Park Emperor

Noel had no idea where to start looking for Buster. He had turned right at the end of the block, but there wasn’t much past that way except for more houses and the park Noel had first started to train at.

She had to start somewhere, and it was as good a place as any. Besides, now that Buster had her attention, he probably wouldn’t stray too far from her house. Shirt in hand, Noel retraced Buster’s path.

As she approached the park, Noel heard the sound of children playing, which surprised her. Not only was the park usually empty, but it was almost completely dark. No responsible parent would have their kid outside at this hour.

Sure enough, though, Noel saw several kids running around. They were mostly boys, but there were a few girls among them. There were several more kids standing under a set of monkey bars. They all looked upset at Buster, who stood with his back to them, arms folded, and eyes glowing in the twilight as he threw back his head and laughed.

“Bwahahahaha! Your numbers are cut in half! Your general is captured! All is lost before the might of Buster Brinn!” He flexed extra hard to that the veins in his neck popped. “Just try to stop me…If you can.”

His grin had a sinister edge that caught Noel off guard. Was Azrath right? Did Buster have ill intentions after all?

Then one of the boys gave a shout, “Not if we band together! C’mon, everyone!” The remaining kids charged towards Buster, who crouched, arms open, ready to receive them. Small bodies tackled the Ahngreel, one by one, piling onto him. But Buster stood his ground. Arms wrapped around his massive limbs and torso in a vain attempt to drag him down.

With a grunt of effort, Buster stood straight and lifted several clinging children as their feet dangled in the air. Still, there was effort on Buster’s face.

“No… I will not fall!” But as one more kid leaped onto his leg and pulled, Buster staggered back. “Ow, ow, ow! Watch the hair!”

There were cheers from the swarm and from the kids under the monkey bars. Yet the Ahngreel was not deterred. “You fools! You’ve willin’ly tagged yourselves! This match is mine!”

“That’s what you think!”

Buster’s eyes widened as one last kid came running up, eyes focused on the ground where Buster had stood. Buster tried to gain his footing again, but the kids that held onto him kept him off balance.

“No! dooooon’t!”

With a grunt of effort, the boy kicked with all his might. Not at Buster, but at the lone can that Noel just realized that the Ahngreel had been stepping on protectively. With a rattling donk, the can went flying. The kids under the monkey bars came rushing out with cries, “We’re free! Get him!”

They joined their tiny comrades atop Buster, who, at last, toppled backward as the pile of children became too much for him. He landed flat on his back as the kids laughed and cheered.

Buster laughed along with them, all bravado gone. He sat up. “Well, you got me! A sacrificial play. Nice! Who’s idea was that?”

“It was mine!” said the boy who had kicked the can.

“That was pretty Ahngreel, Satoshi. But it won’t work on me next time. I’m already much stronger! Watch.” He wrapped his arms around a bunch of the kids and stood, with more of them holding onto him like before. The stragglers hopped back onto him so that Buster was carrying all the children at the same time. All were laughing. Including Noel. What had she been thinking? Buster? Have ill intentions? He was such a dope.

Then Buster noticed Noel for the first time and released his arms. The kids fell back onto their feet and followed Buster’s gaze. Most of the boys grinned at her while the few girls giggled.

“Is that the girl you were talking about, Busta?” said the boy named Satoshi.

Buster nodded, “That’s right! But I didn’t expect to see her until tomorrow.”

One of the girls gave another giggle. “Ooh, was she that eager to see you again?”

Noel’s cheeks burned, causing the girls to giggle even more. “That’s not true!” It really wasn’t! “Anyway, what are you kids doing out so late? You should head home before it gets dark.”

There were “awws” of disappointment from the kids and a few protests. But at Noel’s stern expression, the kids began to walk off in various directions. They all said goodbye to Buster as they did so.

He looked just as disappointed as he waved back.

When they were far enough away, Noel shot Buster a suspicious look. “What have you been telling them about me?”

Buster looked nonplussed, “Nothing. I just mentioned that I was here to see you. They’re the ones who made a big deal about it.”

Noel sighed, “And what was with that whole ‘your general is captured’ thing? I was worried about you taking things too seriously.”

“What? You thought I’d hurt the kids or somethin’?”

“Well…”

Buster grinned at her, “C’mon, Noel. Give me a little credit. I’m strong, but I’d never hurt a kid.”

“Noel shrugged, “Can you blame me, though? With the way you were acting, I thought you were bullying them.”

Buster put his hands in his pockets and pouted at her, “Not at all. It was more like they were bullyin’ me! You saw the way they jumped me.”

“I saw you throw the game for them.” Noel grinned, “You caught a steel beam like it was nothing. You expect me to believe that a bunch of kids are too heavy for you.”

Buster’s smile was mischievous as he rubbed under his nose with a finger, “You figured me out, did you? I couldn’t help it; they were just so determined. I didn’t think human children had such resolve.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“I feel like I’m surprised a lot right now. For example,” He looked up at the starless Tokyo sky. “I didn’t t know the lights in the sky vanished depending on the time of day. Or I didn’t know that humans could be so friendly.”

“Not…all the time.” Noel’s hands began to twist the shirt she was clutching. “Sometimes humans can be cruel.”

