The Road Less Traveled {Fuyuko}

[Rin Hayashi]

It was cold today. Autumn was slowly fading into winter, the temperature dropping more with every passing day. Icy winds blew in from the south, bringing the colder season with them. They whistled through the branches of the trees, creating an eerie howling noise that echoed through the mountains, resembling the cry of a wolf. The birds were quiet, settled inside the tree hollows, sleeping in their nests as they waited for warmer weather, for the sun to return. The mountains seemed to lack any sign of life, that is, except for a single man. He was dressed like a peasant, walking slowly along one of the pathways that winded through the ragged mountain landscape. In his hand, he held a bamboo shaft, serving him as a walking stick. His raven-colored hair blew loosely in the wind, whipping around wildly. He squinted his misty blue eyes, the cold air stinging his face. He didn’t like the cold.

Rin was a wanderer. He travelled from village to village, forest to forest, never staying anywhere for too long. If he could, he would avoid the more populated areas, and when he travelled he always took the deserted roads, the roads less travelled. He was a loner, a hermit. He had no friends, no family, no nothing. There was nowhere he belonged or ever would belong. He had accepted this, and he was fine with it. He had gotten used to having only himself as company.

As he walked, he imagined that the leaves had all fallen from the trees by now, leaving the branches bare and lifeless like skeletons. He imagined that the world was colorless, everything dull shades of earthy grey and brown. Soon that would change though. Soon the world would be covered in white, blanketed in the fresh winter snows. He breathed a deep sigh, wishing that he would be able to see the snow. His favorite season was definitely autumn, mostly because the season brought such a melancholy atmosphere with it. Winter was a tad more annoying, seeing as he had to purchase new clothes, which meant going into a town and talking to people, but it too had its beauty. Watching the snow fall, he had always enjoyed that when he was a child… It was majestic and breathtaking to see the world turn white. A sad sigh left his lips, his breath visible in the air in front of him.

His legs hurt from walking so far, and his skin stung from the cold. He would need to start layering up better or he would freeze to death when the harshest months of winter arrived. He wondered… if he were to collapse here, collapse and never get up, would anyone ever know? He supposed that maybe one day some travelers might find the remains of his body, his bones. This idea wasn’t very pleasing though, and it was enough to snap him out of his dreary thoughts. No. If he were to die, it would not be like this. If he were to die he would go out with a bang. He would die a death worthy of the mightiest samurai warrior. He knew that he probably didn’t deserve a death like this, but that didn’t matter to him. He would not leave the world in a weak and pathetic way. He would stay alive until he thought of a dramatic way to exit. Either that or he would need to find a reason to live, which he didn’t see happening any time soon. He was just an extra person, someone that Earth didn’t need. He was committing a crime by robbing the more useful and worthy people of their precious oxygen. He smiled sarcastically, mouth turning up bitterly.

[/blockquote]

[Fuyuko Tama]

Fuyuko walked up the mountain trail, and shivered. She wasn’t really cold under her kimono, especially with her bags held against her body so tight, but this mountain reminded her of her old home. She was suddenly overcome with memories of loving faces suddenly stained with blood and twisted with fear, and she rubbed the chills that ran up her arms. Sorrow sliced through her, and she stopped walking, her chest tight and her throat full of tears. She shook her head desperately, trying to keep from crying.

To distract herself, she looked up at the trees, which shook lightly in the wind above her. Though many of their beautiful leaves were now on the ground, there were still a few clinging desperately to their “mothers”, waving gently in the wind that was suddenly very cold and harsh. Her hair blew forward and she reached up absently to push it out of her face. She continued to stare at the brave lone leaves. They were the occasional dot, or cluster, of color in the sky, which was grey with the coming storm. She looked down at the sound of crunching beneath her feet, and saw that the trail was now littered with piles of leaves, probably pushed into the piles by the occasional traveler who didn’t want to step on the things. She playfully tried to avoid stepping on any leaves, hopping around with a giggle. But when she got to more…decorated parts of the trail, the game became very hard. It soon turned into a game to step on as many leaves as possible.

She had been wandering alone for almost two weeks now. She had done some performing in the village miles back, and she had had a wonderful time, but she had had to leave when some of the people began to get a bit touchy about the obvious mix in her heritage. When faced with the choice, she decided to take the mountain trails rather than the more travelled and probably much safer roads that were normally taken by most people trying to get out of a town where they weren’t liked. She didn’t like being alone that much, but there wasn’t anyone she had to travel with her, so she couldn’t really complain. The thing that unnerved her the most, however, was probably the silence. There weren’t any animals calling, and the wind had quieted down for a moment, making the symphony in the treetops soften and finally cease altogether.

She stopped her game when the leaves that lined the path began to vanish and just resumed walking calmly in silence again again.

