Chapter 3 - her story

I thought I'd never get around to updating this. Yeah, I've been thinking about the plot this whole time, but never sat down to type. I was writing more on my other stories. I was almost done with the next chapters of 'Who wants to Play Truth or Dare?' and 'Itsu made mo' when my laptop crashed. I didn't save my stories to my memory card like I do my shinzo pics. Everything that was on my hardrive got deleted. I was sooooooo P.O.ed. I am saving everything to the card now. [br]
[br]
This next chapter is dedicated to dailyangel. She reminded me that this story still existed on the internet. One of the main reasons I didn't update was lack of motivation. I wrote faster on 'Itsu Made Mo' because my best friend, Takashi, threatened to kill me. That's motivation. I'd rather live to see the end of my stories. Thanks for your reviews. Huge thanks again to dailyangel.[br]
[br]
Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish I owned Shinzo. I wouldn't have degraded it like the American Dubbers did. I still like it, but the original is better.[br]
[br]
[br]
"So, Hikari, did you like your meal?" Kutall asked in his boisterous voice. He and Saago were putting up the washed plates as the rest of the group sat around the fire. The afternoon sky glowed orange and was getting darker by the minute..[br]
[br]
Hikari nodded, a smile gracing her lips. "Yes, it was delicious. I've never had anything quite like it. You're a very talented cook."[br]
Kutall blushed and scratched the back of his head.[br]
[br]
"It was nothing." he said modestly.[br]
[br]
"No, really!" she insisted. "I wouldn't mind some more of that." Saago laughed.[br]
[br]
"Really now?" he asked with mirth. "I'd be suprised if you could. I've never seen anyone eat more than Kutall, until now."[br]
[br]
"Seriously," Binka added, "It's like you hadn't eaten in months!"[br]
[br]
"Hn. A healing body absorbs nutrients like a sponge." she said as-a-matter-of-factly. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared away from them. Everybody laughed at her expression.[br]
[br]
"So, Hikari," Yakumo said after everyone had calmed down, "Could you tell us a little about yourself? How'd you get hurt like that?" Hikari's smile faded and she looked down. She didn't answer at first. Yakumo saw this. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to." Hikari looked up at her with a small smile on her face.[br]
[br]
"It's okay. I don't mind." her eyes gave a hint of sadness. "I was ambushed by bandits on the road. They outnumbered me and took my money. I'm lucky they left me with my staff and bag. I guess they beat me up really bad." To Hikari's suprise, Yakumo believed this and nodded her head.[br]
[br]
"Now tell us about you." She urged.[br]
[br]
"Alright. I've never been good at telling people about myself, but I'll give it a shot." She sat quiet for a moment to gather her thoughts. "I'm 15 years old. From as far as my memory goes, I grew up in Shoofay village. It was composed of a variety of human-based, insect, reptile, amphipian, animal-based, and bird Entterans, so I didn't grow up around much prejiduce. We had robots too, but not many."[br]
[br]
"Wow! Robots?!" Ren and Sen exlaimed.[br]
[br]
"Yes." she continued with a smile on her face. "Everybody got along and helped each other. It was wonderful. I liked to swim in the river and play at the park with the other kids. I loved it there."[br]
[br]
"What about your parents?" Binka asked. "Did you have any siblings?"[br]
[br]
"I don't know about blood siblings. It may sound strange, but I woke up one day in the forest with no knowledge of where I was or what I was doing before then. I was 6 then. My now best friends, Takashi and Seru, found me and brought me to the village."[br]
[br]
"Strange." Saago interupted. Hikari cocked her head to the side and stared at him with a question in her eyes. "Mushra, isn't this similar to you?" Mushra's eyes widened.[br]
[br]
"You're right! You found me in the woods one day when I was little. I had no memory of my parents or my previous life."[br]
[br]
"That is strange." Hikari agreed. Mushra nodded.[br]
