The Burden of Loneliness

[darkwings]

Loneliness. Darkness. Both combined to form an especially unhappy Kyo. He had been alone for some time now, traveling from place to place. He had been with many women since the departure of his first love, but now he was wandering the lands to find a destination. His destination: to find somewhere in which he belonged. He could barely see what was directly in front of his face let alone where he was stepping.

Kyo was attempting to find a water source, particularly a river. Every water source led to a body of water. About to give up in his excursion, he heard the faint sound of water splashing over rocks. The soft croak of a frog followed by faint chirps of crickets. Water had to be near. He frantically found a way out his area of trees, landing himself into a meadow, the sounds closer. Tripping over a stick, Kyo tumbled into a soft patch of grass, allowing him a view at the star-filled sky.

His mind brought back those last few moments of his love’s life, when he stared into that sky. Every time he stared into a sky such as this, hope filled his heart. He remembered her words, and the promise he made. He closed his shamrock green eyes to take in the fresh, warm air and took in all his surroundings. Crickets acted as a lullaby, almost sending him into a deep sleep. The water gurgled as it flowed. A slight tickle on his side caused him to bolt upright, letting out a soft laugh. He found a small grasshopper clinging to his shirt. For a moment, he thought that everything had been a dream, the kidnapping, the death, and the promise. He fell back into reality. He would never let anyone see his true feelings of how he felt unless he knew that he would be with them for a while. He always put on his happy face, pretending that his life is perfect.

Getting to his feet, he once more began searching for this river. He watched his weary feet walk step by step to his target. He had been traveling for two days now without rest. As soon as he found this river, he would rest his body. The sound was getting closer and he was becoming weaker. With his gaze off his face and into the sky, he missed one of his footsteps and down he went. Kyo had found his water source, not the way he would have hoped. His clothes were soaked; his hair was straggly, yet he laughed, harder than he had in a long time.

“Is this your doing, my dear? I am attempting to keep my promise.”

Kyo was tired of being alone. He was tired of having no one to talk to except himself. It might have been a little more exciting if he had multiple personalities, but he didn’t. He pulled himself out of the river, stripping himself of his shirt and shoes. Leaning against a tree, the young man found that there was no need to be sad, but instead he should be happy. To him, falling into that cold water was a sign to wake up and come back to the real world. What was done is done. After all he is only human, its not like he can turn back time or anything.

This place seemed to be a place of peace, as if the war did not exist here. As if this place was sacred. The river was crystal clear, the vegetation was lush, and the abundant variety of life gave the place a very diverse, lived in area. He was comfortable in this place. The only way his life could become any better at the moment is if he had a traveling companion.

He could admit it; he missed his once social life. His life of women, freedom, and life filled with love, fun, and pleasure. He desired to have that back. He would get it back, but the question was when. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the tree once more. Tomorrow was a new day; a new day means a new beginning and new possibilities, new hope. Tomorrows allow anything to be possible.

[blind]

It was the dead of night, when almost perfect stillness filled the area. The waning moon was at its smallest. Tomorrow there would be no moon, the sky would be darker, with only small stars to illuminate the night. Her lavender hair and pale skin glowed with the light of the stars. Angelic steps took her through the forest, the flowers and shrubs growing where each of her feet had formerly been, then dying instantly after. Barren blood-colored eyes searched the forest, hands grazing the bark of trees and then the air between them. The roots moved for her, to make sure she did not trip. A smile came upon her humble purple lips, thanking inwardly, the trees that watched her like parents.

Laughter filled the air, and words that were secretly sorrow-stricken. It wasn't that far off, Hana realized. Her head jerked to the left, hair flowing with the abruptness. A snake-like cracked had inched upward, now touching just beneath her eyes. Water. Hana needed water. The pink pancho swayed with her fast-paced gate, hopping over roots like she already knew beforehand they were there. Finally, the forest cleared.

The sound of flowing water brought an 'ah' to her lips, and then a smile. Her small and delicate hands pulled the hood of her jacket down, and shook her head as she took in a deep breath of the fresh air. With the cracks on her face, she resembled something like a porcelain doll. The face was chipped and old, but still the body was young and beautiful. The pink material fell to the safety of the dew-coated grass on the edge of the river. Easing herself down onto that material, she began pulling at the buckles of her old black boots. They were made of a leather material, one that stretched to accomadate her small feet and kept them safe and dry inside.

All around, Hana was a small girl. She was petite, but in no way did she possess the body of a child. There were curves, maybe not the largest that would send the lechers running for her, but they were visible. The dress was a simple lavender blue. Undoing the clasp in the back it too fell to the ground below. She was now clad in only a skin-tight undersuit. It was in no way trampy, but merely small because, well, it was an undersuit. It wrapped around behind her neck, resembling something like a bathing suit that had attached shorts, not the V that is a typical style. It was lavendar, identical to her hair, except for a large red splash of color along the left side.

Her toe tested the water, she pulled it back with surprise and a small yelp from her lips. Following the yelp was of course, a chuckle. "It's so cold, this one isn't sure she wants to go in!" Hana laughed at herself, laughter always made things better.

Making it into the stream up to her ankles, she hadn't a clue how deep the water was. Touching the grass lightly, the blades told her the water would only come up to maybe her waist if she waded far enough towards the center. Hana's gentle lips kissed the blades and thanked them, and slowly made her way out into the water. When she was up to her waist in the water her unseeing eyes jerked upward towards the nearly non-existent moon. The blood orbs seemed to glow with the reflection of the night sky in them. A white layer overtook her body as she replenished her fatigue frame. The cracks began to disappear, the hanyou's body slowly recovering.

There was a movement in the water beside her, she didn't know it was a boy. Her head turned quickly, a gasp from her lips. Hana didn't like people, they were always cruel to her. Still, she couldn't help but be curious about other beings. "Ah...has this one disturbed you?" the blind girl questioned.

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[darkwings]

Words of an another. Someone to talk to too. Even better, a woman. His head jerked up from what was drooping from lack of rest. Kyo never let an opportunity pass that included a woman. So what if he liked the opposite sex a little too much. His bangs dangled in front of his face, emerald eyes glowing from behind the strands. He found a girl in the water down to her waist. He glimpsed at her, taking in her characteristics. Her lavender hair shown brightly in the darkness of the night. This was his chance to talk to another person, right now he’d talk to anyone as long as it wasn’t himself. After all, he had been talking to himself for so long he had begun to think that he had multiple personalities and spoke to himself in third person.

Moving away from his resting place, the man made his way over to the woman, keeping his space in order not to enter her personal space. Her eyes stood out, blood red. They were a very interesting, unique color, like nothing he had ever seen before. He bent down and so he was in a closer eye range to the girl.

“No, you did not disturb me. Actually I am quite glad that you and I have accidently run into each other for I wanted someone to talk to. I am alone, traveling alone, sick of being alone.”

Had that been the correct answer? Would she talk to him to give him someone to talk to? He desperately wanted someone talk to. He gazed up into the sky. Was this her doing, his past love? Was it because he had finally admitted out loud that he had sprung back into the reality of this belligerent world. Would she be the one who he traveled with? His mind raced with many questions, none would be answered without the effects of time.

His eyes placed themselves once more onto the girl, wading in the stream. She seemed trustworthy. He grin formed on his face, one of actual happiness. He felt his heart lift a little higher, or so it felt. One more question would escape from his lips before he awaited the female’s answer:
“So what are you called by? I am whoever you want me to be.”

ooc: sorry about the short post, I had homework. I promise they'll be longer.

[blind]

His warmth breath tickled her face. The man was much closer now, she could feel it in the movements that occured in the water. THe man was taller too, because the heat went from above to right in front of her. Maybe he had not realized she was blind just yet. The flower girl's face remained calm, unmoving, but her ears were intent on listening.

“No, you did not disturb me. Actually I am quite glad that you and I have accidently run into each other for I wanted someone to talk to. I am alone, traveling alone, sick of being alone.”


Hana frowned, more of a pout. How could someone be alone all the time, it was sad. Still the plants whispered to the air, he had a former lover, one who was clearly not with him. The red eyes looked around in a hazy way, like she was moving towards all the different sounds she was hearing that most humans could not.