Finally, the quiet began to unnerve her, and she began to sing. Her voice, alone in the world, echoed around the mountain, but it seemed to blend into the world, almost sounding as if it belonged in the mountain air. It wasn’t a well-known song, just a little lullaby her mother used to sing her, but it made her feel better. She began to swim in memories again, this time good ones, of curling up between her parents and her brother, singing out of tune along with her mother, laughing when her father got a clump of snow in his shirt…memories of that wonderful winter that warmed her even in this weather.

She was so distracted in the words and in the memories that she didn’t see the man at all. She only noticed him when she realized she was about to walk into him. With a yelp, she pulled back suddenly and fell hard on her back. Tears of pain filled her eyes as her back struck a rock, and she thought she felt her skin tear a little.

“OW!"

[Rin Hayashi]

Rin had been so caught up in his thought that he did not hear the approaching footsteps or the soft lullaby. Usually he was very alert, ears always straining to pick up any noise that could be a threat, especially here in the mountains where bandits often travelled. So, when the loud yelp of pain cut through the air, he nearly jumped out of his skin. His heart, which usually beat slowly, dully, now threatened to burst from his chest. His misty blue eyes widened in alarm, and his grip tightened around his bamboo cane reflexively, gripping the wood so hard that his knuckles turned white. He held his breath, waiting, listening. His first thought was that he might be under attack, but, of course, this wasn’t the case. Rin was just a paranoid man, a little jumpy, maybe a bit overly cautions.

“OW!”

A girl’s voice followed the yelp, shout echoing through the mountains. Rin flinched at the sudden burst of voice. If she screamed any louder he was convinced there might be an avalanche. “Who’s there?” he demanded in a deep voice, narrowing his eyes in a challenge. The dark-haired man stood very still, not daring to breathe. It was only a few moments later that he heard a quite shuffling in front of him, the dirt on the pathway shifting as something moved. It sounded as if something had fallen, a girl. That’s what it was. He could tell by the voice. Yes, definitely a female. He wasn’t sure how young or old she was, nor was he sure if she was a threat of not. So he waited, bracing himself for an attack of some sort, tense, alert, ready to thrust out with his bamboo staff if he needed to. For all he knew she was a vicious demon. He’d heard that demons often roamed the mountains as well as bandits. No attacks came though, and instead there was only silence.

As the seconds ticked by, Rin became impatient. Very slowly, cautiously, he lowered himself to his knees, coming down to the girl’s level. She was still there. He could tell. If she had run away he would have heard her, he would have heard her footsteps leaving. If he listened carefully, he could hear the sound of her breathing. Yes, she was there. He tilted his head downward, aiming his gaze in the direction he assumed she had fallen, if that’s really what had happened. “You,” he demanded, voice gruff. “What are you doing?” He seemed to have calmed down a little now, heartbeat slightly slower, but his expression was still guarded.

[/blockquote]

[Fuyuko Tama]

Fuyuko only barely heard the man as he spoke the first time. She was too busy making sure that her bags didn’t fall so far away that she couldn’t retrieve them. She made sure they were safe and unharmed before looking up at the man that towered over her now. She looked up at him and stayed frozen where she was, breathing heavily. Her heart pounded with fear as he stayed still for a moment. She had seen him tense when she hit him, though at first he just stood there. She could scent…he was just a human. But he looked strong, and…angry. He was gripping his stick so hard, she thought it was going to break! Fearfully, she looked up at his face.

He looked young, though not quite as young as her. His hair was long and dark and pretty and pulled back. He wasn’t as tall as she’d thought at first, but he was definitely pretty tall. And, as she had said…he looked mad. She didn’t know that bumping into someone was that bad! She tried to regain control of her beating heart, trying to convince herself that he couldn’t possibly be that mad…

…could he?

Almost afraid to, she looked into his eyes. She gasped slightly at the sight. They were all misty and blue, and they didn’t move around like normal eyes. For a second, she just stared into his eyes, completely caught up in the strangeness of them, and it took a moment for her to realize that he was kneeling so that their faces were close together. She scrambled back a few inches, startled by the closeness, and got onto her knees with difficulty. She gasped again as pain struck her lower back, and she put a hand to her side almost instinctively. He was looking right at her, and his gaze was piercing, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t just seeing her body.

“You” he said, his voice rough and deep. She winced at the sharp tone. “What are you doing?” He sounded like he was ready to attack her, or ready to defend if she attacked. The thought of having to fight him made her shiver, and she rubbed her arms again.

When she answered, her voice shook slightly. “I-I-I’m j-just w-walking…” she started. Aghast at how she sounded, she took a deep breath and tried again. “I was just walking…” He looked a bit calmer, and that calmed her a bit. “I’m sorry!” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to run into you, but I was singing and—” She stopped when she realized how stupid that excuse sounded.

She bowed slightly, and said again, “I’m very sorry for hitting you!”

When she straightened up again, she found herself looking into his eyes again. She tilted her head to the side slightly, once again mesmerized by them. Almost as if she were dreaming, she sad, "My name's Fuyuko...what's your name?"

