Chapter One: No one read prologues;
The freezing arctic winds were tough on Crystal?s face.
As she ran, the icy wind entered her lungs, leaving her with a burning sensation. And yet, the tears, which were freezing on her face, were not from any of this. She had a much greater pain in her heart.
?I made it,? she thought; relieved as her frost bitten fingers felt the Stone and wood of the horse stable.
Nearly collapsing after struggling to open and close the door, she laid down knowing she couldn?t sleep, yet.
She clutched the young child in her arms, hugging, one last time.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she places the infant into a bucket. She had been wrapped in her mothers clothing. The woman began to sing to the child as she fastened her to a horse, a stallion, and a mighty, good-tempered stallion. This was the last time they?d ever see each other. They woman let the horse out of the stable and went to sleep on the hay, luckily for her, she didn?t rise the next day, or ever, because back home there was a fate worse than death waiting for her.
Chapter 2: Are we in hell yet?
Young Sakura couldn?t believe what lay before her. One moment she was witnessing one of her fathers? constant beatings towards her mother, but it seemed in a blink, he laid on the floor, limp, lifeless, blood oozing out of a big wound in his chest. But even weirder, in her hand there was the sword that had killed him. Sakura was no killer, she was sure of that.
?But what had happened?? she wondered. She looked up and caught her mother?s gaze of disbelief. Suddenly, the realization of what she had done kicked in and she knew she?d have to leave, now. Her brothers misbehaved all the time, but this, this was different. She?d killed someone. These thoughts were knew to her, she?d never hurt anyone, let alone kill someone. There were a million thoughts racing through her head as she made her way to the barn.
?Hey Zolty,? she greeted the old stallion, ?we hafta leave, now.? She finished fighting back tears.
She was pretty sure she could Zoltan; after all they did come to be part of the ?family? the same night.
As she saddled Zoltan up, she began to wonder whom her real parents were why she was so different from everybody else. If jet-black hair and purple eyes weren?t odd enough; she had bird-like wings on her back. She always had to hide them, it really hurt. If she had met someone with wings, she?d be curious, not judging, as her mother had told her.
Chapter 3: A new life begins
By this time, Zoltan was almost ready to go, but she wasn?t. She still had to say her ?good-byes,? for she could never return.
For the next few weeks, she and Zolty went far away, farther than she knew was out there. They rode during the day, and stayed in barns at night.
One day, she noticed Zoltan wasn?t looking very good. With colder weather quickly arriving, he must be cold, Sakura thought. The cloak that had covered her, and realized she was still wearing her pajamas. She was really cold without the cloak. She wrapped her wings around herself and fell asleep.
She woke up the next morning clod and hungry, but her horse friend didn?t wake-up at all. She began to cry.
She didn?t know at the time, but the farmer had heard her cries and came.
When she heard the barn door close, she turned around and hid her wings.
?Magnificent horse you got here,? the man said, unsure of what else could be said. Sakura nodded, although she didn?t speak a word.
? Well,? he began in a kindly way, ?what?s your name? A girl as pretty as you ought to have a name, and I think I should know if you?re going to live in my barn.?
Sakura smiled, blushed and whispered, ?My name is Sakura, and I won?t be here forever, just ?til?I?m not sure,? Sakura finished, not sure as she began.
?My name is Takoda, and I?d be obliged if you came in, got a good meal, and then got ya-self cleaned up, and have a lil? sleepy sleep.? Sakura was hungry, and tired and dirty.
?What about my horse?? Sakura questioned.
?I?m not sure, but I think you?ve lost him,? Takoda, the farmer said solemnly.
Sakura had known that, but she began to cry, more than she had before, worse than she ever had.
Then the man walked, hugged her, and told that they?d perform a funeral in the horses? honor.
That mode Sakura brighten up again and already she was trying to put how she felt about the horse into words.
?I loved you from the very start. You brought me to my parents, and took me away when I was ready. You looked after you. It would be impossible to put my love for you into words.? Tears rolled down her cheek at the memory of how her horse had meant to her.
When Takoda asked if she was ready, she nodded very unsure if she could trust him.
?Don?t worry about those wings either,? he called over his shoulder to a Sakura too afraid to move, as she didn?t want him to see her wings.
She reluctantly followed him; he was everything she had been taught a stranger wasn?t. He was gentle and kind. She had been told strangers were mean, and would kill her at any given moment. He was nice, nicer than anyone she?d ever met before.
As she entered the house, the aroma of the house filled her nostrils; she hadn?t realized she was as hungry as she was. He offered her some food, as hungry as she was, she couldn't eat, but she didn?t want to seem rude, so she ate.