"Ah, this one is sorry for the loss." Her voice was soft, almost childish in her speech, "But this one is ususally alone. This one and people, this one doesn't work well with them. This one stays with the plants, lives in the forest."

So what are you called by? I am whoever you want me to be.”

"This one's name is Hana," she told him slowly. Whoever she wanted him to be? Again, a puzzled look fell over her face. Tilting her head slightly, she smiled, "Why would this one want you to be anything different then what you've always been? This one is no master, this one won't command a thing of you."

His voice, it sounded so needy. Had this boy been in some pain recently? Maybe that loss of his lover had taken a larger toll on him then Hana could comprehend. Hana had no lover, or human friends. She had left the village of her people centuries ago, after her mother passed away. Cast away for being unnatural, Hana had wandered for a long time. Still, the forests had always been so kind to her.

"If this one is tired of being alone, this one talks to the plants." She pointed at him and smiled, "You should."
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[darkwings]

How could she possibly know about his loss? He never said such anything about her. did he? He gave his head a shake and cast the thought out of his thoughts for the moment. His shaggy hair fluttered in the warm breeze. He loved summer, the sun was warm, as well as in the air. He didn't have to bundle up in thousands of layers clothing in order to keep himself from freezing to death.

What did Hana mean by talk to the plants? Was she crazy or have some supernatural power over plants? He never heard a plant talk. What kind of person hears plants? This thought however he just couldn't forget. He had to ask, he was bugging him.

"If you do not mind me asking, how exactly do plants 'talk'?"

He gave a puzzled look to the female. His head wandered around the surroundings. Maybe he would jump in the water, perhaps that might wake him up a bit more. It was nice out, under the star-filled sky.

So her name was Hana. Kyo realized by means of politeness, that he should introduce himself, using a name that is. He placed his hands in the water, cupping them to catch a handful of the liquid in them. Letting the cool liquid flow down his dry throat felt exceptionally good.

"My name is Kyo."

Now that introductions were finished, he eased his way into the crisp water, a good couple yards away from the girl. A slight 'ah' escaped lips as he rested down on the bottom of a shallow part of the river.

His gaze returned to the sky. He had an odd fascination with the stars. The reason, he didn't know.

One more question escaped his lips before sinking under under the water up to his head.

"So Hana, is there anything I should absolutely know about you?"

He looked into her blood- red eyes. There was something different about them, something that he couldn't put his finger on. She appeared normal, well as normal as people are. His head sunk half under the water, just below his nose. Silver strands of hair flowed in the water. Letting some of his childishness out, he began to blow bubbles in the water, making a gurgling noise.

The water felt refreshing, taking away all the bad memories left lingering in his mind. For once in a a long time, he was relaxed. His body had adapted to the cool water, now making in quite enjoyable. His eyes began to slowly drift close, allowing his body to take a rest.

Even though his body had begun to rest, his mind still raced with questions bout this woman. Who exactly was she? Enemy or ally? Kyo was also awhere of his senses. Hearing being the one being used most at the moment. The wind through the trees gave off a swishing sound as it went through the branches. Crickets chirped their song as the croaks of frogs and toads chimed in. This place was the most peaceful and welcoming area that he would want to be in at the moment.

His eyes eased open. He wanted to hear an answer from the girl. He waited intently while he made small ripples in the water as fiddled around with it.

[blind]

How did Hana talk to the plants? She paused, obviously thinking as a puzzled look came over her face. Wading through the water, she sat down on the edge of the stream, thinking.

"This one...just...hears them. When this one touches them, she can feel them, and what they have to say. They can sense what this one cannot, they can feel." Hana ran her hand along the grass, feeling the blades gently. They almost seemed to reach out for her fingertips, growing like she was a new sun for them. She smiled lightly and closed her eyes, obviously listening. "They know quite a lot, these plants, they do."

Kyo. A simple yet interesting name. He was making bubbles, not that she could see. The plants told her, and she stifled a giggle, turning her face to look at where he would be. She swung her legs lightly in the water, not caring that her bare legs were exposed to him.

"So Hana, is there anything I should absolutely know about you?"

The girl smiled, but a feeling of saddness rolled over her face. It was a horrid thing to look at, such a innocent and beautiful face looking sad, it brought the forest to tears. There was nothing special about this one, Hana believed. Her mother and father, both beautiful, now gone. She had no one with her anymore. As if the forest could see tears the mere mortal could not, the trees blew with a moaning wind.

Hana touched the side of her face, sighing lightly. "This one....this one isn't a threat, if that is what Kyo is implying. This one, doesn't fight, doesn't hate, this one merely lives within the trees." Hana ran her hand along where the cracked skin had formely been, red eyes still sorrow filled. "This one has no home, no family, and this one, just keeps searching for the special someone meant to help this one. This one is meant to find someone just for Hana, but Hana isn't sure what that someone will be like. Ah, will he be a horrible man, a friend, will this one fall in love? This one doesn't know....."

Hana laid back on the grass and closed her eyes. The grass was whispering to her what the environment looked like. "Ah...stars."
[/size]

[darkwings]

Someone to help her with what? Maybe his love had guided him here to help her, maybe he was the one to to what ever it was that she needed. He looked over at the girl. Now she was fiddling with it as well. Kyo knew one thing, she wasn't shy. She didn't hesitate when she realized that he was there to or stay quiet. What surprised him was the fact at how open she was to him, after all they had just met.

He liked that in a girl, not for reasons of pleasure of course. She wasn't like the other girls he had come across. All of them were just for the fact of personal pleasure while Hana was more of a friend. Hana had said she wasn't an enemy, but that didn't mean that Kyo believed her. This could all be just an act, a cruel act. Kyo shook it off, this girl was too nice and happy to be an enemy. he felt that there was something special about her.

"Hana, if you don't mind me asking, what is it that you need help with?"

Afraid of looking like a raisin, Kyo dragged himself out of river, sprawling out onto the grass. Removing his shirt to let it dry quicker, he placed it on a nearby branch. Water droplets flew off his silver strands of hair as he shook as if he were a dog. Lying down, he folded his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. a picture of his future came into his mind. This picture was of him being alone, never settling down, never getting married or having any heirs. He moved from woman to woman, never loving a single one of them. He had no friends, but was just a weak loner who wished to die.

Kyo wasn't about to let such a life come true. Determined to make it change, he decided it was time to change his life around. Maybe he would offer to help this girl and they could be friends. He wouldn't do anything he'd do with the others that made them flee from him. He bolted upright, grabbed his shirt, placed it back on, and walked over to Hana. His shirt was cold, sending chills throughout his body.

"Hana, may I travel with you and get to know you?"

That was the first milestone he wanted to reach. His reform had begun. He wasn't going to completely give up with his 'hobby.' That was impossible. Kyo couldn't help that he have a strange addiction to women, that's just how he was.

A warm wind blew threw the trees. Leaves rustled and crickets chirped. He was tired, but he didn't want to leave the young maiden alone.

"Hana, I shall get some rest now. If you may, he can leave and we shall not speak to each other again or you can rest here with me and we can start anew tomorrow."

Lying on his side next to the bank of the river, a few feet away from her, Kyo rested his head on his palm. Silver and black strands of hair falling over his face. His vibrant eyes stared at the woman, waiting for her to say something back before he drifted off to dream land until the sun rose in the morning.

[blind]

"Hana, if you don't mind me asking, what is it that you need help with?"

Hana closed her eyes, looking rather sad, "This one, does not know what it is she's searching for. This one's mother, leader of our elven tribe, told Hana she would go on a journey and find someone very important. This person would help her with something." Hana rested her chin in her hand and sighed, "Then this one's mother died. This one will never know what Hana's mother wanted of her. This one's tribe, didn't like a...hybrid, like this one is. Without Hana's mother, their ruler, they had no reason to be extremely kind. They were not cruel, but afraid of this one. To make this one's people happy, the princess left."


"Hana, may I travel with you and get to know you?"


Her eyes opened, rather surprised by Mister Kyo's request. Why would he want to travel with this one? A blind this one who hadn't a slightest thought to where she was going. She merely went where her feet took her and where the forest guided. She nodded though, lavendar hair bobbing up and down. "This one does not mind if Mister Kyo follows her. This one warns, she doesn't know where she is going. This one follows her feet, and the plants."