[Rin Hayashi]

“I-I-I’m j-just w-walking… I was just walking… “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to run into you, but I was singing and—”

Rin relaxed ever so slightly. The girl, she sounded young, or younger than him at least, and scared. She said that she had just been walking, that she had not seen him. Rin snorted quietly at that, but he managed to keep his rude comments to himself. She hadn’t seen him, eh? Well, she should have. She had two eyes, she had her vision. If anyone should be running into things it should be him, the one who only saw blackness. The girl had no excuse. She should have been using the gift that the gods had given her. She should have been using her eyes. “You should watch where you are walking,” he muttered under his breath. “You have two eyes, do you not? Use them.” It wasn’t the nicest thing that he could have said, but equally, Rin being Rin, he could have said much more cutting remarks than that. Despite the displeased expression on his face, his voice was calm and monotone, holding no real emotion at all.

Rin heard a quiet shuffling, probably the girl getting back to her feet, followed by a quiet gasp. What, was she hurt or something? How old was she anyway? Not that it mattered. Her voice sounded quite young. Perhaps if she was a child he would go easy on her. But what on earth would a young girl be doing wandering these mountains alone? Was she lost? Ugh, he hoped not. If she was lost she was probably going to beg him to help her find her ‘mommy and daddy’ and that was not something he wanted to do. He wasn’t a good citizen. He didn’t help strays. The only person he helped was himself. Then again, for all he knew she could be the same age as him. He didn’t ask though. His plan was to keep walking. However, before he could carry out this plan of his, the girl spoke again.

“My name's Fuyuko...what's your name?”

What? Rin remained kneeling for a moment longer and then slowly straightened back up, rising to his feet. She was asking for his name already? They had hardly even known each other for more than a minute… Couldn’t the introductions wait? He shifted his weight uneasily, unsure of what to say, what to do. He wanted to just keep walking, go on with what he had been doing, but for some reason he didn’t. Maybe it was because he was bored. Or perhaps he was curious to this girl’s whereabouts, and somewhere in his mind he still considered that she might be lost, and even if he wouldn’t admit it, the seemingly heartless Rin couldn’t leave a little stray.

“My name, you say?” He lifted an eyebrow, tilting his head in the direction her voice had come from. “That hardly matters.” The reason he didn’t tell her was a simple one. Rin did not like names. He didn’t like knowing people’s names and he didn’t like them knowing his name. People were just voices in his head, that’s all they were. However, when he added a name to that voice they suddenly became more real, and that voice suddenly started to develop a face. That was never good. Rin’s goal was to distance himself from people, so he preferred not to know their names. This girl, however, had already gone and blurted it out. Fuko or something…Fuyuko…Yes, that was it. He mentally cringed. He tried to forget it, but it was too late, the name was already there, blazed into his mind. “If you must know, my name is Rin,” he told her at last, words followed by a heavy sigh.

The man paused, and then recalled something from earlier, remembered how the girl had gasped in pain. “Did you hurt yourself?” he asked, his tone sounding more accusing than concerned. “It is not safe for a girl to be travelling these mountains alone, you know.”

[/blockquote]

[Fuyuko Tama]

Well…he hadn’t hit her yet, so that was good. Fuyuko was now almost all the way sure that this man wasn’t going to hurt her. If he wanted to, he would have already. So, she relaxed even more, and tried to get to her feet the rest of the way. She stumbled slightly to the side, but caught herself quickly before she found herself on the ground again. She smoothed out her kimono with her hands, and ran her hand over her bag again to make sure that she hadn’t broken anything.

As she was getting her balance back, he spoke. “You should watch where you were walking. You have two eyes, do you not? Use them!” As soon as he said that, she was immediately enveloped by confusion. She tilted her head to the side slightly, her mouth open slightly. Of course she had two eyes! Everybod—well, almost everybody had two eyes! (She thought back for a moment to that one demon she had met…he had had seven eyes!) For a second, the statement rolled around her head for a minute as she tried to decipher the sentence. She had almost gotten it when she realized that he was answering her other question. Or, kind of. It seemed that she had made him uncomfortable by asking his name. Maybe she shouldn’t have…But she waited anyway, hoping he would tell her.

“My name, you say? That hardly matters” Well that was quick.

She stuck her tongue out at him. It matters to me she thought snottily. But just as she opened her mouth to put her thoughts to words, he spoke again.

“If you must know, my name is Rin”

Her face brightened considerably after he said that, and her planned retort was quickly forgotten. She smiled widely and hopped slightly on the balls of her feet, happy to have gotten what she wanted. She laughed lightly. “Rin!” she repeated eagerly. “I like that name! I think it matches!” She almost didn’t hear his sigh, and even when she did, she ignored it. "Thank you, Rin!"

Then, once again, he began to talk. His voice sounded almost angry as he asked, “Did you hurt yourself? It is not safe for a girl to be traveling these mountains alone, you know” She felt a bit offended that he thought she was that helpless (well…she kind of was, but that was beside the point). Besides, he really didn’t look like he could defend himself much better than her. And it wasn’t her fault that she had ran into him (or was it?).