[br]
"Sorry," Saago apologized, "please continue." [br]
[br]
"It's okay. Where was I?"[br]
[br]
"Takashi and Seru found you in the woods." Esty informed her.[br]
[br]
"Oh. Anyways, They took me back to the village to their Uncle Kosuke. He scolded them harshly for going out of the village. He didn't want to lose them the way he lost his brother and step-sister." Binka was about to ask something, but Hikari knew what it was. "A group of vicous travelers came through the village one day. They attacked their mother." the group gasped in shock. "Their dad died protecting her. The group killed her afterwards. They would have gotten killed, but their uncle hid them before they were discovered."[br]
[br]
"Why would anyone do that?" Binka asked sorrowfully. She remembered how her parents were taken out of her life.[br]
[br]
"She was a human. That's why." She said with anger in her voice. "The twins are half-breed. That's why Uncle Kosuke doesn't want them out of the village." She looked around at the groups shocked faces. "I didn't think you would be that suprised at the mention of humans. You have two here." She motioned to Yakumo and Binka.[br]
[br]
"H-how did you?" Kutall was to suprised to speak.[br]
[br]
"It's a weird 6th sense. I can tell a Kadrian from an Enterran, too, but it's very rare to see them in the northern hemisphere." Then turning to Yakumo she said "Don't worry. I won't hurt you or turn you in. I don't dislike humans." Yakumo smiled.[br]
[br]
"Are there really other humans left?" She asked hopefully. Her voice was bright and excited. Hikari gave her a weird look.[br]
[br]
"Of course! What human doesn't know of Shinzo? It's to the west." She pointed toward the setting sun, which was now halfway behind the treetops. "It's not that far away. Maybe two months from the last town I was in. I've no idea where I am right now, though." Yakumo's face was full of pure joy.[br]
[br]
"That's wonderful!" She jumped up and grabbed Hikari's hand. "How do you know so much about Shinzo?" Hikari's face dropped.[br]
[br]
"CRAP!" Hikari thought to herself in horror. "Me and my mouth."[br]
[br]
"Umm... Takashi and Seru told me. Their mother told their relatives of it. Uncle Kosuke told them." She said quickly. Yakumo nodded. She let go of her hands and spun around once.[br]
[br]
"This is great!" she exclaimed. "Shinzo is only two months away!"[br]
[br]
"I said 'I think'" Hikari reminded.[br]
[br]
"Who cares!" Kutall shouted in a sudden burst of excitement. He jumped up and grabbed Saago around the arm. They jumped around in circles. "We're almost to Shinzo!" He and Saago laughed as they kept pranccing around. The kittens were holding hands and walking in circles. Mushra was laughing along with everyone else. Hikari smiled as Yakumo and Binka grabbed hands and danced around each other. She stood and walked toward the woods behind her. [br]
[br]
"I'm going to think." She said to the group. She doubted that they heard her, but walked into the trees without turning back.[br]
[br]
----------[br]

[br]
The sun was almost set. The only evidence that it hadn't was the small glow behind the tree tops. The moon was out and a few stars already dotted the darkening sky. The group was setting up the other tents and getting ready to sleep.[br]
[br]
"Where's Hikari?" Binka asked.[br]
[br]
"She said she was going to think and went in the woods." Esty told them.[br]
[br]
"I hope she doesn't over exert herself." Yakumo worried. "Her wounds haven't healed much.[br]
[br]
"I'll go get her." Mushra said.[br]
[br]
"Okay, be careful."[br]
[br]
"I will." he assured her. "Ask Saago or Kutall to take first shift, tonight." Yakumo nodded and he headed into the forest.[br]
[br]
[br]
----------[br]
[br]

Hikari sat on a broad branch of a tree. Her back was leaning against the trunk as she let one leg dangle to her side and the other was was bent on the branch. She let one arm rest on her bent leg as she stared at her palm. She concentrated on it for a long time. A small ball of light slowly formed in the middle of her palm. She bit her lip as she concentrated harder. Then, with a small flash, the ball disappeared.[br]
