Ch 4: On the Run - Pt 1: Runaway

"Mom?! Dad?! I'm home!" I slowly approached the damaged house. There were cuts in the outer walls, and the windows were broken. The ajar door creaked from a gust of wind as if it were inviting me inside.

Taking a breath, I nervously peeked inside the open entrance. "Is anyone there?"

At first, all I saw was the aftermath of a clash within the home. The furniture was thrown all around and broken to pieces. Dishes were shattered about the living space. And finally, my eyes spotted a limp arm lying on the other side of the table that had been flipped onto its side. Gradually flowing around the length of the limb was a pool of red.

"Dad!" I rushed to the body.

It was in fact my father, Hakuma, the Demon more caring than any stereotype out there. His head rested on its side. His eyes were wide open, but the ruby-like brightness had gone dark. His clothes were torn from countless cuts. His body was bruised by countless blows. His blood covered the floor around him. And his chest had a deep gash across his torso angled down to his upper abdomen.

Dropping to my knees, tears welled in my eyes, and I held his lifeless hand. "Dad... This can't be real..."

Before I could properly grieve the loss of my new father, I heard a sound from the bedroom. "No... Mom!"

I jumped back up and hurried around the corner, and there she was. My new mother, Miyo, the purest, most textbook-fitting Angel that anyone could ever imagine, was dead. Or so I thought.

"Aoi... Is... Is that you?" Gasping breaths attempting to formulate words were coming from the weakened woman's mouth. Her hand rose feebly from the bed.

"Mom!" I hurried to her side. "It's me. I'm here." I held her hand softly, not wanting to cause her any more pain.

"Aoi... There you are..." Battling through the pain, my mother's best struggles to communicate were fading out with every breath. "Thank goodness you are safe..."

"What happened to you? Dad's..." I felt like I was about to suffocate from what I was about to say and lowered my head. "Dad's dead..." My hold on my mother's hand tightened as I met her sorrowful eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you."

"It's okay, Sweetie..." Miyo gave my hand a gentle squeeze in return. "You did nothing wrong. Please know that."

"Mom..." The dam withholding my tears was ready to crack.

A voice from outside broke through the everlasting stillness in the bedroom. "Did you hear that? I think I just heard someone talking."

The voice had a partner. "You must be imagining things. If their kid was nearby, we would've found him by now."

Miyo released my hand. "Please run, Aoi. Live the life you dreamed of -- the same dream that allowed you to escape this fate."

"I won't leave without you." I slid an arm under her back and her knees, ready to carry her away with me.

"I'm sorry to say I won't be able to join you. I'm feeling a little tired..." My mother offered one final faint smile. "But simply knowing you are well is enough for me to rest in peace."

"No. Don't say that." As I was about to stand with her cradled, my mother's eyes closed, and I felt her body grow heavier. "No! You can't leave me here alone!"

The lifeless body in my arms did not respond, but the voice of a man did instead. "See?! There's definitely someone inside!"

"All right, all right. I believe you." His skeptical partner must have heard me this time as well.

I gritted my teeth and accepted the reality that was my parents' deaths and the situation where I was next. I laid Miyo's body back on the bed and hurried to find anything useful I could take with me. Three items made the cut: my mother's sapphire necklace, a knapsack with a few apples and a loaf of bread, and my father's sword.

My next dilemma was that Hakuma always built these homes with only one door. With the main exit being the same as the entrance those men were about to use, I opted to bust through the window over the sink with the hilt of Hakuma's sword. The quickened steps entered the house with a shout, but I was already out.

* * * * *

"Someone! Anyone! Please help!"

Without a second thought, I sprinted full steam into town. Despite my desperate pleas, looks of scorn were all that I received in response. Since it was early evening, the crowd had dispersed with everyone heading home for dinner.

I spotted a weapon trader packing up his stand. "Excuse me, Sir! Please help. My family has been attacked, and--"

"Sorry, bud. I'm just a trader, not a fighter." Carrying on with his task, the man cut me off without a single glance in my direction.

Knowing better than to press further, I left to seek aid elsewhere. Across from the bench where Yuuna and I ate our crepes, there was a woman seated on a blanket with a vast variety of items scattered around her. Many of the items bore signs of usage, indicating they were likely repurposed after being obtained from prior owners. It seemed like this middle-aged lady was operating this world's version of a thrift store. If no one will help me fight, then flight is my only option.

I approached the woman sitting crisscross applesauce as calmly as I could. "Pardon me, Miss. I don't have any money, but do you accept trades? It appears you have a fascination with used goods."

The gypsy-like merchantwoman raised one eyebrow at me but quickly smiled wide. "Why, sure thing! Anything in particular yer lookin' for?"

"That camping setup would be great. Something came up, and I'll be on the move for some time." I pointed to a collection of items displayed like a mini campsite. The set included a popup tent, a rotisserie, a thick blanket, and a small bag of black stones like the ones I had seen Hakuma use to start fires.

"Oh, yeah? Well, sorry to say, but those'll fetch a nice price all together." The woman crossed her arms and sat up straighter. "And, uh, you don't look like you have much on you." Her eyes drifted to my hip. "You tryin' to trade yer sword there or somethin'? I don't deal in that kind of business."

"Right, um." I pulled Miyo's necklace from my pocket. "Will this do?"

The animated woman sprang to her feet. "You want to give me that?! For this junk?! Are you crazy?!"

I stiffened in surprise. "Oh, uh... Is that a bad deal?"

"Darn tootin' it is!" Her arms started flailing all about, and she thought I was the crazy one. But that was not the only thing that stood out about her reaction. Out of all the sayings in my old world, that definitely wasn't one I expected to hear.

"That necklace may just be worth more than most everything in this town." An elderly woman was peeping around me at the jewelry in my hand. "Why would you want to trade such a valuable piece, Aoi?"

"Koharu! I'm glad to see you." My attention shifted away from the bewildered barterer. "I need to leave town as soon as possible, so I'm trying to get some supplies, but I don't have any money. This is the only thing I have that I can part with."

Koharu opened her wise eyes a little more; enough for me to notice their color for the first time. She stretched herself up to get a closer look at my face and then examined the necklace. "This must be your mother's." Koharu peered into my soul. "If you are here trying to trade this and flee town, then something tragic must have happened. One day, you will surely come to regret this."

I silently stared at the silver necklace with the large sapphire pendant between a pair of smaller gemstones. Is Koharu right? Is this a mistake?

Koharu closed my fingers around the necklace. "Don't worry, Young Man. I know of a friendly merchant who can assist you." The elder woman held her arm out toward the far end of the street. "His name is Masato, and he owns a shop closer to the garden. There is a pattern of stonework around the entrance. You won't miss it."

I clutched the necklace and held my fist closer to my face. "Thank you, Koharu. I owe you."

The old woman smiled a grandmotherly smile. "You're very welcome. Just promise me you and Yuuna will come back and visit my shop again someday."

"You got it!" And I ran off. Wait. What does this have to do with Yuuna?