When she was done, Takoda told her he?d be right back. He came back in 5 minutes and announced that he had run her a bath. Sakura looked at her skin and noticed how dirty she had become.
She dragged herself up the stairs, and slowly went into the tub. The water felt a little too hot, but she wouldn?t complain. Sakura washed her body, and now it was time to wash her hair. It had many knots, and was impossible to wash properly.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was Takoda. He had clothes in his hand. He said he thought that the clothes should fit her, since she was young. She came out and Takoda had been right even though his guest was older than his daughter was.
Sakura went to bed early. She decided that a bed, any bed was better than what she had grown accustomed to.
When she awoke the next morning, she looked for Takoda to ask her when he?d bury her horse, she found him in his field already working on the hole. She thanked him for all the new clothes she was given. Takoda explained that it was no trouble, and mumbled something about another child. He looked up, Sakura, who was scared at this point, Takoda decided to change the subject.
?Your hair looks like there had been a whole family of rats living in it,? he chuckled.
Well, the idea of rats living in her hair was disgusting, but she?d take them in if they had nowhere else to turn.
?You?ll wanna look nice for your pony,? Takoda began, ?What was?. is his name??
?His name?is Zoltan, and I don?t think he?d mind, he?s seen me worse looking,? Sakura said, but after saw the look on Takoda'? face, then added, ?but if you think I should, I won?t argue.?
?Go inside, then and wait for my arrival,? Takoda said softly. Sakura obediently walked into the house. She went to her room to look at herself in a mirror. She hadn?t noticed her hair had gotten to long and messy. She began to brush her hair.
?There, I?m done,? she thought to herself once it looked reasonable. She then lay down on her bed and waited for Takoda?s return.
?Sakura!? Takoda called out.
?I?m up here,? she replied. Takoda went up the stairs to join her.
?Your hair looks great,? Takoda said with a smile when he first saw her.
?Thanks,? Sakura smiled.
?Want me to put it up?? Takoda offered.
?Sure,? Sakura said dreaming about how pretty she?d look with her hair up. Takoda signaled for her to go in front of the mirror. He gently bushed through her hair once more and kindly put it into two buns on the top of her head, one on each side.
Sakura loved it. She especially loved the two pink ribbons he had used to tie the buns up. It had very good contrast with her jet-black hair
?You like it?? asked Takoda, hoping he had done a decent job. Sakura nodded.
?Are you ready?? Sakura nodded, holding back tears of pain. He smiled and reassured her things would be all right. She knew he was right, but things felt so horribly bad right now. It felt like she was doomed to this life of misery.
After they went outside, Takoda spoke words of Zoltan, they sounded so sincere and kind of, as if he?d known the horse and spoke of how much the horse had meant to him.
Chapter 4: The queen of mean
The next day, two men barged into the small stable. Once a powerfully reigned Queen now limply lay on a stack of hay.
?Dammit!? yelled the older of the two. The younger one, an understudy, looked confused.
?Do you know what she?ll do to us if she finds out?!?? the older one yelled. The younger gulped.
?I?ll tell you,? the older one began practically yelling.
Amber was known for her greed and unfair dictatorship, but Crystal had betray us all, had it not been for Amber, the child would have been in power soon, and the world would have lost it?s balance.
Chapter 5; the story unfolds
Sakura woke up in the early morning or late night. She couldn?t decide, but it would still be hours before the sun would awake. Sakura tiptoed to Zoltan?s grave, the grass must?ve liked him; it had already starting to grow back. She began to walk across the field; this was her home now. Takoda was her dad. She suddenly came to graves, the plants must?ve really liked them, and some was even growing up the gravestones. Sakura was surprised at this, she wanted to know whom they belonged to, but she wasn?t sure if she should ask. People didn?t often speak of the dead. But although she felt her and Takoda had really connected. Suddenly she heard footsteps. Her heart nearly leaped from within her. She felt an arm on her shoulder. To her relief it was Takoda. He asked what she was doing, and why she came. Sakura explained that she couldn?t sleep and she wanted to know the land, unsure weather he was angry or not.
?Oh,? he replied with a sigh, ?I suppose you?ll want to know who they were.?
?If you want to tell me, I?ll listen,? Sakura offered.
?Well, I?ve kept this quiet long enough, I know I should?ve reported it, just??Takoda muttered half-heartedly.
?Reported what?? Sakura asked.