The night air blew, it was cool against her skin, causing goosebumps to fall over the flesh that was exposed. Pulling her legs from the water she slowly got dressed, pulling on the worn blue dress, the dusty brown boots, and the pink pancho. Now she resembled something of a girl who was on a journey, with travel attire at least.


"Hana, I shall get some rest now. If you may, he can leave and we shall not speak to each other again or you can rest here with me and we can start anew tomorrow."


Hana had forgotten, humans and other mortals needed their rest. They did not revitalize with the sun and water like she did.

"Do as you want, Mister Kyo." Hana rose and took a few steps, her hands out in front of her, searching to feel something until the pale digits hit the base of a trunk. Fingers spread and ran up and down the tree, taking in its texture, and learning about its past. Hana was smiling, something rare, that only plants got to know. Hana's experience with elves, humans, demons, all of it was limited and usually ended with her being attacked. Despite her outer appearance, she could repair herself quite easily, and was at least a good defensive fighter.

Bending down onto her knees she slowly molded her frame into the giant roots of the tree. The tree's roots seemed to protect her, like a barrier between the real world where people could see, and the sanctuary of this forest. Closing her eyes she folded her hands in her lap and started to croon softly. The elf could not tell if she was sleeping or not, unless he waited long enough to see her breathing. Yet, by adopting the ways of plants, she barely breathed at all. Despite organs that belonged in a 'humans body, she only required water and sunlight, like a plant



[/size]

[darkwings]

Words had been heard, words that he wanted to hear. He now had a travel partner, traveling to where they felt like going. His eyes slowly closed, hair now covering his entire face.

"I don't have a destination either. We shall drift with the wind."

His words slurred as he fell into a deep sleep. Mush needed sleep. He dreamt about what he wished was in this world, his love, peace, trust, comfort, security. This world was perfect yet was disturbed by the rising sun. The sky had turned pink and orange followed by a glowing orange ball in the center of everything, the sun. His eyes peeked open. Slightly embarrassed by the position he had woken up to, he quickly sat up. He looked as though he had been fighting with himself in his sleep, legs sprawled out and arms curled around each other. His silvery hair was even more shaggy than normal. So he had rough night, but at least he had gotten a full night’s rest.

Dew had settled on the grass allowing the sun to show them off as if it rained the previous night. He walked over and gathered his remaining clothing, placing it back on its rightful place. Walking over to the river, he stared in. He looked at his reflection. For the first time in a long, he looked at it not in disgust, but in having a place in this world. This soul now had someone he could be accompanied by. He stared intently, what had anyone of his friends with benefits ever see in him. He wasn’t anything special. He dipped his hands into the cool, crisp water splashing it upon his pale face, washing away remnants of dew left on it from sleeping on the grass.

He looked over at Hana. There was something about her; a look of she had no clue what her surroundings were. She talked as if she relied solely on the plants that apparently talked to her. Kyo still thought she was crazy, but everyone has special abilities. She walked with her hands in front of her, trying to feel what was in front of her to make sure she didn’t walk into anything like a tree. She was exceptionally good at it too. Finally, it hit Kyo Hana was blind. He slapped himself in the head for not realizing it sooner. He never did catch onto things quickly or so he was told. Of course, he didn’t have to be told, he knew.

He released a deep breath. Today was a brand-new day; it was time to start anew. He walked over to Hana. Allowing his knees to give in, he flopped onto the ground next to her. He wasn’t sure if she was sleeping or not and didn’t want to take the chance of alarming her in any way. He gazed into the sky, watching the sunrise. He soon grew restless and couldn’t stand the quiet amongst them. He quietly whispered.

“Hana, are you awake? Sun’s up. It’s a new day.”

He pushed hair behind his ear even though it fell from its place yet again. Another sentence popped into his mind, what did she mean of half-breed. He had also heard elf. So was she a ½ elf and ½ something else? He decided that some things are better left unknown. He leaned against the tree, arms folded. What would they do today?

[blind]

The dream world she shared in was within the memories of the tree she slept against. She learned the story of this tree's birth, a mere seed among the hundreds a squirrel had buried here centuries ago. This tree had seen many things; offsprings, wars, fights, lovers, and creatures. It had been here since the days of peace, before this war, right when the gods had started quarreling. The tree had watched over this stream, the creatures. Hana slept peacefully, comforted by the warm roots of a guardian.

“Hana, are you awake? Sun’s up. It’s a new day.”

Hana's eyes flickered open, the red orbs never loosing the, hazy appearance to them. She turned to his voice, lavendar hair not rumbled from the sleep. It seemed nothing was out of place with her appearance. Left hand reached out, touching Mister Kyo's face. It wasn't anything of romance or affection. Being blind, Hana relied on touch. Her soft fingers ran over the smooth skin of his cheek. What she was doing, was trying to get her own mental picture, and not the one the plants relied on. Honestly, Hana hadn't asked the plants what he looked like. Her pale fingers grazed the arch of his brows, his forehead, scooping him out slowly.

The expression on her face was one of curiosity, mostly. His skin was soft, and tingled with the fresh water, rejuivinated. There were some creases in his skin, most likely from days of worry, and others of smiling. The index finger grazed his lips gently, just enough to spark the senses. Those too, were soft and full, slightly warm, but cool with the remains of water. All the time she had been silent, as if memorizing his face inch by inch. Her hand found his hair, and she followed a few strands until they ended.

This silent moment, this connection between the two, ended abruplty when a pain shot through her hand. Retreating it back, she could almost see the crack that was shooting up her wrist to her palm. Sunlight. It was time for food, she realized. Standing up, she left the shade of the tree to stand in the water again. The sun was only rising, but a few rays managed to peak along the horizon. She closed her eyes, absorbing the sunlight for what it was, and the water too. The crack slowly vanished, and she rubbed the now healed hand.

Hana turned back to Kyo and smiled. "Mister Kyo must be very handsome, even if this one cannot see. This one doesn't have anything planned for today, what does Mister Kyo wish to do?"


[/size]

[darkwings]

He had never had someone feel for his appearance before. Her skin was soft like rose petals. He hadn’t had physical contact like that in a long while. What was with her jolt back? Did she have a bad feeling about him? Why did she always call him mister? It sounded so formal for he wasn’t old or of power. He wasn’t anything special. Standing up, he walked over to Hana.

“Please don’t call me mister. It makes me feel old. Why do you always speak of yourself as ‘this one’? As for what I wish to do today, why don’t we go adventuring? I’ve never been in these parts before.”

He hooked their elbows together, in hopes of departing soon. Nudging at her, he slowly pulled her out of the stream. Allowing her arm free of his, he did a quick circle in the sun to show his happiness, though she could not see anyway. His inner child was showing again. He had to learnt o gain control of him. Returning to the girl, he grabbed her hand, placing it where she had stopped, on his silver hair.

“Here, finish. My hair is silver with a few black strands blended in. My eyes, the color of the grass, a vibrant green.”

How did she survive without one of the five senses, especially the one of sight? He couldn’t even walk around without bumping something or tripping with sight, let alone without it. He would have walked off a cliff by now or walked straight into a battle and got himself killed. He guessed the plants guided her. Yes, Kyo had finally come to the conclusion that Hana had some supernatural ability that she could understand plants. He guessed that made up for her lack of sight. Plants told her where to walk and where and how things looked.

He let out a soft, near silent sigh. He kind of felt bad for her, but in a sense he felt her as if she had more trust in herself than others because she had to learn to sense the aura of people and things. He wondered what it would be like to be blind. The only sense he would never want to lose was touch. He loved to touch things; the texture of even a plant excited him, how so many plants could have different leaf surfaces.

Kyo now knew that Hana and he were supposed to meet; it was destiny. She was to teach him of the more important things in life other than personal pleasure and fighting. He gazed into her eyes, even though she couldn’t see him do it. He quietly whispered a ‘thank you’ but it was quiet enough that no one would hear. A soft ‘thank you’ was also directed toward the sky, to his beloved. For once, he now had faith that everything would be okay. He would get through life with a meaning.