She tilted her head to the side again to answer his question. “I just got cut when I fell” she said, though she was still rubbing the spot where she was hurt. She didn’t smell any blood, but she was sure she was going to have a pretty nasty bruise there. “And it’s not safe for anyone to travel these mountains alone” she retorted. She considered adding something else to that statement, but decided it wasn’t worth it. “Besides, it’s not like anyone would miss me if I died”

[Rin Hayashi]

“Rin! I like that name! I think it matches! Thank you, Rin!”

“It matches, does it?” he muttered, lifting an eyebrow in question. Why? Because it was plain and boring like him? And it was just a name, wasn’t it? Was it really worth getting that excited over? Oh well, whatever… It seemed to mean something to her, even if it didn’t to him. She’d even said ‘thank you,’ so apparently it must have been important. He disagreed though, and he was rather displeased with the name exchange. He tried to avoid introductions at all costs, he tried to avoid talking to people at all costs, and now here he was doing both of those things. He had gone out of his way and taken the less travelled paths, so why did he have to run into someone, or rather, have someone run into him? It just didn’t make sense. Whenever he went out of his way to avoid human contact it came right to him. Sigh. Perhaps he should just stop trying, maybe then he would be left alone.

“I just got cut when I fell. And it’s not safe for anyone to travel these mountains alone.”

Rin was about to object, but then he stopped himself. Hm. she had a point. “I suppose that is correct,” he told her reluctantly. It wasn’t exactly safe for a blind man to be wandering around either, was it? Despite the fact he was blind, however, he could actually defend himself quite decently. Where his sight and vision lacked, his hearing made up for it. He could sense things that others could not, almost having a sixth sense. It was something he had developed over the years to cope, to survive. Besides, years ago he had been a ninja, and his body still remembered how to move when attacked, still remembered the vigorous training he had been put through. He still had a few old tricks up his sleeve.

“Besides, it’s not like anyone would miss me if I died.”

The girl’s last statement caught Rin a little off guard. It wasn’t something he had been expecting her to say. It sounded like something he would say. His face scrunched up in confusion, and he looked unsure of what to say. What could he say? Maybe he should just leave it. Yes, that would be best. Still, he found his curiosity getting the best of him, and a moment later he was asking, “Why not?” He knew he was probably going to regret asking her this question for one reason or another. He usually had regrets every time he opened his mouth, so he wasn’t sure why this time would be any different. Oh well, too late now, he’d already gone and asked it. As he waited for a response, he found himself wondering what the girl in front of him might say, if anything. Surely there had to be someone who would miss her. It seemed strange she would say such a thing, and he just couldn’t make sense of it.

Now… if he were to die, no one would miss him, but he was a completely different story. He was a heartless bastard, or so most people thought, and if he were to drop dead right now, not a single person would show up at his funeral. In fact, there wouldn’t even be a funeral. He’d just die and that would be it. End of story. It was a rather depressing thought, but it was one that he had gotten used to.

[/blockquote]

[Fuyuko Tama]

It matches, does it?” Rin murmured, his face a bit disbelieving and, just a tad, offended. Had she said something bad about his name? Had she done something to bring up bad memories? Eager to prove that she didn't mean him any offense, she nodded eagerly. “Rin’s a really cool name! It’s all dark and mysterious and short!” she said, and then amended that statement quickly. “Not that you’re short! You’re actually a lot taller than me!” As she said this, she had to step back slightly to look him full in the face, though she still found herself staring at his eyes. She tore her own eyes away; it felt a bit embarrassed to be staring. He still looked upset that she had asked his name, and she wondered if that was rude, or if he just didn’t like other people knowing his name. ”Do you not like your name?” she murmured under her breath, more a moment’s wondering than a query for him to answer.

Before she could ponder it, though, he talked again. Wow, we sure are talking a lot she thought to herself, but she couldn’t exactly say she disliked it. Most of her journeys were spent in lonely silence, so the company, however grudging it may be, was a welcome and refreshing break. She snapped back to reality suddenly to focus on what he was saying.

”Why not?” he asked, his face torn between regret and curiosity. He was asking about her family…indirectly. She could understand his hesitance…that wasn’t a question one usually asked. People tended to get touchy when it came to talking about her past, mostly because they didn’t know how to respond.

Looking at him, though, she had a small spark of hope in her heart…

Maybe he’ll understand...

She rubbed her head, a bit unsure how to answer. This was kind of new territory for her. “Oh…well…my whole family is dead...or missing...and I never really had any friends that would remember me, so I guess I’m alone” she said, and covered up the impending tears with forced laughter. Her voice had gotten quieter as she had spoken, so the last word had faded to an almost inaudible whisper. Her gaze went sideways and down so that she was staring at the vegetation to her left. [/color=Teal]“The only things people are bound to miss are my performances”[/color] That was a bit comforting, but not by much. At least they'd miss her on some plane or another.

