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Heavy pants from his mouth were heard. The cold, arid breath visibly exited
his mouth, and his tongue lolled on the side. Strangely though, Ryura did not
return to the camp where the other wolves were. He was, before, given orders as
a watchman for the night, but immediately refused the job. Running farther and
farther away, he bounded across the high cliffs, where the moon shone, and
approached a small clearing up ahead. Ryura let out a soft growl and fixed his
gleaming eyes upon what lay in front of him, as the moon lit up the fascinating
sight.
It was a large garden, not any common garden, but one vibrant in
color. The garden was as blue as the distant sea, filled with the iris flower.
Stretching over twenty yards, the flowers populated the soil, leaving no empty
space between them. Even in the condensed space, the flowers grew well. All of
them looked as if they have been treated well, with care and comfort needed to
grow. The wind once again picked up, and Ryura, in human form, stepped out of
the clearing. He strolled along the middle of the garden, letting his hand swim
through the soft blueness of the patch of flowers. Ryura closed his eyes, and
let the scent of the flowers overtake him, engulfing him in fragrance that
enlightened his entire body. He was happy, filled with aesthetic joy, as if he
had no care in the world. He opened his eyes and laughed, imagining the days in
which he was once a child. He finally stopped laughing. Heaving a sigh, he
walked into the middle of the field to come across a small slab of stone in the
center. He knelt down, stroking the stone with his index finger, tracing the
marks that were scratched clearly onto the surface: アヤネ.
"Thirteen years. It's been a while, hasn't it? I haven't
visited this wretched paradise for some time." Ryura paused. "I've
kept the flowers just the way you wanted." There was no response, only the
sound of silent rustling leaves from his surroundings. Ryura only laughed and
held an iris between his fingers. With delicacy, he tore it from the root and
placed it upon the foot of the stone.
Stepping back, Ryura's countenance immediately shifted. "Why did you
have to leave anyways? You know, you mock me in ways. I hate this, I hate
everything. You always told me that the Yokai Wolves were built to lead in
packs, as groups. Why the hell would they forget about me? They never
acknowledge what I can do. And you said they would soon learn to accept me.
When? When exactly will this happen? Answer me!"
Ryura slumped in a heap upon the ground. Huffing, he paused as
he regained his breath. "What would you have done, if you were still
here?"
He kicked the dust upon the ground once he stood up. And he stood there;
for at least two full hours. Minutes passed quickly and Ryura did not move, nor
did he stir in the slightest gesture. Thinking of his childhood, his face
grimaced. Visions of an iris drenched in blood clouded his mind along with dead
bodies. Ryura closed his eyes, shuddering from the past nightmares. Time flew
by as a distant light rose from the east. It hit the surface of the earth,
vanquishing the darkness that was there. The rays crept along the garden,
having the irises gleam in morning light, at the wake of dawn. Ryura did not
notice such until the sun's rays hit his eyes; he blinked, finally coming to his
senses.
"It's morning already? Heh, I've been out too long."
Quickly scurrying for his equipment, he transformed back into the wolf he was
before. He ruffled his fur, as the sun's rays flashed upon his skin. Ryura was
irritated, hating the sight and feeling of the sun. His jet black fur burned
from the immense heat. Ryura tried his best to ignore it. However, it proved
to be a difficult task, no matter how hard he tried. He turned to the stone
once again, and lowered his head.
"Goodbye, mother."
With a swift turn, he headed back into the forest. The sun
still beat its strong rays upon the forest, as if it was trying to desecrate the
trees along with its inhabitants. Ryura quickly ran. Disappearing into the
depths of the trees, he sprinted back towards the camp, where the other wolves
were. Ryura never stopped to look back. In seconds, he was gone, out of sight
of the garden.
The sun continued to glare.
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