The Blind Woman and The Hyena

II

''Alma!!"

"Bellamy!! Where are you!?"

Alma and Bellamy turned to the male and female voice calling out to them.

"Mama!", shouted Bellamy as he stood up.

"Papa!"

"Alma! Where have you been?!", shouted Alma's father, "I was worried sick!"

"I-I'm sorry, papa. Mittens ran away and I was trying to find her until Bellamy-san helped me find her stuck in a tree!", she said.

"Is that true, Bellamy, sweetie?", asked Bellamy's mother.

"Ye-yeah. She needed help anyways..'', mumbled Bellamy blushing slightly.

"Awe, Bella! This is the first time you've helped someone!", his mother said kissing his cheek.

"Mom! You're embarrassing me!", shouted Bellamy as he tried pushing her away.

Alma laughed a little and walked over to Bellamy and hugged hum tightly.

"Thank you for helping me and becoming my friend!", she said holding onto him.

Bellamy felt his face heat up and looked at her. He wrapped her arm around her fragile body and hugged her back.

"You're welcome, Alma-san.", he said with a small smile forming on his face.

His mother sighed softly as Alma's father crossed his arms glaring at Bellamy.

"Papa, can Bellamy join us at the festival today?!", asked Alma turning her head slightly to her dad.

"Well, I guess they can. It all depends on his mother.", he said.

"Oh, I don't mind. He can spend the night too, I wanna rest peacefully without having him running around crazy at home.", said Bellamy's mother.

"HEY!"

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The sun was setting and Alma was already excited to head to the festival. Bellamy was getting dressed into a white shirt and blue shorts and his shoes. Alma knocked on the bathroom door scaring Bellamy a bit.

"Bellamy-san! Hurry up! We're gonna miss the opening show!", she said.

She took a step back and Bellamy stepped out of the bathroom and looked at Alma's dress. Light blue with yellow sunflowers on it. He smiled softly and rubbed the back of his neck.

"You look nice.", he said.

"Awe, thank you!", she said happily.

Alma's father came out of his room and took Alma's hand and they all walked out of the house and headed to the festival. They arrived just in time for the music to start.

"C'mon, Bellamy! Dance with me!"

"D-dance?! I-I don't know how to..-''

"Just watch what I do!"

Bellamy let Alma lead him to the center where all the children danced and began to twirl her body to the music. Bellamy watched her moving to the beat and jumped in and held her hand and spinned her around. Laughter began to fill the air as the two danced the night away. Many people watched as the children danced like no tomorrow. Cheers began to erupt as the music stopped and the two in a final position. He had her up in the air and her hands on his shoulder for support. Bellamy placed her back on the ground and held her hand and ran to play some games.
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"That was amazing! I can't believe people were cheering!", said Alma.

"Y-yeah! I actually had a lot of fun!", said Bellamy.

"Seem like you two were having fun on the dance floor.", chuckled Alma's father.

"Yeah! It was so much fun!", shouted the two children.

Bellamy looked at Alma as she hugged the stuffed animal he won for her. The animal was a hyena. She held it in her arms as she walked with her dad side by side. He felt himself smiling at her. She was too innocent for this world.
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(Present time, Bellamy: Age 22)

The blonde man was leaning on the railing of the ship at the dead of night looking at the sky. He looked over to see a bird next to him holding a letter in his beak.

"Is it from Alma?", he asked.

The bird nodded and left after Bellamy paid him the fee.

''Geez, it took forever..", he said to himself as he opened the letter, "Dear Bellamy-san...-"

"Sorry for taking so long, Bellamy-san. I was so busy with Zuko that I never got a chance to tell father to write to you. I hope you're doing well. I really, really miss you. Zuko has been asking about you as well even though he is only 3 years old. His first word was Bella-san when he saw a picture frame of us at the festival when we were kids. Father was there and told me when he came to visit us. I was so happy to hear him calling you name. Father has been low on staff at the shop recently. Zuko was trying to help out with painting a flag from what he told me. I've been thinking about you a lot. Akashi was acting strange lately but don't worry, he hasn't done anything to me or Zuko. I promise...-"

"...I can't wait to hear your return! I'll have father write again soon! Love, Alma."

He laughed to himself a bit just by picturing Zuko calling out to him.

"Hah, I wonder if he looks like Alma. Maybe I can stop by sometime to see him.", he said to himself, ''I still don't trust that Akashi guy... I doubt he's even helping Alma around the town...''

Just by the thought of his long time crush and friend being hurt scared him dearly even if he doesn't show it. If only Akashi didn't get to her first, he would've been traveling with Alma wherever they went.

"Dammit..!!", he shouted, ''I can't just back down from this...... I can't believe I let her go... if only I had confessed to you first... Alma...''

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(Present time, Alma: Age 21)

Walking down the streets in her hometown, Alma held her son's hand as he helped her with groceries. Everyone in town knew how her boyfriend treated her. He was very abusive and had been cause cheating on Alma with other women her age.

''Mama, can we get apples?", askes Zuko.

"Of course! We better get some for you father as well!", she said.

''I don't like Akashi...", he said softly.

"Why not? He is your father, Zuko.", said Alma.

"He is always so mean to you... I hate him...", shouted Zuko.

Alma sighed heavily knowing he was right. Ever since Bellamy left 8 years ago, Akashi has been acting different towards Alma. He hasn't made a single effort to help her out with Zuko. Her father comes to visit when Akashi isn't home with Alma and Zuko.

'I wish Bellamy was here... maybe he'd know what to do...', she thought to herself.

"Well, has your father been mean to you, Zuko?", asked Alma.

"Y... yeah... he never plays with me and always yells at me when I do somethinh wrong.... I wish Bella-san were here.... I miss him..."

''I know, Zuko. I miss him too..."

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