Now feeling a bit sad and lonely, she asked, “What about you, Rin? Are you alone too?. She didn’t mean to be rude or prying, but she was truly curious. Usually when she saw someone in her wanderings, they had someone with them, and he was honestly the first person she had met who was all alone.

Once again, in her heart of hearts, she hoped that he understood.

[Rin Hayashi]

“Rin’s a really cool name! It’s all dark and mysterious and short! Not that you’re short! You’re actually a lot taller than me!”

So he was dark and mysterious now, was he? Interesting. He tried to imagine how this girl saw him, all ‘dark and mysterious’ as she said. “I see,” he mused. He still thought that his name sounded rather plain and boring, but the way the girl said it somehow made him sound like more exciting of a person. “Do you not like your name?” she asked, and he glanced up. Rin thought it over and then shrugged his shoulders in response. Did he like his name? He wasn’t really sure. A name was a name. He wasn’t thrilled about his name, but then again…he wasn’t thrilled about anyone’s name. Names only brought unnecessary attachment. “I do not like names in general,” he told the girl, and as always he spoke the truth.

What she said next, he was not expecting. She spoke quietly, and he could tell that she was trying not to cry. She laughed, but the sound was awkward and forced, fake. He could not see her face, but he could her voice, and that was all he needed to know she was in pain.

“Oh…well…my whole family is dead...or missing...and I never really had any friends that would remember me, so I guess I’m alone.”

Rin blinked, looking a little taken aback by the girl’s words. Honestly, he hadn’t been expecting that as an answer. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but certainly not that. He just stared into nothingness her for a few moments, misty eyes troubled. How old was this girl? He didn’t ask it out loud, as this did not seem like the appropriate time to ask such a thing, but he did think it. She couldn’t be that old. She was young, well, younger than him, and he wasn’t all that old. How had she managed to survive? Or, a better question; how long had she been orphaned like this? Had she just been wandering around the land the whole time? Many thoughts filled Rin’s mind, but he could do nothing, unsure of what to say. There were no words that could fix the problem, no words that could mend this girl. A loss was a loss. Once you lost something you could never truly get it back, especially if it was a person. He knew that better than anyone. He had lost many things in life; his sight, his family, his friends, his lover, his happiness. He had yet to find any of them again.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have said anything. Now that he had asked and she had answered, he had this troubling concept to ponder. Had he not asked, he would probably have been walking away by now. Ugh. Damn his curiosity. “I am sorry for your loss,” was all he said, and it was unclear what was going through his mind. His voice was softer now though, the sharp edge gone from it. Before he could say any more, the girl spoke again.

“What about you, Rin? Are you alone too?”

Her words startled him, and her question sent a stab through his chest. His expression hardened. For a second, it looked like he was going to get mad, like he was going to snap at her, tell her to mind her own damn business. But then he stopped himself. It was only fair. A question for a question. He had asked her one, and now she was asking him one in turn. She had hurt him, but he was sure that he had also hurt her, sent her mind, her heart, back to a painful place, if only for a few moments. He took in a breath, slowly letting it out, calming himself again. Was he alone? Yes, of course he was. He was always alone. He had been for years now. He didn’t mind it though, did he? He found ways to spend his time, day dreaming, becoming lost in his mind. Some would say it was a waste of life, but it wasn’t… was it? He smiled bitterly.

“Yes,” he answered at last, voice just above a whisper. “I am alone.” His last sentence was spoken with bitterness. He did not give any more details than that, simply answering the question he had been asked. Then, in a vain attempt to direct the subject away from him, possibly back toward her, he added, “It seems we have something in common.” He was silent for a few moments, lost in his thoughts, and he turned his head skyward, a quiet sigh leaving his lips. What the hell was he doing? Why was he standing here in the middle of nowhere having a conversation like this with a complete stranger? Even the wise Rin, the man who seemed to have an answer to everything, did not know the answer to this. “Forgive my curiosity. It must seem odd for a stranger such as myself to pry.”

[/blockquote]

[Fuyuko Tama]

“I’m sorry for your loss” Rin said, and she just shrugged.

“Don’t be” she responded softly and laughed again, another quiet, somewhat bitter laugh. “There’s nothing you, or I, can do about it” She forced another smile. “What’s done is done…”

That’s what her father always used to tell her. Whenever she did something to make him mad, or something that hurt him, he would always laugh when it was over, pat her head and say, “Well, little Yuko-chan, what’s done is done! There’s nothing you can do about the past!”. That had always made her feel better, knowing that whatever happened in the past, she always had the future to look forward to. She didn’t know what she had to look forward to now, though. Performing was wonderful, but…it was nothing like having a family again. That was something she would probably never have again.

Besides, he had just gotten her to do something she hadn't done in a while. Usually she just told people that she ran away, or her family abandoned her, or she was lost or some option that sounded just as horrible to them, but was preferable to her. Even if she couldn’t see them, she would be much happier if she just knew that her family was out there, waiting for her somewhere.

