{Shadows In The Snow} |Monkie Kid AU| •Book 1•

•Chapter 24• {|Tales Of The Past|} •Pt.1•

{Kenji's POV}
It was a long time ago, a village in the grassy lands of China was flourishing across the valley. I was a farmer and son of a very strict family, working with my father in order to collect for the winter months. When I returned home, all seemed swell. "Hello mother!" I said to my mother as she was helping my sister with something, "Hello my son, how was collecting the crops today?" She asked, I responded. "It was nice! The cool air helped me keep working under the hot spring heat!" I said back cheerfully, my mother smiled, finishing helping my little sister and then going to make dinner before father returns. I sit the vegetables and meats on the counter and she smiled in pleasure to getting the right ingredients she needed and began to cut them. I sat by and watched with a smile, admiring my mother's wonderful cooking skills but then heard her cough, they sounded wheezed and built up, making me worried and I soon asked. "Mother, are you doing ok?" She gave me a reassuring smile and nodded at me as she continued to cook, coughing again as she breathed for air after coughing so much.

When nightfall came, I heard father return home from collecting fish and other foods to add for dinner. My dear mother was resting on the couch, sadly looking more pale but still holding strong, making her catch her darling's attention. "Dear, what is the matter? You seem pale..." he asked, cupping her cheek and down on one knee before her. "I'm doing well my love...just a bit under the weather." She spoke in a quiet tone, making my father more worried and check her temperature, only to feel that it's burning hot, he immediately got up. "My dear you are terribly sick, why would you lie to me like that???" He asked her in a stern and serious voice, she looked a bit afraid but spoke. "I didn't want to worry you or our children...." She spoke, sounding guilty and saddened but felt my father lift up her chin for her to face him, "I know you don't want to worry us, but I'm more concerned for you and they're safety, this sickness might be deadly to you dear...plz let me help, don't lie to me like that again...ok?" He asked, my mother nodding back in response and then my father giving her a kiss and resting his forehead against hers for her to feel at least some sort of comfort. I watched from my room and felt bad about my mother being sick but also liked that my father at least shown that he cared when he comforted her through the worry. It hasn't been too long past before the sickness got worse...she began to cough more roughly and wheeze as if her throat was in torture, being less motivated and tired mostly all day long...it broke my father's heart seeing her in such a state..it broke mine too...the only thing we could do was give her medicine and herbs to heal her sickness, some of it worked...but it wasn't enough...she got worse by the days and seemed to be more nauseous and stiff...until one fateful rainy night...she croaked. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" I heard my father scream in pure pain and heartbreak, me and my sister sitting in the room nearby and hearing my father's fainted sobs....I couldn't control myself from crying either...neither did my sister. The other monkeys and villagers came and took away my mother to her burial...my father being held back in tears and sobs of utter sadness and grief, me trying to stop him from intervening...my little sister was saddened and shed a tear muttering the words "Mommy...." and hugging my father's leg. That very night was grieving for all of us, my father being the leader of the village and loosing one of our loved ones was all it took to break my father.

Years went by and I was training with my father, my father must've been strict...but he appreciated our strength and growth that showed in every strategy we trained for. "Keep your stance boy, you need to stay on your feet if your fighting an enemy..." said my father as I struggled to get up, shaking my head from the impact and holding my stick firm and tight in my grasp. I nodded to him and tried to strike, hitting him on impact with everything I had and him only to be missing and dodging every last hit. I growled and swung the stick hard at my fathers arm, earning a grunt and him looking stunned but kept his composure and me swing-kicking him in his legs, him gasping and falling onto the ground, me victorious. "Wow...wonderful speed AND force my son. I'm sure you'll do well in the wars that might come...the Monkey King expects us to do good, I might be a leader but he is our king...it's our duty to be properly prepared for what there is to come." Said my father as he stood up straight, his head up high and a hand behind his back as the stick was in the other, I nodded and bowed in thanks to his approval in my growth. My little sister came into the dojo and looked dressed in fancy attire, makeup on her face and her hair made in fancy ribbons and hairpins, my father looking surprised yet stern. "Hello my daughter, what is this?" Asked father, my dear sister replied. "Tonight is the Sakura Festival father and I thought that it was appropriate to dress for the occasion." She responded, her standing stiff and her head up high, father smiled and nodded to her. "Why yes, the festival...well, you surely look beautiful for this grand celebration. Beautiful....just like your mother..." father said as he began to look teary eyed and began to wipe his eyes. "Father! No! I-It's ok..! Mother was a beautiful woman indeed, most beautiful in the village, I'm sure she must've wanted this for us..even tho she might be gone, we're still a family..." said my sister in a frantic, trying to calm and comfort father, he simply sighed and smiled back. "Yes...she must've wanted this....well, at least I still have my children..." he spoke softly with tears in his eyes, smiling weakly. I looked sorrowful for him and hugged, my sister doing the same, and father returning the hug in tears. Soon as the years went by, I was training on my own and my father was growing older, still strong yet weakened due to aging, I on the other hand stood my ground and started to become the man of the house in due time, taking care of my younger sister and of course my father, trying to honor our family and protect them from danger...but sadly the time of war started to approach and male monkeys of the village were getting ready and training for war, I, following behind them. I trained harder than ever, day and night I'd train myself to the core until my muscles and body was sore, destined to honor my father and mother and sister. My father wanted to go to war but I tried to convince him it's not safe, and that he'll die out there...due to his old age and weakening, he might not make it but he went anyways, determined to save and protect our territory from the Demon Bull King that was soon approaching. Sadly...he died soon due to sickness and I and my sister was growing older, beginning to go our separate ways, letting our father be at peace, while I trained for war that would be years to come and protect my home, being the leader of the village and making a vow to protect and save it from the dangers that might come. As I went to train in the mountains, I met a beautiful woman, Chun Fang. She was a maiden in the village and was a very kind hearted person...when I saw her I couldn't stop glancing at her beauty...the way she smiled and talked, music to my ears...when I first met her, I was already ready to ask her hand in marriage, but I only just knew her for a bit...so I waited until the time was right. Years have passed since we've became friends, we soon got close and became more than companions....we talked and shared our secrets, one of them being my feelings for her...and when she heard, she gladly agreed and felt the same about me..and then it was settled...we soon became a couple and lived our lives helping and loving each other, sharing loyalty and honesty every step of the way and even tho we made our mistakes, we still loved each other like no other in that village...but I had to train. I trained for years and years in end, promising Chun that I'd return for her and be with her once I am strong enough to fight for her and for our home. As the years went by, I have strengthened and grew more experienced and well known in my training, destined to protect and fight for peace, and love...with my own life and soul.