?A little over a year ago, there was a fire here, it wasn?t an accident though. A renegade set the place of fire, our child was trapped inside his room, we were powerless all we could do was watch him burn and die, a few days later my dear wife died, from smoke inhalation,? he replied. Sakura was amazed at this, she was at loss for words, and she couldn?t believe any human could be so cruel. She swallowed and felt a lump in her throat, not for Takoda, but for herself.
Chapter 6: A lesson in....
?Well, Sakura had better head back, the work won?t do itself,? suggested Takoda. Sakura nodded; still at disbelief anyone could be so evil. They walked back in silence; Sakura went to her room to be alone with her thoughts. She knew she shouldn?t after all of Takoda kindness, but she went into the closet in her room. She found some old books, that had bad smells, like they?d been there a long time, but she was very excited none-the-less. She looks on the cover of one book, and saw unfamiliar characters: ?A-T-L-A-S.? She wondered what it meant and began to flip through the pages. She noticed it had many pictures of a ball, it was mainly blue, but had a lot of other colours. There were also coloured rectangles with lines, and numbers.
?Pictures, letters, numbers, this book has everything!? Sakura exclaimed, she decided she?d ask Takoda to read but wasn?t sure how she?d explain her finding the books. Then the idea struck her and she ran downstairs, a book in her hand.
?Takoda, Takoda!? she yelled out in her soft way, ?I was playing marbles, and one rolled under the closet door, and when I went to go fetch it out, I found this.? She presented him the book, ?There are tons more up there, I want to learn to read them,? she finished, out of breath.
Takoda had a confused look on his face; ?Well?? he began, but didn?t get much further.
?Oh please, please, please,? Sakura pleaded, ?I do my chores every day, without complaining. I?ll eat my vegetables,? Sakura said, and then added, ?I?ll even put my hair up for good measure.?
?I suppose,? Takoda said, smiling.
?You won?t regret this,? Sakura told him, reassuringly, ?and, if you?re not feeling well, you won?t have to help me, I?m a quick learner anyway,? Sakura rambled, as if she still needed his approval. He began to teach her that night. She was true to her word, he taught her the alphabet first, starting with A and ending with Z.
Over the course of the next two months, she began to put small sentences but even with all the information she had just learned, she wanted to learn more. She wanted to know what that ball thing was, that was in the other book. She wondered if the whole world was like what she experienced; four seasons, a day filled with chores. She also wondered if the world was always like this. If not, what had it been like before? One day, she asked Takoda if she could teach her more. She had been so afraid to ask him and she thought that he would think she had been greedy, so she put it off. But when she did, Takoda smiled his old fashioned way and said, ?Of course.?
Chapter 7: Where has the time gone?
Within the next two years, Sakura learned that the ball was actually the world, even though she didn?t believe it. She learned the world?s history and more then she could comprehend. She also learned of Takoda?s life, and he learned of hers. After he told her about what happened to his family when they got burned to death, she couldn?t believe why anyone could ever set fire to people. Especially since Takoda was a kind man, but there was little anyone could do about it now.
Takoda learned that Sakura?s biological mom didn?t want her, so she had sent her away on a horse, but luckily, the woman who raised Sakura found her, and mothered her, despite her wings, and the odd markings on her left shoulder.
Sakura loved and respected Takoda, and he did her. Sakura was free to roam around the house, ask any question she wanted no matter what the circumstance, as well as many things society would make her keep quiet about and from that she learned more then many learn in their lifetime. One day while poking around in the basement she came across a leather chest, Sakura wondered what was inside. She ran up the stone stairs to ask Takoda, but she only recieved a cold stare, some muttering and she was told never to ask about it. Takoda's reaction filled Sakura with so many mixed feelings,too many. She was scared, what if his kindness was just the cover of a disturbed soul and her days alive were numbered, or maybe he had been an imagrant from another country, an illegal imagrant. Sakura disliked not told information, but she had to respect Takoka's wishes.
One night, tragedy struck. The house was set ablaze. Sakura ran out of the house, gasping for air. Her shoulder was suffering around the markings, which were glowing intensely. She saw someone. Sakura was running around, frantically searching for Takoda.
It was days before she could eat, sleep, or even have an actual conversation with anyone. She was petrified. She had lost Takoda. No, he wasn?t actually lost; he had been taken away from her. His burnt remains were buried in a shallow grave, in the yard, next to the other two. There was nothing she could do?or was there? This thought struck her. There was in fact something she could do. She went to the yard where the barn had once been. She took two pieces of wood, and found a bit of hay, tied them together to make a cross. She walked across the lawn, to wear the graves were. To the left of the older graves, there was freshly dug up ground. She took her cross, stuck it in the ground. Then in the slightest voice, she whispered, ?Now God will be able to find you.? As hard as she tried to keep the tears back, it was a war that couldn?t be won. As she lay on the grave, she cried herself asleep.