[blind]

“Please don’t call me mister. It makes me feel old. Why do you always speak of yourself as ‘this one’? As for what I wish to do today, why don’t we go adventuring? I’ve never been in these parts before.”

"This one....merely calls herself this one...." Hana rubbed the back of her head thinking about his question. No one really called her Hana back in the village, merely princess. Hana wanted to be more than a princess, but she didn't know what she was. "This one...calls Hana this one...because...she has no real other name. Only this one's mother called her Hana. Her people called her Princess. But...this one is...more than just a princess, or Hana. This one....doesn't know what she is. Is she a monster, like her people feared?" A sort of meloncholy came over her. Hana had never known her father, thus, unsure of what she was. Her mother never got around to telling the hybrid child what powers were in her body.

Hana called Mister Kyo, Mister, because well, if she respected others, she hoped they would find no reason to punish her. If she was benevolent, others would have no justifiable reason to hate her. Everyone was superior, because she was half. This one, was a monster. The rejection had been imprinted on her for so long, it was all she knew, at a sub-conscious level.

Kyo locked elbows with her and pulled her from the river. The grass grew once her foot left the ground from a step, and died right after. The grass moved aside rocks to make sure she would not tumble. A smile fell upon her face. She loved her plants, they were the surrogate family. Just like that she was abandoned, her hands already at her sides, like a bumper for anything that would touch her. THe plants told her not to worry, and the trees told her how funny Kyo seemed.

Then she felt a new substance, the hair. It was bristly individually, but together was a smooth bunch. Here, finish. My hair is silver with a few black strands blended in. My eyes, the color of the grass, a vibrant green. Hana smiled gently, and ran her hand through his hair, touching the scalp and working her way down. "This one loves the color green, it's the blood of the plants. Life. This one only knows the color green, the most vibrant thing the plants see."

The small fingers played with his hair, trying to feel the thickness of it. Tentatively she gave it a tug, not to yank or pull at the roots, but just, the firmness. It was how the girl learned, afterall. They swept down to his neck, her head tilting slightly with curiosity. Every day Hana had to learn something new about the environment, people. Often times that was mistooken as stupidity, but being blind, and the challenges with it, were impossible to explain.

There was a change in his aura. He seemed sad. Frowning, she retreated her hand so it hovered at her chest level. "Kyo is...sad? Does Kyo feel pity, for this one?" She shook her head, "This one...does not wish for pity, she never knew sight at all. The plants help, they have more detail. This one will never understand colors, but this one, knows when something is beautiful."

She smiled weakly and nodded her head, "Shall we go adventuring?" I

Inwardly she had to wonder, if anyone would think this hybrid, was beautiful.


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[darkwings]

No real name. How could someone not have a real name? He’d be the one to change that; he’d call her by her name, no matter what. And she was a princess. Why would she give up the title of princess to become a wanderer? He’d love to be a prince or even someone of high power. He could boss around people and they would have to obey him or else he’d have their head. Well, he wouldn’t be as harsh as to kill him; maybe he’d make them be thrown in jail for a week or some other amount of time.

“Don’t worry with me I’ll always call you Hana. Not ‘this one’ or ‘princess’.”

A monster? How could people see her, a sweet, innocent, blind girl a monster? She looked as through she wouldn’t even hurt a fly, let alone be monstrous. She looked like a little girl in her style of clothing and hair color. He glanced over her. It must have been a joke because she was no monster. So she could understand whatever language plants listened to. Who cared? If anything that gave her a more appealing person, not a less liked one. He let out a small snicker, just loud enough so Hana could here.

“How could someone call you a monster? You look as though you were a little girl.”

So the plants told her about her surroundings and the details in objects. So plants could see their surroundings now. That kind of scared Kyo a little. So every time he undressed or was with the opposite sex, they saw him. A slight shiver ran down his spine. Where were their eyes? Were they the leaves or the buds if they were a budding plant? This is one question that just simply refused to leave his mind.

“ I know I’m going to sound really stupid but how exactly can plants know their surroundings? Do have eyes or what?”Feeling a bit better now that she had told him that he shouldn’t have pity on her, he grasped her hand. Giving her glowing smile, and warm look, he answered her question.

“Think of me as a friend, a friend that will stay with you as long as you wish. Allow me to guide you if you want. Trust me. So, now let’s go visit some new surroundings.”

He knew in his heart that his beloved was smiling down on him. His heart felt a thousand times lighter and bigger. He felt joyous, if that was even the word to describe this feeling. He hadn’t felt this feeling before. This must have been his newly found kind side. Into the distance he stared. What was ahead in that vast, rolling grass-filled land? There was bound to be danger, sorrow, happiness, and other people. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Once he took a step, their journey would begin. One more deep breath and a footstep.

“Hana, let’s go.”[/color]

[blind]

How could someone call you a monster? You look as though you were a little girl.”

"This one is a little girl, in the world of elves. My people grow for years. This one is merely over a century old." Hana looked towards the sky and closed her eyes. She could feel the breeze, it picked at her hair gently. There were whispers, pale ears twitching, tranquility on her face. Hana sighed slightly. She was a monster, there had to be a reason that her people would fear her so greatly. They were not teasing her, it was the truth. There was something Hana did not know about herself. "This one has come to the conclusion that her father, was a monster. Therefore, this one inherited something from him, thus, a monster. This one believes, a monster is inside of her, silently waiting. That is why this one's poeple feared her. The people adored this one, for the benevolent deeds and examples she set, but still, were always on edge with him." The blood eyes opened, "This one, will never know for sure."

I know I’m going to sound really stupid but how exactly can plants know their surroundings? Do have eyes or what?

Hana shook her head and laughed. "Kyo is not stupid for asking questions. Questions are teachers. Plants see like this one sees, through aura, soul, energy. Every being has energy, lifeforce, emotion. That is how plants see. They can sense what you are feeling, your spirit outlined the frame of the body." Hana smiled lightly and looked up to where trees were. She could hear the sound of their leaves rustling, "Trees are the best seers, for they have survived centuries, as elves do. Their skill improves as they grow, as will my abilities. This one, is like a plant."

Mister Kyo squeezed her hand, her body flinched. Human contact was unnerving, for she was not used to it. Elves she had not seen in centuries, only the plants. Hana willed her body to be listless, calm. The flower maiden needed to trust those who spoke as she spoke, not merely plants. THere would be no way for her to survive forever the way she did. “Think of me as a friend, a friend that will stay with you as long as you wish. Allow me to guide you if you want. Trust me. So, now let’s go visit some new surroundings

"This one does not want you to stay forever. If Kyo feels he must go and search for better things later on, this one encourages him to do so. This one, does not want to be the burden that holds Kyo back from the things destined to occur." Her statement was serious, but the heaviness of it dampered by the sweet voice the girl possessed. She squeezed his hand back gently, smiling, full lips bringing most of the color to her face. It was the only non-subtly she had. The hue of her skin and hair were subtle and soft, only her eyes of bloody red, and lips of ruby-violet put distinction on her face. "Mister Kyo is a good person, that this one, is sure of."

Mister Kyo took a step, and she followed his lead. Smiling lightly she looked around, her eyes darting about like she was following a sound source of something Kyo could not see. "This one just has one plea, that we stay near sunlight. This one, needs sunlight. Ah, this one did not mean to sound demanding, merely, this one's strength, comes from the sun."

[/color]

[darkwings]

Kyo wasn't implying on staying forever, just until the two found their different paths or found some other new fate that came along the way. What really got him was the fact she was near a century old. Kyo found that quite old considering she still said she was a young girl. It must have been because she wasn't human. Unlike her, he'd be lucky if he lade it to the age of 60, especially how he lived his life. Her one request was o stay in the sunlight for her energy. What exactly was she? She didn't;t get her energy from rest like himself, but from the sun. He had never heard of such a thing before.

"We will stay in the sun. It brings warmth to my soul anyway."

Hana had laughed at him for his question. At least she didn't think he was crazy, well yet that is, for asking it. He really didn't understand before, but he was kind of piecing bits of information together now. BY the time they departed, that time not in sight, he would understand fully about her abilities. She compared herself to a plant, so if Kyo understood anything about plants in general, they needed sunlight and water. if Hana was indeed like a plant, she needed to stay close to water as well as sunlight. See, he was getting the gist of things.