[br]
"Crap!" she said under her breath.[br]
[br]
"Hey!" a voice suddenly called out. She jumped in suprise and lost her balance. She waved her hands back and forth frantically, trying to balance herself. She couldn't and clenched her eyes shut as she fell forward.[br]
[br]
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." She opened her eyes to see Mushra's face. He held her in his arms. She stared into his sky blue eyes. "You need to be careful from now on." His voice made her jump. She blinked a few times and looked at him again. She studied his face intently as he set her down.[br]
[br]
"Is there something on my face?" he asked. She blinked and looked at him again.[br]
[br]
"No. It's just that you suddenly look familar."[br]
[br]
"Oh. I don't think we've met before." [br]
[br]
"Me neither. It's just a weird feeling. Thanks for saving me. That's twice. I owe you." She averted her eyes from his gaze and drifted into deep thought.[br]
[br]
"Don't worry about it. Why were you up in that tree?" Mushra asked as he stared up at the branch she was on.[br]
[br]
"I was thinking." she said absentmindedly.[br]
[br]
"Of what?" he asked. "What the rest of your story is going to be, or how you're going to leave in the easiest way?" She glared up at him suddenly.[br]
[br]
"The first option." she said slowly. "I take it that you didn't give much detail of my would be murder site. I thank you for that." He nodded.[br]
[br]
"I was going to let you decide. You're a warrior." It was a statement. Not a question.[br]
[br]
"I was. I'm not too sure about that anymore. Thank you for keeping quiet."[br]
[br]
"No problem," he said with a grin, "but I would appreciate it if I could know the whole story." Hikari nodded.[br]
[br]
"I owe you for my life, so I'll tell you." She looked up at the dark sky. The sun had completely set. "Could we discuss it another time though."[br]
[br]
"Sure. We need to head back to camp." Mushra turned around and started walking toward the camp. He turned around when he didn't hear footsteps behind him. Hikari was still standing in the same spot. she was staring up at the sky.[br]
[br]
"Mushra..." She asked in a small voice. She looked at him.[br]
[br]
"Hmmm?" he was walking back towards her.[br]
[br]
"A-are you sure that there was n-nobody else around" her voice cracked a bit.[br]
[br]
"Yes. I'm sure." he said slowly.[br]
[br]
"Oh, okay." She began to walk in the direction he had before. She held her head low and was silent as he hurried ahead of her to lead.The walk was silent as they trudged along. Mushra seemed worried by the silence.[br]
[br]
"Don't worry." he reassured softly. "They'll be okay. You got out safe. There's no reason they wouldn't." Hikari didn't answer, but he knew she listened.[br]
[br]
As they neared the campsite, they could see the flickering of the fire through the thinning trees. Saago was sitting on a log with a blanket around his thin frame. He saw them and waved. As they came close enough to hear, he spoke.[br]
[br]
"Me and Kutall are sharing the large tent as ussual. The kittens have squeezed in with Yakumo and Binka, so Mushra has more space in his tent. You'll sleep there. If you want extra blankets, ask whoever's on gaurd and they'll find some for you." He poked the fire's ashes with a stick. The flames crackled as they grew slightly.[br]
[br]
"If you want," Mushra turned to Hikari, "I'll sleep outside so you can have the tent to yourself." She shook her head slightly.[br]
[br]
"It's okay. I don't want to force you outside."[br]
[br]
"You sure?" he asked. She nodded quickly.[br]
[br]
"Hikari," Saago looked up at her as he spoke, "Yakumo left you a pair of night clothes in the tent. She said if the tank top is too big, borrow a T-shirt from someone." Then he added in a whisper "I don't recomend borrowing from Kutall, though." He glanced at his tent as he spoke. Hikari chuckled a little. Saago grinned at his own joke. When he opened his eyes he blinked a couple of times. He looked at Mushra, then Hikari, then back at Mushra. [br]
[br]