Buster’s eyes returned to her, alight with concern. “Yeah? I’m sorry about that. I’ve seen the humans who look at me with fear or worry, but I don’t wanna hurt them. And I figured, if I’m nice enough, they’ll stop lookin’ at me that way.”

“What if that doesn’t help.”

He squatted down, eyes fixed on the ground as he thought about her words. Eventually, he said, “All I can say is that one day, it will.” He smiled up at her, “Those kids, for instance. I was just sittin’ on that stuff you call grass over there when they came up and asked me to play with ‘em. Just outta nowhere. They said I looked lonely. Can’t say I was, but I wasn’t gonna say no. And before I knew it, I was the Emperor of the Park, and they were calling my friend.”

“Emperor of the Park?” Noel crouched beside him and rested her chin on folded arms.

“I dunno what it means, but I was happy to go along with it. And before I knew it, the sky-light was nearly gone. Then you showed up.” He glanced at her. “What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were all wishy-washy about trainin’ with me.”

“I still am…uh,” Noel fidgeted with the shirt still in her left hand. What should she say? She didn’t want to tell him that she was only out here because Azrath told her not to be. She also didn’t want to make up some dumb lie that he might misinterpret. She didn’t need him taking things the wrong way. “I just wanted to ask you something.”

Buster tilted his head as he watched her. “Yeah? What?”

Noel’s mind raced. What should she ask? Aren’t you cold? No, that would be weird to ask. Where are you planning on sleeping? Absolutely not! After a few agonizing seconds of Buster looking at her expectedly, she settled on, “Why did you come to Earth?”

He blinked at her. “That’s what you want to know?”

She nodded. Noel was curious if Azrath was right after all.

“I thought that was obvious. Because the Hidaar asked.”

“Is that the only reason?”

Buster scratched his chin, “Well, it’s not the only one. I’ll admit, I was curious.”

“About what?” Noel looked at him, suddenly wary.

“About what this world is like. I’ve heard stories. A lotta stories about so many little things that I couldn’t even imagine. Plants I’ve never heard of, water that wasn’t gold, and people who lived without fighting. I wanted to see it for myself.” He paused as his orange and white eyes regarded her. “And then there was you.”

“Me?” Noel’s shoulders tensed.

Buster didn’t seem to notice her caution. “I wanted to fight the person who impressed the Hidaar and defeated Hilqamaar. But when he first described you to me, I couldn’t believe it. And then I saw you… and you were…” his brow furrowed. “I don’t even know how to describe it.”

Noel just stared at him. She had no idea where he was going with this, and there was a part of her that didn’t want to know. But she said nothing as Buster contemplated. The darkness around them deepened beyond the dim lights of small park lights that lit the pathways.

Finally, Buster spoke. “For the first time…I felt the desire to fight someone disappear. No, not even that.” He scowled, frustration burning within his eyes. “Y’know what they call me in Sohaud? Brinn the Meddler. Anghreel tend to keep to themselves and rely on their own strength. But sometimes, when I see a strong Ahngreel pick a fight with a weak one that stands no chance, I can’t help but want to stop it. Just the sight of it makes me angry!” The crease in his eyebrow deepened as his hands clenched into fists. “That’s the same feeling I get when I look at you.”

“I make you angry?” Noel was completely lost. But some part of her must have understood as she felt warmth creep into her face.

Buster shook his head so that his tiny braid bounced around his ear. “No, the other thing. The part about wanting to stop someone from hurting you. But I know you’re not weak. Just by looking at you, I can understand what the Hidaar sees. And yet… When I look at you, I can’t help but feel that way. You’re nothing like an Ahngreel girl. You’re so small…and soft…and…”

Noel had enough! Her face burned hotter with each word Buster said. She was tempted to cover her face with her hands and run off, but she only stood with a mortified expression.

“Stop! Just stop, okay?”

Buster looked up at her, surprised. “What’s wrong? Did I say something to offend you again?”

Noel did her best to regain her composure, “I’ll say you did! Who taught you how to talk to girls?!”

He tilted his head in confusion. “Nobody? I didn’t know there was some secret way to talk to girls.”

“There’s not, but you can’t just go around telling them…all that stuff.”

“Alright, I get it,” said Buster. Though, his face said otherwise.

“Listen, if you’re so confused about how to do it, ask your mom!”

“My what?”

The earnestness of that question made Noel’s embarrassment evaporate. He was completely serious. There was a question in his eyes as he looked up at her.

“You…do have a mom, right?”

“I might if you tell me what it is.”

“A mom isn’t a what. She’s a who. The woman who gave birth to you.”

Buster began to nod slowly. “Oh, I think I know what you mean.” Then he shrugged. “No idea.”

Noel just stared at him, “You don’t know your mom? Is she dead?”

“Probably not.”

“Then did she leave?”

“Sure,” he said way too casually, “But isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?”

“Of course not! What about your dad?” At Buster’s blank stare, Noel added, “Your father? The man who helped make you?”

“I’m not sure where you’re going with this. Why would I have to know the people who created me?”

“Why? What about family? Parents, brothers and sisters?”

