could catch the glittering drops on her finger tips. Marron inhaled deeply and held Tira closer still, so that her forehead was resting on his neck. As Marron hugged Tira, like a small child would hold a doll, a memory paraded into his mind.....
"Get him!"
"Make him cry!"
Two surly boys brandishing sticks charged after a third. The chasee, short, pallid, and lean, with silky black hair that fell just below his chin, was good for sprints and speedy over short distances, but it was a fact that his stamina was not as great as that of the chasers. His strength had already begun to leave him and he was slowing down. Soon, fear was overpowered by exhaustion and he collasped. The two lads then began merciliessly caning the helpless boy with their sticks. Fortunately, the victim had enough sense about him to pull his knees up to his chest and cover his head with his arms. As hard wood struck soft skin and harsh words smashed against fragile confidence, the boy gritted his teeth and prayed that the torment would end...
And end it did, for from the brushes sprang a wily boy, lanky and bandy-legged. One threatening glare was all it took.
The bullies (one, who, in past encounter, had recieved a very black eye and bruised ribs, and the other, who'd lost his front teeth and ended up with a broken nose after fistycuffs with this devillish fighter) turned on their heels and fled. The savior approached his little brother, who was still hugging his knees and trembling. The older boy extended his hand. The little one nervously peeked up and accepted it. As they walked home, not speaking a word, the taller boy glanced at his silent charge. Tears were brimming in those stunningly gold eyes, threating to fall at any second. The older boy stopped and put a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Don't cry, Marron," he said bracingly, "you're a big boy! You've got to learn to be strong."
The smaller boy looked down at it his feet, then up at his brother.
"Niisan?"
"Eh?"
"Arigato."
The older boy smiled and rufled his brother's hair. As they walked home, hand in hand, the little one thought to himself, "Carrot is so brave... I want to be strong, just like my big brother."
The sea of tears had finally ebbed. Marron heaved a sigh. He felt exhausted, but at the same time, redeemed. It was as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Marron's crying had stopped, but Tira knew that her duty hadn't been fulfilled quite yet. It was almost guaranteed that whatever terrible ordeal had befallen Marron would come back to haunt him in his dreams. Tira carefully lifted herself off of Marron and sat beside him.
"Want me to stay with you tonight?"
Marron stared at her. After a long pause, his soft, timid voice answered "if you don't mind."
"No problem. C'mere."
Marron felt Tira's arms circling his waist. She pulled the boy close to her and let him lay his head on her shoulder. Tira held Marron, like a mother would hold her son. Her arms provided comfort and security, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Marron felt safe.
When Marron woke up the next morning, he raised his head, only to find it much heavier than normal. It didn't take him very long to realize that this was due to that fact that Tira's head was resting on his own. Marron gingerly lifted her chin and carefully eased himself off of her lap. He stared at the girl in amazement.
"She sat up all night long, just for me..." Marron thought to himself, almost unable to believe it. "For me..."
Tira stirred and her eys opened. She looked over and saw Marron standing about ten feet away, staring vaguely out over the terrain, appearing to be lost in thought. The silence was broken by heavy footfalls, padding over the dewy grass. Marron turned just as Gateau came lumbering toward him.
"Marron! Where in the three thousand worlds were you last night? I was worried sick! (which was actually true. Gateau had not slept well, like he'd thought he would, but had spent the night squirming anxiously and fretting about the younger boy) Did someone hurt you Marron? Who hurt you!?" Marron was a bit surprised at Gateau. No kissy faces, no outstretched arms, no flirting at all. Just two searching eyes with a gleam of concern in them.
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