"We shall follow close to the river, for it is a source of much needed water."

With Hana walking with him, he continued to lead them into the vast lands of this peaceful place. In front of them, nothing but clear land and new excursions. Behind them, a forest and the river where the two had met. Life would be different. He wouldn't dwell in the past or sulk day after day. He wouldn't go out randomly and sleep with women if they allowed him to. He'd have more respect for himself and responsibility.

The sky was clear, no clouds in sight. The sun made the air hazy, uncomfortable at times when there was no breeze. A few birds would fly around in the sky, the wind rushing underneath their wings. What would it be like to be a bird? It'd be complete freedom and the limit: the sky. Soaring through sky without any fears or anything to tie him to this land. Of course his life use to be like that, only he couldn't fly, obviously. All good things always ended.

He looked over at Hana. She seemed to be at peace, yet what was that flinch when he held her hand? He would never hurt her, not in a million years, if he lived that long. Kyo wasn't that type of person. He only hurt someone potentially if someone was in danger. She probably wasn't use to human contact, considering she somewhat relied on the plants.

The river was barely in sight now, so he figured they were far enough away and that it was time to head straight now, leading to the unknown. The day had started out well, but would it end that way too?

"Where do you think our travels will lead us to? A place of war or a place of peace?"

[blind]

Taking his lead, the young hybrid allowed herself to play this game of 'Follow-the-leader'. Her eyes continued to search around frantically at the different sounds that were flying to her heightened ears. "This one is not sure what we will findl. This one does not want to find war, and the plants very well might tell us not to go a certain way, but still, this one does not know."

Hana enjoyed the feel of the sunlight and she could hear the sound of the water beside them. She actually would prefer walking in the stream compared to the confinements of these old brown shoes. Toes wiggled inside the shoe, her fingers flexing lightly. His hand was slightly clamy, and were a tiny bit too big for hers. They were, thicker, and longer. It might be due to her petite size in respect to his, but Hana wasn't exactly sure how big Mister Kyo was to begin with.

"What does Kyo look like? Is Kyo tall?" The questions blurted out were naive and innocent. She knew the contours of his face and only his face. She hadn't a clue if he was human, demon, or something beyond that knowledge. "Is Kyo a human?" Humans didn't get that big, hana knew that. She herself would not grow much bigger until she bloomed.

Blooming, that was a whole toher aspect Hana was unaware of. Those were things her mother was supposed to tell her about, but alas, mother was no more. Something wonderful was going to happen to her one day, someday, and she wasn't sure if she'd perish afterwards.

[/size]

[darkwings]

What did he look like? He couldn't blame her for asking, after all she was blind and they were traveling together.

"Characteristics are over statements. They make people judge others on what they look like and not what's inside, but no harm could come from me telling you. I have silver hair, besides a dew black streaks, that is scruffy down to about me ears except for the few stranglers. Eyes the color of the grass. I look more feminine than manly. I have barely any muscles, but what is there is shown due to me wearing a black sleeveless turtleneck. I have black boots and pants to match.His complexion is as a ghost would be. Over top I have a black cloak, pinned together by my throat. My clothing makes me look more like ghost because of my extremely pale skin. I am a height of about 5'6'' and of average weight."


He wanted to paint a picture of him in he mind. Placing her hand on his scar, he explained what it what from.

"This scar reaches from my upper arm to my elbow, yet it is significant to me. It was from the first time a met the one whom I lost. We had gotten to a slight sword fight, and to end this quickly: she won."

Should he mention those weapons which in carried for his protection as well as others, he was only a mere human so he had to protect himself somehow.

"I carry a bow and arrow, which is hidden under my cloak,a few daggers, I am skilled in that art, and a small sword. As for your other question, yes I am human. Human that has no real source of protection, just the luck of how his aim is when using my weapons."

There was one thing he failed to mention, he silver, cross necklace. That was a whole new topic on its own. That he would leave out until she somehow found out about it. That necklace was his sign of guilt, his way of dealing with his past and what he had done in his past. He could love it and hate it at the same time. Sometimes he just wanted to throw it into a running river and never look at it again, but when he went to do just that, he couldn't.

A calm wind blew, making his cloak and flutter behind him. His hair, more airy than before.

"Can you imagine how I look now?"

The sun blazed down upon them. It was warm, warmer to him due to his black clothing which attracted sunlight. The sun reflected off his necklace and pin that attached his cloak together. The sound of rushing water behind them, the sound of birds chirping and bugs making whatever sound that bugs make. One hand attached to Hana's and the other clutching the cross, Kyo felt a strange surge of emotion. he didn't know what, kind of a mix of happiness and a little of sorrow. The happiness came from his life he was living in the moment and the sorrow was from the past.

Kyo quickly let go of the necklace. For some odd reason, every time Kyo touched it, it made all his feelings of the past return, feelings even from when he was a little kid. Some which couldn't even be titled. His cheery personality came back nd he let out a small laugh. he laughed about how such a silly thing could make someone feel so blue.

He began walking again, the sun making their shadows project onto the ground. A cloud had appeared in the sky, the first seen all day. It was going to be a beautiful day.

[Blind who cant log in]

Colors, and size proportions, it was all a little hazy for Hana to imagine in her head. Instead, how she thought, was more like creating. She'd creating the form of a figure, floating in an empty space, and draw in the features she was being told. From what she had gathered, the very detailed information Kyo gave, he was a very handsome man. One did not need to have muslces to be manly.

The scar. It screamed of pain, sorrow. Her blood eyes softened as her fingers ran over it very gently. Hana had few scars, but it was none visible due to her dress and long pink pancho. Her lips puckered, almost in a small pout, like a child does.

Weapons. Killing machines. Her hand retreated back and she cradled it against her chest. As the list grew larger Hana couldn't help but look away, if she could look at all that is. Being the naive girl that she was, Hana wasn't so great with killing and stuff. But he was human, maybe he felt he had to be able to protect himself in a world where demons, vampires, and other creatures existed.

"This one has no...weapons...as Kyo speaks of. Hana...only has the plants." The girl turned towards the direction of the sun, as if staring at it, but merely listening. "This one can...imagine Mister Kyo very well now, she can. This one still thinks Kyo is, a very handsome man." She giggled at her own statement, because truth be told there probably wasn't a creature in the world she didn't find beautiful in its own ways. "This one is envious of you, and your beautiful eyes. This one wishes she could see you, with her own eyes, not through this one's imagination and the plants."

Mister Kyo was moving again, she could hear his feet and weight shuffling. She skipped after him, plants growing wherever she stepped. The young flower maiden did not take the boy's hand again, merely left him to his own contemplation. Hana could sense he was thinking about something.

"Does Kyo need anything? Um...is Kyo hungry?" she asked innocently. Although she needed just sunlight and water, she constantly kept in the back of her head the fact that he was indeed human. He would need water and substantial food. Though she coudl offer him no meat, she could easily get him other suffice food.

[/size]

I'm not sure how long it's going to take for the computer to be fixed and let me properly log in. So for now, i'll just have to post as a guest. Sorry

[darkwings]

Hana seemed very happy, skipping behind him. She looked gleeful if that was even the word to descibe it. Kyo couldn't skip, he could try over and over again, but he just couldn't do it. He always tripped over his big feet and fell flat on his face. He figured it was just a girl thing and gave up when he was about 10 years old.

Did he need abything the young woman asked him. Off the top of his head there was nothing that popped into his head. Well anything she could offer him. If he needed anything he would be sure to tell her, and if not she wouold be sure to figure out that he wanted something. He was one who complained constantly if he didn't want or like something. Kyo wasn't one for letting things go someone else's way when he wanted something done in a specific way.

"I am in need of nothing. I will let you know if I need something. Thank you for asking though."

The air had a strange feeling in it suddenly as more clouds became visible in the once clear sky. They were dark clouds, storm clouds. Maybe they were going to bring in the beginning of the cold. Just the thought of winter made a shiver go up his spine. He loved the snow, but loathed the coldness that came with it. Why couldn't it snow when it was warm. Well he knew why, but didn't like the reason. Maybe, hopefully. the evil cold-bringing clouds would pass over their area. Kyo crossed his fingers, but that usually made what he didn't want to happen happen anyway.

