Finding Darkness

Chapter 21

Using a towel I found in the room, I carry Astral back to his room. Laying him on the bed, I unbandage the wound and check it out. It's bleeding again, but it's nothing that won't heal over time. At least, I hope it'll heal over time. I cover it with a clean bandage and leave.

I grow solemn. What kind of hex have I gotten myself into? I face-palm out of my own ignorance. I'm such an ignoramus! Why did I open the note when even Astral was so scared of it? So scared, he wouldn't even open it!

I rush downstairs as a knock sounds. I open the door to find two familiar faces. My breath fails me as I'm swept into the embrace of my mom and dad.

"Good to see you again, son," Dad says.

"Dad, I've missed you. Where have you gone to this time?" I smile.

"A journey, Yuma. That's all you need to know for now."

We go inside, and Mom and Dad sit. "Just as I remember it, except..." Mom pauses and looks around. "It's much neater." She laughs and takes off her traveling gear.

Dad does the same. "So, who've you got living with you?"

Before I can answer, I hear a groan from upstairs. Astral must have woken up. Strange, he just passed out. Oh, well. He mist be in a lot of pain.

"What was that?" Dad asks as he looks around the house. My parents are still unaware of Astral. Well, he's always wanted to meet my parents, so why the heck not?

"Hang on. It's better to show you who he is. He arrived two years ago when you left." I scamper upstairs and slip into Astral's room. "Hey Astral, you well enough to get up?"

"I-I am fine," he answers weakly. "Who are the humans downstairs?"

"My parents," I answer. "You wanted to meet them, right?"

"Yes." Astral tries to get up, but the pain in his side stops him. He smiles faintly. "I may need help though."

I position his blanket so it loosely around his body. I carry him as an adult would an infant. He's seriously that light. Astral rests his head against my chest as I slowly make my way to the living room. I'd think that gesture would be gay if it wasn't for the fact that he doesn't feel those feelings. He doesn't even understand things like that, and I intend to keep it that way. Astral whimpers a bit when I shift him to go downstairs, but other than that, he's been very quiet and semi-conscious.

When I finally make it downstairs, Astral's slipped away, but he's not sleeping. I'm seriously still wondering why he can't sleep.

"Here he is," I say, lowering him into the chair he always sits in. "His name is Astral."

Dad gets up and walks over to get a closer look. "Wow. He's really something. Did he tell you where he came from?"

"No. When I asked him some days ago, he got all nervous. I wonder why. He's normally never nervous."

Mom stands next to Dad. "If he won't tell you, it's probably for a good reason. It might be a huge secret."

Astral wakes up, groaning and clutching his side. He looks around the room, looking very confused. His gaze eventually settle on Mom and Dad, and he smiles faintly.

"Kazuma and Mirai Tsukumo," he whispers.

"Wait a sec. How do you know their names?" I ask with surprise.

He sighs. "It is classified."

I sigh.

Dad stretches, "Boy am I tired. We're going to sleep, okay Yuma?"