Then, Rin answered her question, which she had almost forgotten about in her memories. “Yes. I’m alone” She gasped at the bitterness that was in his voice, and the anger that momentarily crossed over his face before he said it. She felt tears of her own, and felt bad for asking a question that obviously made him feel so bad.“I guess it’s something we have in common” he added slowly. He still sounded upset, but his voice wasn't as harsh as before.

Feeling sad and guilty, her only answer was a whispered, “Yeah”

After that, the silence that descended upon them was almost painful and heavily pregnant as both got lost in their own thoughts. Rin just stared up at the sky, sighing. After a few moments, Fuyuko joined him, and was mesmerized immediately by the blue-gray of the sky. She suddenly felt exhausted and spent, as if she had just pushed a whole mountain out of her path. She just watched the lazy clouds rolling across the sky, slowly swaying back and forth as she began to hum the lullaby she had been singing earlier. Once again, it began to soothe her, and she almost felt like maybe, just a little bit, her sorrow was going away. Even if she had made him feel bad, talking to Rin about her family made her feel better.

Finally, though, he moved and said, “Forgive my curiosity. It must seem odd for a stranger such as myself to pry”

She shook her head slightly, still looking up. “No, I’m glad you did!” she admitted, her voice still slightly softer than its usual volume. “I should be sorry…I shouldn’t have asked…it obviously made you upset” He sounded almost sorry, but mostly, his voice just sounded confused. His face was conflicted, and she wondered if she had done something wrong.

She kept humming for a few moments more, this time looking at Rin instead of the sky. She felt something weird inside her as she watched him. Something about him was just...tragic. Slowly, she reached into her bag. She rummaged through it without looking for just a few seconds before she found her prize.

Her eyes half-closed, she lifted her flute to her lips and began to play.

[Rin Hayashi]

“Don’t be. There’s nothing you, or I, can do about it. What’s done is done…”

“Indeed,” Rin agreed quietly. “What is done is done, and what will be will be.” He said the words in a hushed tone, almost as if he was speaking to himself, but the girl could probably still hear him. The past was, after all, the past, and there was nothing you could do to change it. Sometimes he wished someone would invent some device that could take you back in time. He would do so many things differently… It was pointless to think about that though. He knew that. The past was the past, the future was the future. Concentrate on the now, the present. That was the simple rule he lived by. Or, tried to live by.

Rin became lost in his own thoughts, something he often did, as he was not used to having conversations with other living beings. Why was he still standing here? They’d had their little ‘chat,’ said what was on their minds, and now it was over. Normally, Rin would have bid the person a good day and went on walking, headed wherever it was he was going. Today, however, he found that he couldn’t do that. This girl, whatever her name was, had just told him she was an orphan, that her family had been killed. How the hell was he supposed to just walk away now? He already felt like a bad enough person as it was, and by leaving a child, or at least he was assuming she was a child, alone in the wilderness…that would just make him an even worse person. Damn it all. Why did he have to have a conscience? Why?

“No, I’m glad you did! I should be sorry…I shouldn’t have asked…it obviously made you upset.”

Rin didn’t make any comments on what she said this time. He didn’t know what t say. She was glad? Why? If someone had asked him a question like that he wouldn’t have been happy in the slightest. He sighed inwardly. He would never understand other people. “It was only fair,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders, the bitterness gone from his tone. “A question for a question, eh?” His voice had gone back to being monotone, holding no real emotion. He didn’t have a lot of practice with communicating with others, so he didn’t use his voice very often. Whenever he did it sounded strange to him, foreign.

As he stood there, the girl began to hum again. He didn’t really know why she was doing it, but he didn’t mind. At least she had a nice voice. That was really the most important thing. Rin disliked being around humans with displeasing voices, as they were rather grating on his ears. So, the voice was one of the many ways he judged someone’s beauty. The humming soon stopped though, and it was replaced by a quiet shuffling sound. Rin lifted an eyebrow in question, wondering what the girl was doing. A few moments later, he got his answer as the sound of music filled the air. His misty eyes widened a little, surprised at the sound. A flute?

Rin listened to the girl play, mesmerized by the sound. Music was one of the very few things he still enjoyed in life, well, if it was played right. He found it soothing, calming to his senses. The dark-haired man closed his eyes, tilting his head back in a relaxed way. The features of his face seemed to loosen ever so slightly. “You play well,” he told her in a quiet voice, not wanting to break the beautiful sound she was creating. It was rare that he gave out compliments.

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[Fuyuko Tama]

“Indeed”, she was vaguely aware of Rin saying. She assumed he was talking about her earlier statements. “What is done is done, what will be will be” She nodded slightly at those words, her eyes lighting up. Then, in response to her apology, “It was only fair. A question for a question, eh?” What an interesting way of looking at it. She hadn’t really thought of it like that. Still, she was glad.

When she began to play, he stopped talking. She watched his face relax and soften slightly, and his eyes widened ever so slightly. Just looking at him, now, he looked like a picture of peace. The rough edge he had had earlier seemed to fade away.