"Now that I compare you two," he continued to switch his gaze back and forth. "You could probably fit into almost anything Mushra has. You two are almost the same height. Mushra's maybe got an inch on you. At least your not the short one anymore, Mushra." He chuckled.[br]
[br]
"What do you mean? I never was the short one!" he said indigently. "Besides," he grumbled, "I've grown two inches since we've started traveling."[br]
[br]
"So how tall are you now? Five feet?"[br]
[br]
"Haha. Very funny. I'm five foot three."[br]
[br]
"Wow." Saago said with sarcasm. "That's a big difference." Mushra glared at him for a second, but dropped the subject.[br]
[br]
"Alright, go get ready, Hikari." he told her. "I'll wait out here." She nodded and turned into the tent. Mushra sat down on the log next to Saago.[br]
[br]
"How is she?" Saago whispered.[br]
[br]
"She's fine. She just needed time to think some things out." His voice was low and quiet. Saago nodded in understanding. After a moment Hikari exited the tent. She was weraring the same torn shirt as before, but was now wearing a pair of long purple striped pants. She held a pink tank top against her chest.[br]
[br]
"It's too big. The straps slide off my shoulders." She folded the top and layed it on the log. Mushra stood up and led her to the tent.[br]
[br]
"I think I have a clean T-shirt. We haven't washed laundry in a week. It's hard when your always on the road." She followed silently into the tent. He grabbed a pack from the corner and began to dig through it. He pulled out a few shirts and a pair of pants and dropped them on the floor. He rummaged through his bag a bit more before he pulled out a folded black T-shirt and tossed it to her.[br]
[br]
"Now that's my favorite shirt, so don't go running away." Her lips curved into a small smile as she unfolded the shirt and held it against her chest. On the front, a red-orange phoenix was flying upward with a trail of sparks behind it. The bird stood out against the black.[br]
[br]
"I won't. I promise." He grinned one of his wide grins.[br]
[br]
"Good." He left the tent, and she changed into the shirt. When she was done, She opened the tent flap.[br]
[br]
"I'm done." Mushra stood up and went into the tent as she stood outside. After a moment he stuck his head out.[br]
[br]
"Night, Saago." [br]
[br]
"Good night." [br]
[br]
Hikari followed Mushra back into the tent. He wore a pair of boxers with blue flames and plain white T-shirt. He had set up a large pallet with four pillows and had set her bag in the corner by his. [br]
[br]
"Pick whichever side and pillows you want. I don't care what you choose." She sat down on the left side and pulled one of the pillows from the pile.[br]
[br]
"You can get two if you want." Mushra offered.[br]
[br]
"It's alright. I'm used to one." She lay down with her back facing him and pulled the blankets over her shoulder. Mushra lay down on his side with his back facing her. He reached over and turned off the gas lamp. It was pitch black until their eyes adjusted. All was silent, except for the popping of the fire outside.[br]
[br]
"Mushra..." Hikari said after a minute or two. Mushra grunted in reply. "Why is Yakumo so exited about Shinzo?" Mushra was quiet for a moment.[br]
[br]
"Yakumo needs to reach Shinzo to save the last of the humans." he said groggily. "She was intrusted by her father, Dr.Tatsuro."[br]
[br]
"That name sounds familar."[br]
[br]
"Your uncle might've mentioned him." he suggested. "Ask Yakumo if you wanna know more. She'll tell you." [br]
[br]
"Yeah." she agreed quietly. "Good night, Mushra."[br]
[br]
"Good night, Hikari. Sweet dreams." With that, She slowly driffted off to sleep. [br]
[br]
[br]
[br]
That's the 3rd chapter. I popped in my Shinzo DVDs halfway through, because I forgot 2 or three things. I realize I made a mistake in Ch. 1. Yakumo has blue eyes, not brown.... I gotta fix that. I'll try and update soon. I've said that each time I've updated, but the chapters are months in between. Lazyness is my greatest enemy.[br]
[br]
To my best friend Sara: I just thought of something. If you kill me, I'll never be able to update. So HAAA!!![br]
[br]
[br]

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment