|
Normal User
Long term follower
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Western Mirendil
|
Kito's Star
((Thank you to all of positive comments I have been getting. This story is rather long, so kudos to anyone that reads it. I am not sure if I like it yet, or if it fits the setting properly.))
Kito walked down the poorly lit street with his head down. He had stuffed his hands in his pockets to ward off the slight chill of the night air. A crossroad appeared before him. To the left was more cobbled road, a single street lamp flicking light onto it. To the right the road degenerated into a dirt path. It was bathed in darkness; trees reached out gentle fingers to block the moon above.
Kito needed to think, to clear his mind of melancholy and alcohol. Sight was an easily dulled sense. He turned right. Normally he kept a tight reign on his thoughts and emotions. A strong man was a patient man, and patience was achieved through controlling the seven emotions. Or so his father taught him. Tonight he got the better of himself, however. Alcohol didn’t make him loud, or violent, or boisterous, or even funny. It made him think, and when he thought he admitted certain things to himself that he’d rather he didn’t. Like love.
The word roared in his mind and he lifted a hand to steady his head. He continued to stumble his way down the path, concentrating on the darkness and his footing. Watching that play did not help his present state of mind. Where others saw a romantic comedy, Kito had seen a tragic tale on the inevitability of settling down. And death. It reminded him of a story about a wolf talking to a man about time.
"Where does the time go?" the man would comment.
"Forward," the wolf responded. "Or backward. It depends on which way you look."
A dip in the road pulled Kito out of his revelry. He fell hard onto his knees. The brief sting of pain felt good and reminded him that he was more than his thoughts. He pushed himself to his feet. Brushing his pants off, he looked to where he had come from. He could see where the road split and the flickering light that had lit his way. The trees above him danced in the wind. Suddenly he wanted out of the darkness. It surrounded him, choked him. He ran, uncaring of the uneven ground beneath him, toward the light. The trees rustled their approval.
He emerged from the woods out onto the road. A well-lit wagon rode by in front of him, and for an irrational moment Kito hated it. The lights raped the darkness and destroyed the illusion of solitude, parting the way for the wagon to follow. Anger was preferable to love. Anger you could blame on others. Love was solely your own fault.
Kito walked across the street to the grassy embankment on the other side. The street lamp's flickered and went out. Kito lay back in the damp grass. The light of the moon leeched color from the world around him. He looked up at sky and was drawn to the brightest star there. It hung low, just above the tree line, and seemed separate from all of the other ones. It greeted him with a twinkle. He returned the greeting with a "hello." It shimmered on.
Kito starred at it until it was the only thing he could see in the sky. Suddenly he desired it. It sat up in the heavens so perfectly. It was waiting for him to take it. He stretched out a hand to grasp it. His fingers curled around it in sharp contrast to its white magnificence. He stopped. It seemed wrong to take it down from its lofty perch. Besides, to do so would smother it, extinguish it. Kito left his hand in the air, fingers still posed to grasp, almost clutching her. He still desired the star. She taunted him with her alluring presence.
Kito relaxed his fingers. A sigh escaped his lips. He tentatively touched the star with one finger. Nothing. He began to caress her. His hand blurred the sky. She ran down his arm, but he held out his palm. The star sat there contentedly.
"At least you’re permanent," Kito said to the bright little star. "You’ll always be up there, looking down at us. You don’t need anyone else."
The star looked at Kito fondly. "As nice as it is that you would spare a moment to talk to me," she said, "the words you speak lack truth in many ways. Tell me, how did you arrive at such a conclusion?"
Kito brought the star closer to him, cradling her gently. "You mean, why do I think you don't need anyone else?"
"We can start there, yes," the star said.
"You are a star," Kito replied. "What do you need someone else for? You've even taken your own corner of the sky."
The star looked sad. "Truly? Is that what you see when you gaze up at me? I have not taken up my own corner of the sky, Kito. I may be just a star, but I am surrounded by life. I have a cluster of worlds, much like your sun, to keep me company and tend for. And, despite how it may look to you, I am surrounded by many other stars. Then, too, I have all of the Universe to look upon." She smiled. "I am not alone, Kito. I am not alone because I choose not to be."
Kito frowned, trying to wrap his head around her words. "Why does it look like you're alone in the sky, then?" he asked.
There was a long pause before the star answered. "I will show you," she said. "Would you like to come and visit me, Kito?"
Kito nodded. "Alright."
Kito felt a sudden jolt. The world continued to move, but he did not. Trees spun past him, houses became a blur, the roads twisted beneath his feet. All the world revolved under him. There was another blur. Kito sat in the sky above Agon. He was afraid for a moment, but the star was still with him. It seemed even brighter now.
"Do not be afraid, Kito," she said. "I am still with you."
"Thank you," he replied. "But what happened?"
"I had to pull you away from Agon. She will miss you, but I am borrowing you for a moment. Come along now, Kito. We have a long journey ahead of us."
Kito saw a blur again. The stars whizzed past his head. Galaxies painted the blackness around him with their vibrant colors. Only one star stood still, and that was the bright little star. She guided him, always staying right in front of him. Kito felt strangely protected during his journey and developed a new fondness for his companion. He glanced at a passing nebula. "We are there now," the star said gently.
The blurring stopped. The colors were gone. Again, Kito floated in nothingness. But something was wrong this time. There were no worlds about. No sun. Nothing.
"Star?" Kito said, looking about. "Where are you?" There was no response. Kito was alone. Other stars shined brightly in every direction from far away. "Where is Star?" Kito yelled at them. No answer came back. I’m alone, Kito thought. He hovered in nothingness for a very long time, thinking about what happened that night. He wondered what the girl from the party was doing, if anyone would miss him. He wondered what had happened to Star. But always, he would return to one thought: I am alone.
"You know, you are not alone," she said.
Kito looked up but saw nothing. "Is that you, Star? Where are you?"
"I am all around you. But, I am also nowhere. I do not exist here any more."
"What do you mean?" Kito asked.
Star sounded sad. "I died long ago, Kito. And when I left, I was forced to take my children with me. That is why nothing is here any more."
"But you're still here. I saw you. I'm talking with you right now."
"There is more to being than sight and sound. I will try and explain it to you, but I think it would be easier to do at your home. Are you ready to return, Kito?"
"Yes. Take me back," Kito said. He was angry at the star for tricking him. Kito blurred as the blackness became a canvas for the Universe once again. The world entered his view and Kito was placed on Her surface right where he had been in the grass. The street light lit up once again. Kito shielded its light with his hand and looked for Star in the sky. She was still there, by herself, twinkling as if nothing had happened.
Kito waited a moment. "Well?" he said impatiently. "Are you going to explain yourself to me?" The star looked at him with a steady gaze that caused Kito to feel rather foolish. "I'm sorry," he admitted, abashed.
"Thank you, Kito," she said simply.
"Will you please tell me what you meant? Do you exist or don't you?"
"Of course. Did you know that light can only go so fast?”
"No..."
"It's true. I existed so far away from here that my light is still reaching this planet." The star twinkled with a tiny laugh. "So, even though I do not exist as a star, I can still be seen. That is why I can still exist."
"Alright." Kito nodded slowly. "That makes sense." He sat quietly for a moment watching her.
"Yes?" the star asked him.
Kito hesitated. "I was wondering…" he began. "What happens when your light fades? When you aren't seen in the sky anymore, will you still exist?"
The star paused and ceased to twinkle for a moment. "I don't know" she said, starting her dance again.
__________________
Kito, of the Shadow
|
Linear Mode
