War on Heiwa Book 1: The Wrath of the Demons

The Wrath of the Demons Chapter 5: Philosophy From My Parents

When morning came and I had awakened, Karasu and Yohei were already up dressing into their street clothes. Today was our day off since the higher-ups had a meeting today. I wondered if it was about me and what happened yesterday. Maybe they need an alternative plan since I obviously wasn’t going to become their guinea pig.

I sat up in my bed, which was brought to Karasu’s and Yohei’s attention, and they exchanged strange looks to each other and to me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked foolishly.

“Well, you were acting kind of strange yesterday.” Yohei answered.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it.” I threw my covers off. I seemed back to my normal self. That odd feeling had passed now.

After we had gotten dressed, we left for town to eat some breakfast, since it was our first time getting out of the castle since we enlisted.  We went to a café, had some coffee, bacon and eggs. I stayed silent most of the time since Karasu was busy telling us stories of how he wrestled a pack of wolves with his bare hands and survived. I wasn’t listening of course, but Yohei seemed fully intrigued by it, but the look on his face was saying he shouldn’t get on his bad side. It reminded me of my relationship of Mao. I haven’t thought of him in a while. We’ve kept our distance and not batting a look to one another. Finally, things might calm down now since Mao and the general have gotten off my back. Maybe now I can peacefully learn to be a soldier without any more mess.

After breakfast, we went our separate ways. I wanted to head back to my apartment, but for some reason my legs dragged me back to the castle and into the courtyard. I wanted to see if she was there. I wanted to talk to her – to hear her laugh and to see her smile. I think I wanted that more than anything in the world right now. Once I was in the garden, I found the same bench and sat down on it, and waited. I didn’t care how long I would wait. I would wait all night for her. I don’t know why I’m going to these crazy measures just to see her again. I guess I’m not back to normal at all. I shifted in the bench seat and titled my head towards the sky. I watched the clouds go by as the sun was slowly setting over time.

After dusk had arrived, and the clouds turned an orange-pink color, and I hadn’t moved an inch since I had arrived. I still stared at the clouds, my body refusing to move until I saw her. My faith in seeing her was slowly draining, and I’ll probably be leaving before night fully absorbs the sky. My legs began stretching as I was ready to depart. Then, suddenly, I heard a door open. I turned to look, and my heart filled with happiness, my face lit up like dawn emerging, and I jumped up to my feet to the appearance of the newcomer. It was her.

“Hey!” I said, trying to hold back my sudden surge of happiness.

“Hey, it’s you again!”  She walked toward me. “What are you doing here?” She had a basket of flowers in her hand.

“I don’t know really. I don’t know why I came.  I was waiting here all day since breakfast, and I don’t know why. My body refused to move the way I told it to. It just automatically came here.”

She was wearing a pink sunhat with a pink band around it, followed by a long pink dress covering her shins and she was barefoot.  I stared at her feet.

“Hey, aren’t you cold?” She followed my gaze to her feet.

“Oh, no not at all! I’ve always gone barefoot. It always makes me feel freer when I do, since I’m not allowed to go anywhere really.”

“You’re not allowed out of the castle at all?”

“No, but it’s fine.” She took my hand. “I’m glad you came! I wanted to see you again.” I could feel my face burning. Was I blushing? I guess she noticed since she started giggling.