“Ahngreel don’t have any of those things. It’s just you and your own strength from the day you’re born.” His tone was of someone explaining the obvious. Noel was in shock.

“As a baby? How can anyone live like that?”

Buster stood and rested his hands behind his neck. “I’ll admit, it’s not easy. Ahngreel are born in secret in the lower levels. Then we’re left to fend for ourselves. We have to teach ourselves how to do the basics of survival. How to walk, talk, and, most important, how to fight.”

“That’s horrible!”

“It’s not as bad as it sounds. We don’t have to worry about food or water. We don’t get sick like humans do. The only real danger is another Ahngreel lookin’ to pick off the weak. I managed to survive fine, but there are others who aren’t so lucky.” His expression hardened for a moment, then it relaxed. “What’s so great about that family stuff, anyway?”

“A lot of things. They teach you about life. They’re there for you during hard times. They love you without question. At least, that’s how it should be…” She fell silent as sadness suddenly welled up from somewhere deep within. As she remembered her own parents. She blinked and pushed past it. “And if that’s something you’ve never had, I feel sorry for you.”

Buster was silent, too, as he regarded her for a moment. Then he said, “It sounds nice.” Then he smiled, “But I can’t imagine any other Ahngreel feeling the same, especially the women.”

“Are they seriously that bad?” said Noel.

“You bet they are. They’re about my size, blood-thirsty, and always looking for an excuse to fight.”

Noel scoffed. “Sounds like any other Ahngreel.”

“Exactly. It’s pretty hard to tell the girls from the guys.”

“That…explains a lot.” Noel hadn’t seen a female Ahngreel yet…or had she? She tried to picture what one may look like and only came up with Oriander, mustache and all, in a dress. She snorted and covered her mouth with her left hand.

“Something funny?” She shook her head.

 Buster put his hands in his pockets. His eyes glanced at the shirt she held. “What’s that?”

Glad for a change of subject, Noel out the shirt to him. “This is for you.”

“For me? Really?”

She nodded, “I’m not sure that it’ll fit, but it’s the biggest one I own.”

Buster took the shirt and held it between his hands. He smiled at the cat on the front of it, who grinned back. “You didn’t have to, Noel.”

“Yeah, but I wanted to. I was getting tired of you walking around half-naked all the time.”

“Aw, C’mon, it’s not that bad.”

“Please, just put it on.”

Without a word, Buster poked his head through the neck hole and began to work his arms through the sleeves. It looked like a struggle as Buster seemed to get stuck at least twice trying to get the shirt past his wide shoulders. Eventually, though, he managed it without ripping as he pulled the shirt over his torso as far as it would go. It barely made it past his stomach. The hem of the sleeves and neckline cut into his flesh, making it look like the whole thing was ready to pop. And instead of looking happy, the cat’s grin was contorted into a grimace of immense suffering as it stretched across Buster’s well-defined chest.

His grin was genuine as he looked up at her. “I’ve never gotten a gift before. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome?” She wasn’t sure if she should be pleased or not. Noel had severely underestimated the size of her nightshirt. “If it’s too small, you don’t have to wear it. I’ll get you another one.” She still had her allowance.

He looked at her like she was crazy. “No, absolutely not! I love it!” His nose twitched as he sniffed a few times. Then he pressed his face into his shoulder with another series of sniffs. His brow was furrowed.

Noel made a horrified noise deep in her throat at the sight. “D-don’t smell it! That’s weird!” Her face was flushed again as she stamped her foot.

Buster glanced at her, then stood straight. “But I’ve never smelled anything like it. It’s so good! What is it?”

There was no doubt he was smelling the laundry detergent that Jillian had washed it with, but that didn’t stop it from being weird. She’d only worn it last night.

“Is that another of your secret girl rules?”

She had no idea if he was joking or not. “No, it’s a decency thing. You have a lot to learn if you’re going to be sticking around for a while.”

“I have a good teacher so far.” Then Buster’s eyes lit up. “Wait, does that mean you want me to train you?”

Noel bit her lip and folded her arms. Then said, “Alright, you win. I’ll train with you.”

Buster pumped his fist in his excitement, but Noel held up a hand.

“But,” she said, “You’re going to have to listen to me when it comes to the ins and outs of living as a normal human.”

He nodded once, “Sure. Already doing that. Is it okay if we start tomorrow?”

“After school.”

“Yeah, and after my job.”

Noel unfolded her arms and put a hand on her hip. “Sounds good. You gonna be good until tomorrow?”

Buster brushed her off with a wave of his hand. “No problem. That grass is way softer than the rocks I’m used to sleeping on.”

She laughed at that. In response, Buster gave her one of his dopey looks.

“I was being serious.”

“I know you are. You’re just…so weird.” And with that, she ran off into the darkness.

Buster called after her. “I’ll meet you here tomorrow. And thanks again for the shirt. I’ll be sure to take care of it.”

Noel raised a hand as she left. She didn’t want Buster to see that she was smiling. As weird as Buster was, she was surprised to find that she was excited to begin training tomorrow. He may have been a clueless dope, but Noel couldn’t help but take a liking to him. Just a little bit. 

Maybe she was going crazy.