The fact that she had no weapons made him confused. Why would a youthful woman, as beautiful as Hana was, not carry weapons for protection? How would she protect herself if she was ever attacked? She had no sight to help her escape. Maybe the fact that she was part non-human scared people off. She also said her plant friends helped her. Kyo still know how they helped her, but hey if they helped her, they are good plants and not evil ones.

He continued walking, every now and again checking to make sure Hana wasn't far behind. Why was she envious of him? He was nothing special. He was just a mere human that had no extraordinary skills or anything. He just lived life and battled to stay alive.

The clouds became closer and closer. He could feel it in the air. A chill in the wind. The storm was not a summer storm, but the one bringing in the first cold front enough to probably freeze the dew on the wet grass in the morning.

"Hana, can you sense the change in the air? What do you think it will bring?"

He asked her because she had grown up depending on other senses, not just those of sight. The plants were good weather predictors. After all, when a severe storm approached, the trees flipped over their leaves. What did the plants have to say about the change in weather? Kyo saw the clear blue sky behind them fade into the cloudy mess of a sky which they were under to the approaching dark sky.

[blind]

The wind brushed over and chilled her, a small sort of cry came over her lips as she rubbed her shoulders furiously. LIke all plants, she was always weakened when the winter came. As plants lost leaves and vibrant color, she gained the scars and aches they felt. Her eyes brimmed tears, she realized now, she was going to lose the plants for a short while. The only plants that thrived in the winter were evergreens, and a few select plants no one had told her the name of. The pale fingers lifted the hood over her head, shadowing all her face but the glowing blood eyes that haunted the minds of those who saw it.

"Hana, can you sense the change in the air? What do you think it will bring?"

"The cold....." Hana whimpered lightly, hugging the worn pink pancho to her curved frame. "The clouds bring coldness, rain, nearly snow or the falling ice. The plants will die soon, and this one, will be all alone then." Amaryllis were gorgeous this time of year. Still, Hana wasn't skipping or nearly as happy as she was before.

Her eyes at the sky. When the sun disappeared, she'd grow weakier. If it rained too much, she would drown like the flowers did. Cowering slightly, she backed up under the shelter of the trees where the sun could still reach her. "Kyo...this one....doesn't like the winter time."

Her mind was racing, there was a lot of planning she'd need. Hana would need heat in the winter, and if the sun didn't come out, she would be far too weak. Although plants are reborn each spring, Hana was not a fully plant, and therefore, her body would not be reborned. The possibility of staying in the fire nation was an idea, but she thought that they would also burn her to a crisp! She backed up into a tree and listened to the whispers of the old oak while her ears tried to pinpoint Kyo's breathing so she could look at him.

Eyes, although hazy with dull blindness, were wide and slightly panicked. What would Hana do with herself? Yes, it happened every winter, but usually Hana returned to the outskirts of her old elfen kingdom. Now, she was in a kingdom where war brewed. Chewing on her lower lip she continued to ponder. She could allow herself to be absorbed by a tree, yes, but, then she'd be asleep for a long time. Hana had never actually tried the method, and wasn't sure it would work.

"How far away are those clouds, Kyo?"
[/size]

[darkwings]

The wind did indeed become cooler. Winter was close, and winter meant snow. Snow. What a magical word to him. Kyo loved to play around in the snow, maybe have a snowball fight or make a snowman, but those good times were lost when his love died. Now he'd have to find new things to do in the snow all by himself.

How far are the clouds she asked. Looking into the dark mass coming to wards them, Kyo made a prediction that they were about 2 hours from where they were now.

"I would say about 2 hours from hitting us full force."

Kyo understood that the plants would be leaving her, but he'd stay with her, so she wouldn't be alone. Kyo could also understand why she didn't like winter. Winter was cold. Cold killed plants. She was like a plant. Did that mean if it got too cold, she would die?

The wind blew is cloak. The cool air rushed up his arms and made a shiver run throughout his body. Kyo loathed the cold. He liked the air warming him, not chilling him. Hana was no longer happy, yet now she seemed worried. What was so worried about? Winter would come, but it would eventually pass and spring would come. Spring was the rebirth and fresh start of every living thing. Kyo had been getting through the winter for many years and Hana had been doing it much longer than he. She should be use to it and an expert in surviving it.

"Hana, what are you so worried about? If you're worried about being lonely, I know I'm not the plants, but I'll keep you company.'

Sunlight was slowly becoming scarcer, the once warm air turned to cool, crisp air. Hana said that snow could possibly be in the air, or that's what Kyo had summed it up to be. A frown came to his face. If Hana didn't like winter, did that mean she didn't play around in the snow. he never met someone who didn't like to play in the snow. He practically lived outside during the winter.

Flashbacks emerged from their hiding places. Memories of his love and him playing in the snow, making snowmen, her knocking down his snow fort, which he spent all day on, just to proclaim her victory from the snowball fight. Kyo was so pissed off at her last night. Yet they made up, they always made up and it was usually through physical pleasure means and not words. The fights were always worth the screaming. Kyo left out a small laugh. Those were indeed the best years of his life. If only she could see him now.

Kyo looked to the worried Hana. She looked like a child lost within a mob of people. There was nothing Kyo could think of doing to help her stop worrying so much. He allowed a sigh to escape from between his lips. Kyo knew this winter would be hard, but what would its extent be? Folding his arms, he wanted to wait for Hana to signal him that they could go. She was near a tree and didn't want to wander off without her. He would wait, wait until she was ready.

[blind]

Hana, what are you so worried about? If you're worried about being lonely, I know I'm not the plants, but I'll keep you company.'

Hana turned toward the direction of his voice. Her tiny hands clenched the bark of the tree, she looked as though she had been cornered and now had no where to escape to. Her body was already starting to tremble with the slight change in temperature. "This one....hates winter."

The trees seemed to droop in forlorn. THey knew far too well what was going to happen to them. THe threes would slumber, the grass, the flowers, and the bushes would all die for now. The family would be ruinited in the spring, but always, always, they had to leave small Hana alone. In the long span of life, for a tree, Hana was just a little infant. She knew nothing of how to blend in with humans, nor did she completely understand the elves or the earthen background she was born from.

A crack sprung up on her face, like when the ground quaked and rummbled. The line was green, like a piece of her had been chipped as if she were a porcelain doll. Hana touched her cheek, feeling no blood nor liquid, but merely a wound. "It is starting...."

Hana looked up at the tree with saddness then back to where she thought Kyo was standing. "Being alone...is more than being in no one's company, Kyo. This one, this one's family is the plants, and they go, every winter. This one is left all alone, weak, and in pain. When the sun goes, so does this one's strength. When the cold comes, this one freezes, frosts, and breaks apart. Usually, this one returns to the edge of the forest, where this one used to reign Princess. But this winter, this winter this one is very far away from the village, and cannot return home."

Hana rubbed at her arms and took a step towards him. She could not hide in the comfort of this dying tree for much longer. The girl needed a plan of action, but a plan she did not have. Her happiness had wilted, like the sun that had now become hidden. "This one's sorry Mister Kyo, this one, just hates the winter. This one gets sick, and this one has no family. THis one is all alone in the winter. This one hates it..."

[/size]

[darkwings]

Kyo understood that Hana hated winter. Her plant family died and she couldn't talk to them. Kyo had no one in his family left. Nothing was keeping him from death except his will-power. No one was on was on this planet that loved him and he loved no one. His heart was empty. He lived off of whims.

"I am lonely too! We are not lonely in the same way. I am lonely because I have no one to love and no one to love me in exchange."

A green line appeared on her delicate face. A line that looked like crack in dry skin. It was like all the moisture was soaked up from her face.He flinched even at the thought. He knew how bad those hurt from experience. He once fell asleep outside during the winter, under the starry sky, while the cold wind blew. His skin had cracked leaving marks throughout his body wear bare skin was exposed to the weather elements.

He could tell she was worried about the upcoming winter. It was at that moment that an idea came to mind. What if, a big if, he traveled with Hana back to her home village. Even though she said it was too fay away, it didn't mean it was unreachable. Did the saying 'better late than never' come to mind? She would eventually get there. It would give Kyo something to do, Hana would be able to take a retreat where she felt safe from the hardships of winter, and they would then have a destination. A destination was always a good thing to have so they weren't walking in circles that would lead them to the middle of a war zone or the middle of no where.

