A Nagas tale

A solitary life again

The elder had to be put on bed rest after Audrey was pulled away from this world. I look at my bandaged arm the image of Audrey's sorrow-filled face still haunts my mind. The office feels empty despite the large bookshelves filled with books. The sound of my pen scratching at the paper is all I hear. I waited for Audrey to let out a bored sigh or ask for a spot in my lap. I look around seeing Yyvonne sitting by the door looking out at the skies. "Kogen, do you think Audrey misses us?" she asked turning to me. Her eyes are swollen from how much she's been crying these past four days. I nod "She does. I'm sure of it." I hoped she could still remember us. "I think the moon is really mean," Yyvonne whispers. I shake my head 'I need to find a way to bring her back... I need to ask that old man if there is a way to track her down.' The reports on my desk helped me a little to forget about my problem. 'If I had not let go... If only I reacted with time.' I look at my hand again. "Leader!" I look up at Leo as he walks in with Idris. "what do you two idiots want?" I ask not in the mood to deal with their shenanigans. "Oh! we wanted to help you relax a bit!" they pull out a bottle of sake. I frown "Not interested." Not in the mood to drink. "Awe! come on! you knew that girl would leave you one day or another!" Idris protests. I frown trying to keep my temper down. 'they don't know about Audrey and this situation.' I scoff "Do as you please." I look back at my work. I get home and Audrey's scent still lingers. 'Kogen! Welcome home!' I can still hear her greet me. 'what's for dinner? do you mind if I help you? I really want to learn what dishes you like.' The memory of her following me wanting to learn from me. I stand in the kitchen where countless times I found her making a mess of it making food for us. I shake my head and make sure to make food for us to eat. I plate two trays seeing extra food left in the pans. 'I made food for three again.' Yyvonne picks up her tray and walks to the table in the kitchen. She sits down ready to eat. 'thats right, we used to eat in here.' I set my plate down on the table. 'this was our usual eating spot before Audrey showed up.' I sit down watching Yyvonne eat waiting for her to tell me something anything. Like her usual self I wanted Yyvonne to tell me about the sweets she wanted or the game she wanted to play. 'Yyvonne! what games do you want to play tomorrow!?' I remember Audrey always asked like a playful child she always went along with Yvonne's requests. "Is there anything you want to do tomorrow?" I ask my silent daughter. She shakes her head "Can I wait at home tomorrow?" she asks. I nod "Sure, you can wait here tomorrow." I know what she's been doing while she is here. After dinner, we showered and went to bed. I lay on my futon smelling Audrey's scent still sticking to the sheets I could sleep. 'Kogen... kogen?' I open my eyes to find her smiling at me. Her plump pink lips pulled into a wide grin. 'How was your day today?' she asked me curiously. I sit up and pull her into my arms 'It's been a lonely day.' I tell her. 'Why? Did something happen?' She looks at me with her beautifully bright brown eyes. 'I miss you a lot.' I don't hide what I felt. 'I am right here though, you can always find me here waiting.' She giggled rubbing her nose on my neck like she always did. 'I want you in my arms, Audrey.' I hug her tighter 'I want you to sit with me every day reading boring reports.' I tuck my face into her neck wanting to get the scent of grapefruits. 'Then I will go with you to work more often.' She agrees. 'Audrey I don't want you to leave again.' I tell her my selfish want to keep her close. I would cage her into my house if it meant she did not leave my side. I would chain her to the room so she would not leave me. 'Kogen, it's time to wake up.' I feel her body vanish in my hold. I open my eyes "Kogen! It's time to wake up!" Yyvonne screamed from behind the door. I sit up feeling empty seeing Audrey not lying next to me. I take a deep breath 'Why don't you take me with you? If you are going to meet me in a dream.' I get up and start my daily routine as the leader of the guards. As the days go by Audrey's scent starts fading making sleep elusive to me.  I wake up in my empty bed for the 30th day in a row. I feel pathetic holding onto one of Audrey's dresses in hopes of capturing the smallest of her. Sleep became an enemy hiding a loved one from me. I change into my uniform and find Yyvonne sitting on the catwalk outside again talking to the moon despite the moon being long asleep. The elder had recovered a week ago and has vanished from our sights. He did not explain how he knew the aura that took Audrey was a naga. He did not explain how he became aware of what was going on. Today I needed to patrol the outskirts a job I took up to keep me busy. If I do nothing I feel lost, without Audrey there to talk with or spend time with. I stand on the outskirts looking up at the melting world. 'Is this really all I did with my life before I found Audrey?' My eyes scanned the area hoping her aura would pop out in the forest like before. "Oh did that young lady already get tired of you?" I turn to one of the older couples in this village. "Or did you kill her like the others?" the old man asks. I scoff unable to say anything I ignored their condescending words. The only people aware of the situation are me, my mother, Missy, Otani, Yyvonne, and the elder. These days reports keep coming in about the port being targeted by the snake cultists trying to get their hands on Audrey. They are idiots marching to their deaths considering Audrey was no longer here. I trained my men harder making sure they did not lack strength when protecting this forest. 'If there is a chance Audrey came back, it's inside this forest.' I told myself this just to keep myself from deserting the world and staying in my dreams with her. I sit in my room not ready to leave this place where Audrey and I slept and dreamed together. I look at my packed bag ready for a fight to protect this forest. "Kogen, it's time, we must go to the port to hold off the army coming our way." My mother walks into my messy room. Her eyes scan the room that is covered in Audrey's clothes. "You are acting like a kicked dog! Get up we need to go." She orders. I let out a deep sigh before deciding to pick up all of Audrey's clothes. 'moths are coming out more... I don't want them ruining her clothes.' I put them away before following my mother out of the house. "Yyvonne is staying with Missy and Otani for the time being so you don't need to worry." she lets me know of Yyvonnes safety. I lead my troops down the streets of our home. I spot Missy and Yyvonne watching from the shop. 'This place, Audrey loved it.' I remind myself as I look out at the forest. 'this forest, Audrey came from it.' Several men in my troop were gifted items from their wives as good luck charms. I look at the naga-shaped anklet Audrey bought on her birthday. I used it to decorate my bag strap just to keep something of hers with me. 'I hope you are safe wherever it is you are.' I lift my eyes to the path ahead of me. Two weeks it takes for us to get to the port. The march is constant and muddy. The men talked and joked about what they would do once they got home. Some messed around playing pranks on their companions. 'When I get home... I just hope Audrey has made it back.' This was all I asked. 'If she did come back I would keep her confined in my arms.' I felt this to my core. 'She came into my life when I did not need her to. She made her place in my home, and gave me such a childish high.' I  frown looking up at the forest. 'She wrapped me around her finger and then... just like that she is taken from me.' I feel the sadness in my shift to anger. 'Do you want to go back?' I recall that conversation. 'No, not willingly.' Audrey was sincere with her answer. I shake the anger 'She must be just as devastated.'