She awoke the next morning, feeling cold, wet, hungry and most of all, weak. She heard footsteps coming towards her. Her first instincts told her to get up and run away, but her fatigue wouldn?t allow it. So she just lay there, with great apprehension.
To her dismay it wasn?t a crazed murderer, or a rapist; it was the local Priest.
Chapter 8: A new chance at life.
"Hello," he simply said greeting Sakura. His words were kind, and unlike most adults, but still she would not waste her words on this mortal, that was clear in her mind.
"I know you have suffered a great loss, if you need anything, there's always me and my family," it sounded like a genuine offer to Sakura but this man couldn't be trusted.
"I have family down south, I'll be living with them," she blurted out knowing that, that had been a lie. Lies were bad, so lying to a clergyman must be even worse.
Sakura hoped so badly right now there was no heaven and hell in the after life, she couldn't bare the shame of having Takoda look down on her burning in hell for all her sins.
"Oh.... I see,? replied the Priest feeling quite rejected, "you should at least spend a night at my house, you'll need a full night's rest and some dinner before you leave. It'd be a mighty long journey, I'd be happy to lend you a horse," the priest offered Sakura.
"He is so nice," Sakura thought to herself, "no man would be better suited to be a priest then him."
"Yes, and thank-you so much," Sakura said humbly.
Together they walked to his house in silence, but Sakura felt that she might as well be alone. The silence pained her like a knife digging into her soul.
When they arrived at his place, Sakura was at a loss of words. His place was too surreal for Sakura to comprehend, his wife was preparing dinner with the help of his oldest daughter, and his son and younger daughter were playing chess. Sakura knew she could easily beat them, Takoda had also said she was wise for her age, although she hadn't really know how old she was.
Sakura had been thinking about Takoda quite a lot. She didn't mean to; she flinched at the thought of him. Less than a week ago, Sakura had been having the time of her life. All of the fun and games had come to a bitter end on account of Takodas death. The Priest's family had sat down for supper with Sakura less than 5 hours later.
During supper the Priest told his children some new biblical stories, and quizzed them on some he had told them before he was amazed at how thoroughly Sakura knew religion, so againest his best judgement he decided to ask her about it, and she simply replied, "Yes sir, I do know much about that, my father made me learn that, he believed the only things women should know are, the writings of Bishamon, to cook and clean for their husband, and how to take a beating from their husband. He also said that 'A man should love his friends with an open heart, but he should live his family with an open fist,' he was rather wise, but not too smart."
The preist coughed and in one swift motion brought his napkin up to his face, coughed into it. He then cleared his throat and asked, "I didn't think Takoda was a religious man."
"He isn't........wasn't, he also wasn't my father he was a good friend. I was talking about Akuma, he wasn't exactly my father either.....his wife, Erika found me when I was young, really young. I don't remember, but I'm sure they weren't lying to me," Sakura stopped and pulled out her wings, "none of them had these.".
"Well, Sakura since you'll be starting quite the adventure tomorrow, I see it best you get some sleep now"
Sakura was relieved when the priest finally showed her to her bed for the night. She was exhausted by everything she had been through, but she knew the hardest part was nearly over. By next month she'd have a new life down south, trouble free away from the pain. She soon drifted into a restless slumber, of haunting dreams that most people couldn't bare; but they didn?t bother her much. This was her life.
Sakura was awoken early the next morning by the cold. She tried to drift back to sleep, but the frigid air had different plans in mind. Sakura didn't mind too much this meant she'd have a few precious moments to herself. Sakura climbed out the window and on to the roof she sat there intently watching the sunrise to spread it's loving warmth to the people. She could also hear the sounds of nature; crickets, birds and other wildlife sang her a harmonious song, she felt like she could listen to it forever; lost in her own tainted thoughts. Sakura looked overhead into a field of thick grass with horses happily trotting about it.
"That's the life Zoltan deserved," she quietly said to herself as a tear rolled down her cheek, "not living with me in constant fear."
" Sakura!!!" One of the younger children was yelling at her; interrupting her thoughts, "Daddy said you could have a pony!!!" she yelled up at Sakura again.
Sakua couldn't help but smile at the quaint cuteness of this small child, so pure, so innocent. Sakura was really envious of her.
Sakura jumped off the roof using her wings to break her fall, there was nearly no impact on her when she landed. It looks like her wings could serve a purpose. The priest?s youngest son looked up at Sakura, a fearful glaze in his eyes.