"Hana, do you want to return to your village for the season? I will gladly accompany you."

Hana also mentioned that she gets sick. Kyo could take care of her if she grew sick unless it had something to do with her plant friends. He looked up at the sky, the sky that use to be a clear majestic blue shade was now a dreadful grey sky that brought depression into his mix of emotions. Happiness filled part of him for the upcoming first snowfall, depression for the loss of the warmth of the sun, and sadness. Sadness for the pain that Hana would have during the cold season.

This is when Kyo realized his slight change of heart. He still mostly was all women, greed, sex, and depression, but some sympathy and kindness returned to him. Things he hadn't felt since his love. Hana was bringing out the kind him, the non-corrupt him. The him that was a friend.

Kyo walked up the young girl, laying a hand softly on her back, attempting to reassure her. This was all he could think of to offer comfort at the moment. If they were going to depart from this area, they should start soon for the clouds of dread inched closer and closer by the minute.

[blind]

"I am lonely too! We are not lonely in the same way. I am lonely because I have no one to love and no one to love me in exchange."

Love? What was love? Hana looked at him, a look of complete bewilderment came over her. The plants were silent, and did not tell her of the expression he wore on his face. It was an emotion, they told her, one of the most high and pristine. Hana thought back, through the centuries of her mind, wondering if she had ever experienced the emotion.

Hana knew fear. When her plants were gone, she was truly blind, and lived in a world of utter darkness. Those words suffice, she'd never fully know or have the vaguest idea of what her companions were doing. She knew loneliness, and its heavy burden. To be alone for so long, Hana could not help but care for those around her. To be isolated, to hear only the echo of your own mind, preaching insecurities and flaws. Am I truly a monster? Am I truly worth banishment? Those thoughts ran through her head. Hana did not know anger nor rage, the young blossom had yet to feel these aches. She knew not of remorse either. The girl was merely, half a girl. It seemed as though she was a living doll, and desperately wanted to understand her fellow man more.

"Hana, do you want to return to your village for the season? I will gladly accompany you."

Hana blinked. "Yes, this one wants to return. But this one cannot; this one's home is far far away, it took this one many years to come to this place. This one, with no family left, all of them dead or dying, will have no one to tell her how to get back." His hand touched her back and she jumped slightly. Human intimacy was a world she knew nothing of. Still, the sincerity within his voice, so she calmed her timid frame.

Tilting her eyes towards the ground, or what she assumed was the ground, the little lavendar haired girl sighed. "This one thanks you for your kindness, Kyo, but you should go and find comfort in the other humans. This one will figure something out; this one could be absorbed with the trees, and hopefully survive the winter or this one could wander to the fire nation, and hope to befriend a man there. The trees tell me of a man who is far different than any other in the fire nation, he carries a flame within a fan, and can release it at his will."

"Do, what ever you desire, Kyo." She met him face to face, listening to the sound of his warm exhale. Her fingers grazed the chipped mark on her face, then reached out, and touched his cheek. His face was flawless, and she pouted lightly. "This one, and Kyo, are similar in structure, but this one feels, so far away. This one feels....scared."

[/size]

[darkwings]

From the strange look he got once the word 'love' was mentioned, he realized that she didn't quite know what love was. How was he suppose to describe such a delicate emotional, the most treasured of all? He mused about how to come about it.

"From that look, I suppose you know nothing about love. To me, love is the special bond you feel and have between someone else. Yet I believe in different types of love. There is the love between child and mother, the most blessed, and then the bond of lovers, the most precious and sacred. I have experienced them both, yet both have died, but their love remains in my heart."

Kyo released a deep heartfelt sigh. He did indeed miss both his mother and lovers, but there was nothing he could do. What is done, is done and must be that way for the rest of life. Kyo was lonely but he would be able to manage to live to the full extent of life.

Kyo stood there in amazement. He wasn't trying to find comfort in her, trying to comfort her. He knew she desperately longed for home during this brutal season, so he was just trying to ask if she wanted him to help her get there. That was until he knew that it was too far away and unreachable for them.

Hana always flinched at his touch. Why was that? He wasn't trying to take advantage of a blind girl, just wanted to help her. With that thought leaving his short-attention span mind, he thought about her other comment. The one about her being absorbed into the tree. What the hell did she mean by that? He keep getting more and more confused about her relationship with the plants. It just boggled his mind. He figured the more questions he asked, the more confused he'd get by the answers.

"Hana, you don't want to venture to the fire nation. They are not the friendliest people and they have a very powerful use of defense and power. Intense heat is just as good as the freezing air for plants."

Hana told him to do what he wanted, yet she said she was scared. Kyo was confused by this statement. If he left, he'd being leaving her all alone, so wouldn't' t that leave her more frightened. What he truly wanted at the current moment was unsure of. Part of him said 'leave. This girl just confuses the hell of you and seems like too troubled' but the other, more compassionate part said 'you can learn a lot from her and help her.' Kyo thought he was going crazy.

"I do not know what I desire. So if it is okay by you, I shall stick with you until the wind blows me in another direction. I am scared too. Scared of what this winer brings and what the future has in store for me for I have not been the best person in my earlier days."

The clouds were close now. Maybe about a hour at most away. The moved quicker than what Kyo had anticipated. For now, the decision on what to do and where to go was on Hana.

[blind]

From that look, I suppose you know nothing about love. To me, love is the special bond you feel and have between someone else. Yet I believe in different types of love. There is the love between child and mother, the most blessed, and then the bond of lovers, the most precious and sacred. I have experienced them both, yet both have died, but their love remains in my heart."

Hana tried to find a similarity to her own life, a connection if you will. She did not want to anger Kyo by not understanding. "This one, maybe, knows the bond of mother and child. This one's mother is no more. This one never knew her father, but maybe this one knows the saddness, of not having that bond?" She looked at him hopefully, she wanted to make him happy by understanding. Hana only wanted Mister Kyo to be happy, but he always seemed to be upset with her, or perplexed by her.

"Hana, you don't want to venture to the fire nation. They are not the friendliest people and they have a very powerful use of defense and power. Intense heat is just as good as the freezing air for plants."

"Does Kyo know someone from the fire nation that is not nice?" Hana asked curiously. How could Kyo know if someone was bad if he had not met them yet? And what about the man with the fire fan, they said he was supposed to be nice. But what was, the fire nation to begin with. "What is, the place Kyo calls, the fire nation? This one, doesn't know what nation is. This one just knows that there are plants almost everywhere. Does the fire nation not have plants?"

"I do not know what I desire. So if it is okay by you, I shall stick with you until the wind blows me in another direction. I am scared too. Scared of what this winer brings and what the future has in store for me for I have not been the best person in my earlier days."

Hana smiled, "It is okay with this one if Kyo stays, this one likes having a person to talk to. This one only fears the winter, but not anything after that." She started off in a direction, the last fleeting cries of the plants turned her in the direction opposite of the clouds. "The plants just told this one that this one must seek the god of the earth, or, whoever that may be. They say that he might be able to protect this one from harm until they return with more strength." A crack chipped on her neck and winced, her hand finding it and sighing. Still, the little flower maiden continued walking, not sure if Kyo was even following. "What did Mister Kyo do that was so bad, in his earlier days?"

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[darkwings]

Kyo had never been to the fire area himself, yet he heard rumors about them and he didn't like them. They're could possibly be some nice people, but he never waged his life by venturing to the place where its always warm. He wasn't fond of fire either. To kyo, a man that could make fire or manipulate it was an enemy.

"I have never been to the fire country, but rumors of them are not kind. You can take your chances, but I shall not go there."

How was he to explain nation. They weren't exactly a nation, but an area with all people who dealt with fire. Plants? Every place has plants, even the driest desert, well if you counted a cactus. Kyo massaged his neck while pondering the answer to this question.

