The Twins

Chapter 4: Amami

Part 4: Pink

    Garrick changed forms several times throughout the journey. They seemed to have a preffered body for each task, and wouldn't stay in the same body for long. The only thing that stayed the same about their appearance was the banana. Sometimes it was around their neck, sometimes their arm, but it was always prominently shown somewhere in their ensemble. Matthew watched Garrick with growing curiosity.

   The leader of this group the twins had found themselves joining was quiet and thoughtful, with a certain kindness that showed itself in Garrick's smile and manner. The two teleporters Kyra and Rio had told Matthew and Marie that Garrick was a laid back and peaceful person who let logic and reason guide them. Matthew could see that Garrick cared very much for their team in the way that they would stop and help out team members when they got too tired on the trip, or would send out a kind word to the younger people who were trying their hardest.

   It was in this realization that Matthew noticed the large amount of children in the group.

   The team was composed of many different people, of many different ages, but the amount of children, some no older then 8, was astonishing. One young boy, waking a few feet in front of Marie, had a large cut on his leg that still looked like it was bleeding.

   Many others had scars or burns or cuts on their body, most of them rather violent looking. Matthew looked again at Kyra's many scars, trying to find out what caused them. She noticed his gaze and glared at him threateningly.

   "What happened to all these people?" Matthew muttered under his breath, only loud enough for Marie to hear. She glanced at him then at the crowd ahead of them,"It's none of our business." She replied shaking her head,"If I were to guess though I would say that many of them weren't as lucky as we were escaping from the camps." She said this in a hushed tone with a dark expression covering her eyes.

   The unlucky. That might be what they thought of themselves, Matthew pondered. He and his sister had indeed been lucky. It was a matter of chance that Matthew had seen through the official's ruse; luck that he had the token he did. These people might not have had the same privilege.

   "Many of us are lucky to still be alive." Rio said to Matthew, almost as if he had read his thoughts. Matthew realized that he had simply seen him looking at the boy with the gash on his leg,"Though some of us wonder if that was good or bad luck."

   As the tall man spoke something began to appear on the horizon. Lights materialized in the darkness, like ghosts.

   "What's that?" Marie asked her eyes widening with curiosity, and may be a bit of hope.

   "That, my friend, is home." Kyra answered Marie with a small smile. The group seemed to move faster, with more urgency. The twins got caught up in the excitement as chatter flowed over the group and people began running.

    As one the group cried out a joyful battle cry which was returned from inside the camp.

    Lights became lamps and tents materialized in their glow. From where Matthew was running he could see people milling about the rag-tag cuts of cloth and wood, and could see people turn to welcome the visitors. The group flooded into the camp and scattered in different directions, looking for loved ones and friends.

   Rio held out a hand to slow the twins down. The smaller group of four stopped and waited by the entrance. Garrick turned back to look at them and nodded approvingly when they saw them waiting. They made some kind of hand signal that Kyra and Rio seemed to under stand, and then dissapersed in between the tents.

   "They're getting Amani. You two have to wait here. Try anything funny and we'll kill you where you stand." Kyra said, her smile from before disappearing.

   The twins nodded, Matthew's eyes getting just a little bit bigger. Kyra was kind of terrifying.

   The four waited for a while until Garrick appeared at the edge of the camp with someone beside him. They walked towards the twins and eventually the lights of their flashlights revealed his facial features.

It was Amani.

   Matthew had to keep himself from bolting forward to talk to him. All this time and here he was! Perfectly alive! Amani got closer then stopped.

   "So who did you say you were?"

  

    Matthew's heart got heavy as he realized that Amani wouldn't recognize him. They hadn't sent any pictures after all,"I'm Matthew. The guy you were pen pals with." He muttered shyly.

   Amani scanned his face casually. His own face revealed nothing.

   "So you are white."

   Matthew looked up in confusion and saw Amani grinning at him,"I knew it! You never talked about what you looked like but it just seemed like you were white! Man I wish I had taken some kind of bet for this, I'd be richer right now!"

   Matthew stared at him. Months without talking or seeing each other and all he cared about was if he was white? What about what had happened to him? Or is he was a Saru Tokai?

   "Awww and you've got little freckles! I hadn't expected that!" Amani continued taking a few steps closer,"and you're just as short as I imagined!"

   Matthew froze, a blush covering his cheeks,"please say sike."

   Amani's smile softened,"I won't because It's true, but either way you know I'm just teasing right?"

   Matthew glared at Amani but didn't have the heart to say anything sarcastic. Marie on the other hand looked like she was going to explode with laughter.

"I'm still 170 centimetres. That's average you know." Matthew retorted after glaring at his sister.

"Yeah well I'm 185 centimetres so suck it." Amani teased back.

  Garrick and the others were obviously enjoying this.

   Matthew sighed,"fine fine You're taller then me. Whoop de doo, all hail the height king." He said teasingly, so much for not being sacrastic, he thought.

  Amani grinned,"good. You know your place. Grovel mortal!" He cackled heartily then turned back towards camp,"alright let's head out and I'll show you around."  He glanced at marie"you can explain who you are on the way, but I've gotta guess first." He took a few more steps then paused suddenly turning around dramatically,"You're Marie, Matthew's sister!"

   The twins glanced at each other,"You're right actually." Marie responded in surprise.

   Amani grinned and turned back around to continue walking,"yup figured. He talked a lot about you. Said that you were the one that forced him to accept me as a pen pal."

   Marie laughed,"yup that I did." She glanced at her brother with a small smile,

   "And I'm so glad I did."