Then, after a few moments of music, “You play well”

Pride filled her up when he said that. It was only three simple words that were probably dropped nonchalantly, but they meant more to her than anything. The music took a happier, more joyful tone, as she didn’t want to stop playing to thank him. She could just thank him like this. She watched his face as he became entranced by the music, and her heart leapt. She loved it when she met people who could understand her music, and enjoyed it as he was. She closed her eyes all the way and kept playing. Sometimes even she wondered how she could play so flawlessly without having to look at notes or even at her fingers, but she had long since stopped questioning the magic. She just played with all her heart, which, for once, didn’t feel sad or burdened at all. The music, like her soul, was free and flying.

Music was probably the only thing that freed her nowadays. She could see places she had never seen, meet people she would never meet, and feel feelings she didn’t dare to feel through the notes that flowed from whatever force in the universe guided her flighty fingers. The comfort of having her flute and harp almost made up for the pain of having not a living soul in the world to care. Plus, it seemed to draw people together who ordinarily would either ignore each other, or be at each other’s throat for some petty reason or another.

For instance, her and Rin.

The silence of the man before her was actually somewhat comforting. She knew that, if either tried to speak now, the spell would be broken and that was something she knew she would regret. Her mother had always taught her to savor peace while it lasted.

When she finally got to the end of the song, she lowered the flute gratefully, a half-smile gracing her young face. “I’m very glad you like it. I’ve been practicing a lot” she said, and held it in her hands. She turned it over a few times, at first unsure what exactly she was supposed to say next. “And it was your song, anyway, so I’d hope you’d like it”

[Rin Hayashi]

After receiving Rin’s compliment, the tune the girl was playing became livelier, somehow brighter, happier. It expressed the joy she felt within. Perhaps she was saying ‘thank you.’ Rin could hear it in the music, in the notes that floated so lightly through the air. He smiled ever so slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting with the notes of the music.

Sound was a language that he understood very well. People’s voices, the whistle of the wind, musical melodies; they all told a story of their own. If you listened closely, you would almost be able to hear words. Well, that is, if you had the right ear. Not everyone could understand the sound of music. It took a certain type of person to be able to fully grasp the notes. Everyone could hear it, but not everyone could understand it. You had to listen closely, very closely, to be able to truly comprehend the melody. For, music was not as simple as humans seemed to think it was. It was the song of the heart.

“I’m very glad you like it. I’ve been practicing a lot.”

The girl’s song came to an end, and as it did so, as the music stopped, Rin’s face slowly returned to normal, the very slight smile disappearing from his lips. “A question,” Rin mused, voice rather thoughtful. “How long have you been playing?” While Rin despised people asking questions about his own life, he was more than willing to ask questions about the lives of others. He was curious by nature, a person who enjoyed learning. This girl, she was amazing at what she did. She must have been practicing for years now. But she sounded so…young.

“And it was your song, anyway, so I’d hope you’d like it.”

Rin tilted his head to the side at this, wondering what the girl meant. “My song?” he echoed her words, eyebrows slanting down in a confused way. Sometimes the things that people said baffled him, though that might just be because he had so little experience talking with them. He looked thoughtful. “Would you like to explain to me how exactly it was my song?” he asked her. His tone wasn’t so reprimanding now, but more curious. He was still slightly suspicious of this newcomer, though her music seemed to have calmed him, and he was more willing to listen to what she had to say. He supposed that for a soul who could create such a beautiful sound, he could spare a few moments of his time.

As Rin waited for an answer, he held out his hand to the girl. “May I see that?” he asked her. From the sound the instrument had been making, it sounded like a flute. He waited, hand outstretched, palm open, for her to hand him the item. He wasn’t sure if the girl would obey him though, as it seemed like a treasured item to her. For all she knew, he was a bandit and the second she placed it in his hand he would run away and steal it. “I will give it back,” he added with a sigh, speaking up before she had a chance to ask him.

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[Fuyuko Tama]

The music had relaxed him somewhat. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it exactly, but something about Rin seemed calmer, less hostile…a lot more agreeable. And his voice, when he spoke, was edged not with roughness, but with curiosity. He still looked the same though, she thought with amusement. His face went back to its blank, almost angry expression pretty much the second she stopped playing. She chuckled lightly at this, and her heart blossomed slightly.

“May I see that?” he asked suddenly, and held out his hand. He held his hand out, and she stared at it for just a second as she realized he wanted to look at her flute. “I will give it back” he said, sighing as if he expected her to distrust him. She laughed again. He was so silly.

