Letters From The Sky (JoongNine AU)

Chapter 1

The Village of Sali, Arwan Kingdom

Nine

I turned to my left and saw the calm sleeping face. His harsh features soften in sleep, giving him the look of an innocent. He was, in so many ways innocent to the way this world works. And I wanted to preserve the harsh reality as long as I could from him. When should I tell him, that I will need to leave this place when I turned 18? And that will happen just a few days shy.

We had been best friends since the first time he was sent here from another village. His village was invaded and burnt to ashes by the enemy, and children who were left orphaned, were sent to the neighbouring village's orphanages. I didn't remember my family. As long as I lived, I was already here, and up until I was 12, I was always the big brother to other children, being the eldest. Until he came along. Though just 2 years younger than me, he was almost as tall as me, and needed someone to hug him to be able to sleep at night, or else nightmare of the day his village was burnt would keep him shivering and crying for help.

Since then, we always slept side by side, and when he shivered, I would hold him close, stroking his hair and back lightly until the darkness left. He used to call me an angel, because he said that with such fair skin, sweet face and melodious voice, I must be an angel sent to earth in human form. I just laughed it off and told him I could be anything that he wanted me to be, as long as he was happy and forget his bad memories and dreams.

I traced my fingers lightly on his face. I would miss him badly, not being able to see this face again. Would he be alright, living here alone without me? Would he search for me after he came of age too, in another 2 years' time? I didn't want to think of the future that was yet unknown to me.

He must had felt my touch, that slowly his eyes opened and a sleepy smiled that touched my heart forming on his lips. He held my hand to his heart, and moved his face closer to mine until our forehead touched and closed his eyes again. He liked this, being close and snuggling. He said it was like being surrounded by comfortable blanket, so heartwarming.

I could feel the warm breaths fanning my face. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and tried to sleep too. Maybe tomorrow I would tell him, about our impending separation.

Joong

6 Years Ago, The Village of Navarath, Olgan Kingdom.

There was fire everywhere, people were running to save themselves. I was just 10 years old. My parents were nowhere to be found. I ran and kept running, and found the abandoned hideout that my friend and I used to play at, near the river, quite a distant away from my house. We used to come here without our parent's knowledge, or else we would be scolded and our ears would suffer. For now, this was the safest place, away from the chaos, away from danger, away from everything and everyone.

I crawled and crunched on the hard floor that was made out of dried mud, my body was shivering in fear, I tried to calm myself but still end up crying. Unconsciously I felt asleep, and only opened my eyes when I felt someone carried me on his shoulder. I struggled in fear, thinking that a bad guy wanted to burn me too. But, a comforting voice and strong hold told me that he was from the another village close by, and I would be brought to a safe place. Because I was too tired, I fell asleep back on the stranger's shoulder.

I opened my eyes and saw an angel watching me curiously. A very cute angel I would say. Am I dead? Is this heaven that my parent used to tell me, whenever I did a good thing and said good people will go to heaven? But, everything else except him was dark, he was the only light.

"Hello...", the angel said. I sat up on the bed, at scrubbed my eyes hard. Am I dreaming? But, I am still breathing. I pinched his chubby cheek to make sure that he was real. "Owww...", the angel said. Oh? Angel could feel pain?