"Well, what I define a nation as is a place where a bunch of people, all pledged to the Fire God and all of fire live. Probably like your village except with fire members. I would have to assume that they have plants, after all every place has some type of vegetation."
Hana said that she was only afraid of winter. Well that's not so bad, well for him anyway. All he had to do was help her through the winter and find this person and she'd be okay. He could handle that. Best of all, she didn't care if he tagged along. He now had someone to hang around with and chat with. Someone to enjoy life with. He could still leave if he desired, but he liked her personality. She was interesting, the way she related her entire life with the plants. She made him think.

Clouds were darker, yet he didn't inform the girl, whom he was now following instead of the opposite way around. Now didn't want to scare her anymore than she was. He walked not far from her, making sure he stayed close for his own sake and hers. Then a question that he dreaded happened to pop up, making conversation. The question of his past. He hated thinking of it. Full of depression, sadness, and death. She wanted to know though, so he'd tell her, slowly making his way towards the worst parts.

Staring down at his feet, he wondered where the best place he should start.

"Everything was bad, whether it was my fault or someone else's. I came from an abusive family. I was the slave of my household. If I didn't do what I was told, I'd be brutally beat, or as mother would say 'punished.' As I grew older, I retaliated. I fought back, starting to curse and physically fight with people. I turning into my mother. Then she died, well was murdered. I was so hungry for revenge, I set out to find that murderer, full of hatred."

A blast from the blast came to mind. The memory of his mother's funeral. All the tears he shed for someone who would beat him, almost killing him sometimes, made him fill with anger. How could he have sorrow for someone who did that to him? But then he started to remember after he left that town.

"After that, I though life sucked and was all about revenge, that was until I met the love of my life, Emi. I have never spoke her name to anyone before. We first fight, until I realized she was what I needed, someone funny, kind, and had the funniest personality and always wore a smile. She was my first lover, friend, everything. She was my everything until someone murdered her. I was devastated. My life just had no point."
Kyo's entire world, physical and mental, turned grey. All the sadness and grief flowed back to him. All the pain he went through. He left out the worst parts of his life, those no one would like to hear, unless their mind worked in morbid ways. He didn't Hana would appreciate them, actually he thought they might scare he away. He looked from the sky to Hana. What would he do if something dreadful happened to his only friend. No. Kyo wouldn't allow that to happen and if it did, he'd never forgive himself. He let Emi die, so there was no way he;d watch someone else go through that same pain.

"Hana, any more questions about my past? I will answer them. I don't want to frighten you more, but the clouds are getting darker. Maybe we should speed up a bit. What about you and your past?"

Kyo was trying to keep her mind off the situation they were going to be in shortly, if that was even possible, for as long as he could.

[blind]

I'd just like to point out that I'm trying to get in contact wtih Satazian. I'd like blind to speak with him. So this thread is probably not going to make much progress until I can't some sort of response from him.


Revenge. It was another aspect of human emotion Hana was not accustomed to. Maybe the woman had none of those emotions at all and only knew basic happiness, saddness, and fear. She wasn't sure, nor did she dwell on it with trepidation. Her feet continued to walk forward along the very edges of the shadows produced by the trees, the stream still nearby and rumbling in her ears.

"This one is sorry you lost your, lover friend person. This one doesn't know that heartache, so this one has no true way of showing empathy."

He asked about her past, and the flower maiden had to think about it as she continued walking. Her pace hadn't sped up, despite the warning of oncoming clouds. The fingers of her left hand were pressed together in a rubbing sort of manner, and slowly but surely the woman was producing the stem of a rose, thorns and all. It was a slow process, but an interesting one at that.

"This one's past, as Mister Kyo calls it, is a very very long one. Though it is long, it isn't that productive. This one lived with her mother and the elven village for a very long time. This one was a princess there. The people were so kind to mother. This one never saw her mother since this one was born blind, but this one knows her mother was beautiful."

The petals formed on the rose and slowly blossomed outward. The color was like an indigo violet as it reached out for the sky. " There wasn't many fights in the kingdom, only quibble between people, but we usually resolved it. After this one's mother died, she was politely asked to leave." Her eyes turned up towards the sky, the red hue of her eyes looked a little dark and sullen because of the darkness lingering above her, "THis one understands, and isn't mad. They were afraid, and this one was a defect. THis one was a bastard, mother never married the man, and if she actually did it was in secret and kept from her people."

The rose met her tiny nose and she took in a deep breath. ROses always smelt so lovely, they were subtle and beautiful, despite the thorns it carried. One had pricked her finger, and a small bit of blood trickled on her hand, but she didn't mind it. As she continued walking she threw the rose up into the air, and it scattered into petals, to plant more seeds and blossom the next spring.

"This one wandered a lot, never stayed too close to people. This one never really needed people. The plants would help her, tell this one where a stream or food was. One time this one met a man in the forest, he was a hunter, and was intrigued by this one. He was kind and this one stayed with him for a little while. He showed her human things, this one remembers....a music box." Turning to Kyo's presence she grinned, "This one adored the music box."
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[darkwings]

She was quite quiet about her past. It sounded like everyone rejected her after her mother died. Kyo just guessed that some people liked to keep their past to themselves. He on the other hand kinda liked talking about his past. It allowed him to vent out some anger and explain why he is the way he is. The reason he wore all dark colors and did some of the things he did.

Kyo could understand why her favorite thing was a music box, seeing that she is blind. Since Hana had no sight, she depended on the beauty of something's sound. She couldn't see its features, but only hear them. Kyo had no special possessions that made sound. His only possessions were his weapons, which he already stated to the girl, and his neckalce, the silver cross that was around his neck and hanged down to his chest. He treasured his necklace, it was more important to him than his own life.

"I have no musical possessions that I could show you. I only have a mere necklace. Well, it'd be mere to you, but to me, it is worth a life itself."

Silver and black strands of hair hung over his face, hiding his eyes as he lowered his head to stare at his feet. He had the goosebumps now, and wished that would have brought something warmer to wear when he left the last town he was in. He had forgotton how quickly winter approaches in this land. He rubbed his hands together, trying to create friction for warmth.

Kyo ran up beside the girl, after he found himself to be lagging behind, his mind caught up in his thoughts. He didn't want to say goodbye to summer, but he had no choice, it was mother nature's decision when to bring the cold and let to warm leave.

It seemed as if night was falling upon them, not a snow storm. The sky was dark like the beginning of a winter's night. He wished he had some type of special ability to keep himself occupied.

He wanted to keep conversion going, but he couldn't think of a topic.
"Hana, is there anything on your mind? I wish I had some special object to show you like the person you met."

ooc: sorry for the wait. i have been busy since i started working and the marking period ends soon.

[blind]

Hana listened as Kyo described his necklace and she chuckled. "This one does not think a necklace is merely a necklace, everything has value and purpose, this one believes that. Even a beggar and even a criminal are, umm, important, to someone," she smiled lightly and turned her eyes up ahead, swinging her arms at her sides as she continued to stroll along.

Despite the trepidation of winter, Hana still managed to keep smiling. It wasn't, a completely genuine smile, because the girl did fear, but the idea of meeting the lord of soil was amazing. She threw the rose up into the air and the petals scattered into the air and she smiled, the light fragerence filling the air around the two. Delicate ears twitched, picking up on the sound of Mister Kyo rubbing his hands together.

Hana, is there anything on your mind? I wish I had some special object to show you like the person you met."

"This one....is thinking about how cold Kyo is," Hana told him gently, a trembling hand reached out to take his gently. Her own, pumping with the kind of life only a plant would understand. The digits were neither cold nor warm, merely alive, filled with something different than blood. "This one is thinking about, how she forgot that Kyo probably hates the cold too. This one's sorry, she thought all about herself." The red of her eyes softened, sadness breaking through the haze that clouded her vision.

Now realizing he was cold, Hana's eyes started scanning the trees. Her nose found the scent of nuts that still lingered on the trees, winter nuts none the less, the last the woodland creatures hadn't stored for food. "Kome," she pointed out at the forest. Suddenly the forest started to rumble and a tree groaned, a large branch bending out towards her. It stretched, bark cracking in places, until it was right in front of her hands. "Thank you," she told the tree gently, pecking the branch as she pulled out a few of the nuts. The tree moaned and resumed its place before. Hana turned to Kyo and held out the nuts, "Eat these, these will make Kyo warm."

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