Yakusoku.

Ch.6

The setting sun cast gold tones over their bodies twined together. Transformed into art, the light gave flesh an illusory beauty one wished might last forever. But only in dreams does beauty last so think this story a dream. A dream that’s real when you read it, or real forever should you choose to believe it.

At first Cless never believed his own dream could come true. Whenever he awoke the image of Chester he held vanished in thin air. He asked himself, Chester, are you really there? And if you were, would you feel? Turned off cause I’m a guy.

It’s not your fault you fell in love with him. It’s mine, your true self, his heart seemed to say. If the heart is the true self, then how can it really lie?

I dunno, the world says its wrong, Cless answered back unconsciously in his dream. That is, liking another guy.

Even if the love is true from one’s very heart core? Cless’s heart replied.

Cless’s subconscious drifted finding no logical answer.

You know your own true feelings, so follow and believe them, for when you do what you thought was a dream is real, came the last esoteric reply. When Cless believed his feelings for Chester were real that’s when his heart came alive.

“Was it a dream?” Cless murmured, awakening beside Chester.

“What dream? Ya just woke up.” The last vestiges of Chester’s grin softened in the light, a fiery yellow that flooded the land from the snowcapped mountains to the lakes mirror surface. As he sat up the light washed his form in gold. Glowing yellow, his hand reached out to Cless.

Cless took it rising to his feet.

Glancing at Cless, some playfulness crept through his face. “Then passed out right after, but not before…” He couldn’t help stealing a quick glance down at his chest. “…Ya got me.”

Realizing what happened when that final wave crashed, Cless snatched his red bandana strewn near the shore.

“Don’ ruin that, baka,” Chester muttered, lagging over. “Besides, I got ya too.”

“Oh, right,” Cless chuckled, placing a hand over his heart. The warmth of his friend’s essence pressed into his palm with a life force of its own. Retreating inward, Cless felt a depth beyond mere words.

Chester experienced too, hand over his heart, feeling Cless’s essence in his own raised palm. No words, just a sense of knowingness in the air they breathed and shared. One’s exhale became another’s inhale as their hands moved in space. Coming closer, all separation vanished when their fingers intertwined and hands finally joined. The seed of each, melded together pressed between their palms. On a visceral and spiritual level this symbolized the merging of hearts as one.

* * *

Back in Totus at home, Chester’s younger sister Amy wondered how her beloved brother fared. The same golden light that bathed Cless and Chester streamed through the kitchen window, showering on Amy a celestial luminescence. She closed her eyes praying to the Life Tree.

“Martel-sama,” she said. “My big brother, my Onii-chan has acted quiet since he met that girl. After hunting with Cless he seemed happier, but still, we don’t play like we used too. Please, Martel-sama, help us.”

Finishing her prayer, Amy tied an apron over her dress heading out.

* * *

After washing off in the lake, Cless and Chester trekked back on the path that cut deep in the Mystic valley. The sun sank lower to a sliver of fire that clung desperately between the snowcapped peaks. As twilight flooded from the east, the moon climbed to her zenith in the sky. Daytime birds flocked in the canopy celebrating her reign with song. The chorus of countless birds rang as one from one end of the valley to another through every glade and treetop.

“Damn, it’s loud, Cless,” Chester muttered, passing by the section of trail where he and Cless lost a boar previously.

“Wait, Chester, look down,” Cless observed, kneeling over. “Fresh boar tracks!”

“Not bad,” Chester remarked, crouching beside him. Suddenly, the surrounding birds went silent. A rusting stirred the underbrush. “It’s coming, hide!”

Each hunter took their place beside trees on either side of the trail adjacent. Sword unsheathed, arrow slung in its bowstring, both awaited. With lightning fast reflexes Chester unleashed his arrow. Flying madly, its razor sharp tip pierced deeply in the boar’s pounding heart. Next, Cless’s clean blade bit hard, devouring until its prey collapsed.

Drawing his blade out, Cless ran a cloth over it from tip to hilt as he sheathed in a single fluid motion. Chester did the same to clean his arrow, sliding it back in his quiver.

“Amy will be proud,” Chester exclaimed, tying the boar’s limbs to a fallen branch he found.

“My parents too,” Cless added joyfully. “It’s because we were together.” Bending down to Chester, Cless placed a hand on his chest. “Here.”

In our hearts, Chester understood, inclining toward Cless. Lips parting, he kissed Cless lightly.

* * *

As twilight cloaked the village Amy hurried to the marketplace. She passed north along the steam and east over the old stone bridge. Jen and Pennginton relaxed there gazing into the water.

Noticing Amy, Pennington looked up. “Isn’t that Chester’s younger sister?”

“Yes, dear, Amy Barklight,” Jen replied, shifting toward the railing.

“I’ll be right back, Jen! I need to talk to her,” Pennington shouted, running off.

At the market in the southern end of town Amy browsed through various stands. Spotting her close by Pennington stopped catching his breath.

“Hey, Amy-chan,” he called out, waving.

“Hi, Pennington-san,” Amy greeted, still browsing.

“How are you?” Pennington inquired, strolling up beside her.

“Okay. I’m buying apples for Onii-chan,” she exclaimed, holding one up for Pennington.

“I see. Speaking of your brother, that’s why I’m here.” Pennington’s countenance stiffened.

Amy blinked, unsure of what to say as she made her final purchase.

“It’s alright if you don’t understand, Amy-chan.” Pennington sighed, gesturing to Amy to follow. “Besides, how old are you?”

“Eleven,” she replied, walking alongside.

“That young. This will be hard.” Saying nothing else Pennington remained silent until they found a place to talk outside of the south gate.

Amy sighed, leaning against one of the gateposts. “Is Onii-chan in trouble?”

“Not exactly.” Declining to stay it outright, Pennington sunk back on the gatepost across from Amy. “Chester isn’t in trouble. He’s just not…like the rest of us.”

Falling further back Amy sat down. “I don’t understand, Pennington-san.”

“Amy-chan, I’ll say it as best I can.” Shaking his head, Pennington glanced toward the open fields and mountains in the distance. “Normal people like the opposite sex. I mean, boys like girls, and girls like boys. But your brother likes another boy. Do you understand?”

Realizing that Pennington attacked her brother Amy stood up. Anger twisted her round sweet face. “No, I don’t!” she cried, clenching a fist. “Onii-chan works hard hunting everyday so we can eat!”

Thrust back against the post, Pennington countered, “I didn’t mean it like that—”

“I don’t care.” Straightening her dress, Amy’s stared up at him, narrowing her eyes. “Jen-san will have a baby, right?”

Baffled, Pennington scowled at her. “Yes, little girl. Why do you ask?”

“If it was born ugly, would you still love it?” Amy asked thoughtfully, her expression calm, with her vision still fixated.

“Of course, it’s my own child,” Pennington answered instantly.

“Then, it’s the same with Onii-chan and I,” Amy declared, tearing her sight away. The depth of emotion brimming in Amy’s voice made Pennington go still. “Even if he likes other boys, it doesn’t matter because…I love him.”

TBC