The Last Elementalist

Part 16

It was two weeks before his birthday. Yuri was laying on the grass near the river, staring at the clouds in the sky. He'd had this knot in his stomach for a couple of days now as if something could happen at any moment now, but he didn't know what. His father also hadn't returned to the village yet, that wasn't unusual but Yuri wished his father was here now more then ever. Yuri didn't know why he was feeling this way. He sighed and looked at the tree of life. It might help him find more clarity. He shook his head. 'I could be trapped in there for days, weeks even' he thought. Yuri was curious though, he had learned all about the tree of life. But no one in that is alive at this moment has ever touched it. Well, he and Yuka did when they transferred souls into it. 'Should I?' he asked himself. He sat up straight and thought it through. But something deep within him said that the time wasn't right. So, he laid back down and resumed watching the clouds in the sky. He cleared his mind, or tried to at least, and only focused on that.

Dark figures were approaching through the forest. They approached the barrier and stepped over it with ease. 'That shouldn't be possible' Yuri thought.Death, destruction, people screaming in the streets, total chaos. Blood. Blood. Blood. Everywhere he looked he saw blood. Death. Death. Death and more death. He saw the white locks of his mother, the light already left her eyes. Ryo. Mai. Yuka. Kazuki. Keiji. Jiji. Baba. They were all gone. He fell to his knees in the middle of the chaos, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Mama" he sobbed "Mamaaaaa!" he yelled out.

The boy's eyes shot open. His hair was drenched in sweat, tears were streaming down his face. He sat up with wide eyes, breathing heavily. After the fear wore off, the boy got up and dashed towards the village. He ran and ran. As fast as his little legs would carry him. The first house he saw was the one from his grandparents. Yuri ran inside. "Baba?!" he yelled, the elderly woman poked her head out from the kitchen. "What's wrong, Yuri-kun?" she asked as she sees the state her grandson is in. Tears welled up in the small boys eyes as relief washed over him. 'It was only a dream' he thought. He ran towards his grandmother and hugged her legs. "What's all this yelling about?" Kosuke asked "Jiji!" Yuri yelled out and ran towards his grandfather, also hugging him around his knees. Kosuke bent down so he was at the young boy's height. "What's the matter, kiddo?" Kosuke asked with concern for his only grandchild. The small boy debated on whether he should tell them or not, but decided not to. 'It was just a dream. Nothing more. No need to worry them.' he thought to himself. "Nothing. Just missed you, that's all. Haven't seen you two in a long time" Yuri says "You were here yesterday" his grandfather deadpanned

 "Oh don't be such a sour puss" Kyoko says to her husband "You're always welcome here, Yuri-kun" she says turning towards the small child "Now, who wants some ramen?" she asks knowingly as she knows that both her husband and her grandson absolutely loved ramen, especially if she was the one that made it. "Yes, please!" Yuri yells excitingly "Inside voice, Yuri-kun" Kosuke says, Yuri just sticks his tongue out at him. Kosuke just did the same right back at the small boy. Kosuke and Yuri burst out laughing. Kyoko just shakes her head at the two "Boys" she mutters with a small laugh. She brings over three bowls to the table. Yuri claps his hands and excitingly bounces in his chair. 

Yuri was full after half a bowl of ramen, it was delicious but his stomach wouldn't allow for any more of it to go in and besides that was he also just very tired. That's what not sleeping at night will do to you. He let out a big yawn and his eyes started to droop. "I think someone is a little tired" Kosuke said to his wife with a small chuckle. Kyoko scooped the small child up in her arms, before the boy could fall of his chair. "Better get this one back home, Hikari will be glad to know he's alright. She's bound to be worried about him by now" Kyoko tells her husband. "Better tell her about the weird behavior he exhibited also" Kosuke adds looking at his wife, worry etched onto his face.

Kosuke and his wife walked over to their youngest daughter's house. Kyoko carried a sleeping Yuri in her arms as they made their way to their destination. Hikari as if she had predicted that they were coming came flying out the door. "Oh thank Kami, he's okay!" she exclaimed once they came into view. Kosuke motioned to his daughter to keep it down, but Hikari seemed to be oblivious to it. "I was so damn worried about you, Yuri-kun! Never do that again!" she adds, the boy sleepily looks up at his mother, rubbing his eyes before laying his head back down on his grandmothers shoulder and going back to sleep. This shut the mother up instantly. Kyoko handed the boy to his mother, which caused the boy to stir and whine a little. Hikari took him from her mother and soothingly rubbed circles on his back. The boy relaxed and snuggled closer to his mother, thumb in mouth. Hikari smiled down at her baby boy, it had been a long time since she saw him this peaceful.