She gave him the flute willingly, putting it gently in the palm of his hand and twisting it so that he couldn’t possibly drop it. “I know you will” she said, and she meant it. She now had complete and utter faith in him. She slid the flute into his hands gently, and a little piece of her heart went out with it. He really didn’t know how much it really meant that she was handing it to him; it was one of the few ties she had to her family besides her own fuzzy memories, which became so vivid and scary during the full moon. “I trust you”

Speaking of that she thought worriedly, and looked at the sky. It was starting to get dark out, but not dark enough yet to get cold. She tried to find the moon, but it was hidden behind the peak of the mountain.She bit her lip worriedly. She was certain she still had a few days left, but she could never truly be sure… I need to find a place to hide out until it passes Like any hanyou, she hid away during her “time of the month”, and kept herself guarded against anything that might happen, even if the area seemed danger-free.

Yet another time when music seemed to be her only savior. During her years without music, her monthly weak night were horrific and terrifying, and she spent the entire night in tears, hugging herself and fearing every little sound, shadow and movement. And then, when she began to play, it was like she had someone there to hold her through it, and protect her when it seemed like all was lost.

Then, she went about answering his question. “I’ve been playing for…almost thirteen years now” she admitted. It was true; it had taken her almost three years after her…family…died…for her to even try and play any music. Every time she looked at the things, she saw her parents’ faces, and burst into tears. Once she got over it, though, she had found her life to be almost infinitely better, not only because she could perform, but because she had found a way to cope with her grief that wasn’t explosive, and actually made her feel a little bit better about her losses.

She ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. “And…I can’t explain exactly how it was your song, but…it was” she said weakly, and, with some distraught, tried again. “You…inspired that song, I guess you could say” She grinned widely. “Without you, I don’t think that song would have been so happy!” She hoped he understood what she was saying…to her, it made perfect sense, but sometimes she didn’t really make sense to other people. Came from being by herself all the time, she guessed. “That song came from Rin” she finished, with that dramatic flair that always annoyed people.

[Rin Hayashi]

“What?” The girl laughed, which puzzled Rin. What was so funny? He didn’t see anything laughable about this. Oh, whatever… Other humans confused him. Or, maybe there really was something funny and he somehow wasn’t seeing it. That wouldn’t be a surprise, as he seemed to lack a sense of humor. Well, unless it involved sarcasm, that is. He was quite skilled at making sarcastic comments, though it usually came at the expense of another’s feelings.

“I know you will. I trust you.”

Rin felt the instrument being placed in his hands, and he slowly wrapped his fingers around. Ah, yes, it was indeed a flute. He could recognize the shape easily. He was a little surprised that the girl had handed it to him so easily though. She said that she trusted him, but how could she? They had only just met! She was much too trusting of people. “It is not wise to be so trusting of people, especially those you have just met,” Rin told her, slowly lifting the flute, as if inspecting it. “I could steal this, you know. You are lucky I am not a bandit.” He ran his fingers over the flute, feeling the small holes, the texture.

“I’ve been playing for…almost thirteen years now.”

The girl’s words left Rin a little surprised. Thirteen years? That was a long time. It was more than half his life! Again, he found himself wondering how old this girl was. This time, he found his voice and asked. “Thirteen years, eh? That is quite a long time. What is your age?” He had been guessing that the girl he’d been talking to was around thirteen herself, if not a little older, however, if she had been playing for thirteen years that would be impossible. This left him slightly baffled. Hm… Perhaps she was older than he had previously thought?

“And…I can’t explain exactly how it was your song, but…it was. You…inspired that song, I guess you could say. Without you, I don’t think that song would have been so happy! That song came from Rin.”

The girl sounded a little troubled by this, so Rin just nodded his head slowly. “I see,” he mused. He had inspired that? Interesting. Apparently he had made the girl happier than he had thought. That was strange, seeing as it wasn’t very often he made people happy. He made them mad, he made them angry, he made them frustrated, and he even made them cry… but he didn’t make them happy. That wasn’t his job. He was a heartless bastard, according to himself, and all he did was push people away with his silence and sarcasm. He hadn’t meant to make this girl happy, he’d just been talking, saying whatever thoughts happened to drift through his mind. He supposed it was a nice feeling though. It was a change from the usual.

Rin was silent for a few long moments, nothing unusual for him, and then he set the bamboo cane he was carrying down, laying it on the path beside him. Then he lifted the flute that the girl had handed to him to his lips. He moved his fingers along the instrument, getting a better feel for it, and then he blew softly. A quiet whistle filled the air. A long time ago, back in his old village, one of the elders had showed him how to play the flute. He hadn’t touched the instrument for years, and it felt strange against his fingertips, but he still knew a few notes from memory. He could only play one song, one single melody, but he knew that song by heart.

As he first started to play, some of the notes sounded a little off, like maybe his finger had hit the wrong hole. However, as he continued, the song progressing farther, the melody became smoother, perfect, as his memory helped his fingers find the right holes to cover. Even if his sight failed him, his memory did not. He had played this song so many times that it would be impossible to forget it. The song he played was a melancholy one, slow and rather sad. It was quite beautiful though, and calming, the notes having a tranquil sound to them. It was a tune that might be played to a child to help them sleep at night. He kept this up for a few minutes, lost in the song, and then he let it slowly fade, lowering the instrument from his lips.

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