The horse was a mixed breed. It didn't look to fast or too powerful, but Sakura didn't mind. Sakura wasn't perfect either so she decided that they were a perfect match.
"Does he have a name?" Sakura asked gently brushing him.
"I don't know, does he?" The priest teased at Sakura.
"Yep" Sakura replied after thinking for a bit.
"And what is his name?" The priest asked.
"His name shall be.........." Sakura stopped in mid sentence, she needed to give this horse a suitable name, and one that would a horse would like to have.
Chapter 9: He shall be known as Reizo
"I'm going to call him Reizo, ok?" Sakura asked
"Reizo is a lovely name, Sakura," it was the Preist's wife who spoke. Handing Sakura a packed lunch she added, "and it suits him just fine."
"Thank-you so much" Sakura said slightly bowing her head to show her appreciation, "for everything."
"Well we were glad to have you stay with us, even though it wasn't for too long," The Preist replied, smiling.
Hugs, and farewells were extanged among the three, then Sakura mounted the horse and started on her adventure, after a quick stop at the ruins of Takoda's farm house, she needed to find whatever she neede she would find there. After nearly an hour of riding she arrived, death still hung heavily in the air. Sakura did not like that, she felt as if she was being watched, Sakura hated that. Sakura jumped off Reizo and began digging through the rubbage, she knew that the chest would answer questions of who did this, it had to. She needed to avenge Takoda's death. She moved pieces of burnt rubble. With each piece Sakura lifted her hand got colder, and a small part of her died it was depressing seeing the aftermath of the life she loved. After forty minutes of frantic searching she came across the chest, which was just slightly singed at the one corner. Sakura spent no time unburying it and getting it onto the lawn, which had been a tiring process so she sat down for a few minutes to catch her breath.
After a few moments of rest she got up and ran to a small lean too at the edge of a property where she had cut wood with a hatchet, she would use it to open the chest. Luckily it still layed againest a small pile of wood logs. Looking at it gave her an odd sense of nostalgic come over her, she wasn't ready for her life to change. Sakura shook her head and remembered why she was here, she'd mourn no longer. Sakura forcefully grabbed the hatchet and dragged it to the chest, and using all her effort and a bit of adrenaline she brought the hatchet over her head and swung down on the chest as hard as she could.
"Yay, I hit it!" Sakura celebrated, but when she realised she had only made a small dent her hopes died, but she tried it again. This time the dent was a bit bigger, so she figured if she kept at it the chest would soon be open. Her afternoon was spent constantly hacking at the old chest until finally she got through, she pulled the pieces of leather that were in her way out and began looking, inside there was: a picture of Takoda when her was younger, in a weird uniform; a dagger with a string to go around your neck; a pair of dull black leather boots; a compass; a map with a route on it; and a werid necklace that had all sorts of weird information about Takoda.
She studied the objects carefully, pondering for a brief moment what each could mean, then discarding it for some more interesting, and after minutes of careful thought she decided it was best she take the contents with her and using the compass follow the route on the map. She'd use the dagger to fend off predators, the picture for identification, the boots to wear, and the necklace so she could keep his memory close to her. Sakura placed the necklace and dagger around her neck, then went to see how Reizo was. He seemed hungry, and that reminded Sakura how hungry she was.
"Hey Reizo buddy," She addressed the horse, "we shouldn't start our journey like this, hungry lets have some lunch."
Sakura expected Reizo to whinney or do something that showed a sign of life, but he didn't, so she began digging through the food the preist's wife generously gave her, handed Reizo a carot she found in the bag, and ate her own dinner. The food felt good in her stomach, she felt as though she could eat everything, but judgung from the map it'd be a day or so before she reached the forest so she ate some but packed most of it back up.
"Now, Reizo since we didn't do much riding today, we're going to go our fastest." Sakura informed Reizo.
Reizo just stared blankly at her, this annoyed Sakura quite a lot, his eyes displayed no intelligence at all. Sakura shrugged and hopped on him and clicked her heels againest his sides and they were off. Although Reizo wasn't too responsive he was much faster then Sakura had anticipated, she had to make him slow down because her was wearing himself else too quickly, as well as she was having trouble reading the map at that speed.
A while after the sun decided to sleep for the night Sakura decided Reizo and her should to, she slowed Reizo down to a slow gallop, stoped completly then pet his nose to reward him for a day of good riding.
Sakura and Reizo spent many a days riding, Sakura figured they were going south because even thought it was autumn the tempurature continued to get warmer.