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Scarecrow Kakashi
Act 1: Nanashi sets out
In a world not our own, in the country of Colussus, there lived a farmer. This story however is not about the farmer who was called Akira. Nor is it about his lovely daughter Haru. This is a story about their scarecrow. The scarecrow was named Nanashi. A name that meant "Without a name" because, the scarecrow felt as if he did not deserve one. Felt? Silly me, I forgot to tell you that this scarecrow is unique. Nanashi was the only scarecrow that could think and feel the same emotions that humans felt. He was created by an unknown inventor who had lost him in an unknown accident or so he thinks. Akira and Haru, who were coming home from a county fair, took him home. Shocked as they were when he first spoke, they came to respect him and ask him to perform tasks, not demanding them.
In the morning routine, Nanashi would stand out in the middle of the field. He would sometimes read to the village's children that often pass by. The talking scarecrow was enough to intimidate birds like the crows. He was often amused, watching them try to land and be surprised by his features. Amused though, he was often confused as to what he is and why he was there. No clue to where he came from, Nanashi tried his best not to think about it. He was happy with his new life.
Nanashi watched as the small sparrow flew off his finger and turned to face Akira. "I don't think I could stand it, sir. The birds out here need to be told when to go south. I'm afraid we feed them too much bird seed."
He looked up at the sky. "I also wanted to say my goodbyes. They are not like the crows that are cowardly and tease you. They are also not like the vultures that lay awaiting their prey. These birds make me happy and well loved." Nanashi looked back to Akira and was startled by the farmer's expression. "Why do you look so...so? ..."
Akira laughed as the scarecrow scratched his head trying to figure it out. Stray pieces of straw fell to the ground. "I'm still quite amazed at you my old friend. No one is as...spiritually poetic I guess, like you." he replied.
Nanashi stuck part of his straw back under his green leather tunic. Spiritually poetic, he thought, but...I'm not human so...how can I be spiritually poetic? "Sir, if I may ask..." he looked over at Akira. "how do I become spiritually poetic?"
"Aren't you already?" Akira asked as he picked out an eggplant from a stubborn vine. "Whoops!" he yelled as he fell, the eggplant resting on top of his blue plaid shirt. "Just because, you're not like Haru or I doesn't mean you can't be. A man can be the king of this country and still not have one ounce of spirit while a very unique scarecrow in front of me does."
Nanashi smiled and bowed. "Thank you for your kind words’ Akira-sama."
"Nanashi!"
Akira and Nanashi turned, Nanashi almost falling due to a strong breeze. A girl of seventeen waved at them from the old house. Her long black curls flew behind her as the gust went by. Her violet dress followed the breeze, almost hooked onto it. Her white apron was covered with stains from kitchen work. Nanashi almost melted, well...catch on fire with all that straw. He always thought that Haru was the most beautiful human he had ever laid eyes upon and every night he would walk over to the Wishing spring, and try to wish himself to be human.
Haru ran over to the two. In one hand was a bag of something that from Akira's expression, Nanashi knew smelled great. In the other hand was a straw hat with a red band around the top. She smiled and handed the bag to her father. "Fresh baked oatmeal cookies." she explained and then turned away from Akira's salivating mouth to Nanashi. "A new hat! I made it by myself." The hat was dyed green and had sort of a point to it. It was indeed made to obvious perfection!
Nanashi took the hat and placed it upon his head. It fit almost too perfectly and Nanashi felt wonderfully warm inside. "Thank you Miss Haru, I hardly deserve it."
"Stop being so modest." she replied glancing at her father picking out eggplants. "You're doing a wonderful job out here. When we had no one like you, we were suffering. But now, we're thriving thanks to you!"
"Really..." if scarecrows could blush, young Nanashi would be right about now "It's nothing Haru-sa-"
Haru kissed him on his leather cheek. "Thank you so much Nanashi-sama!" she said and ran off back to the house.
Akira stared over at Nanashi's face. He laughed as the scarecrow tried to take into account of what happened. "Sir, was...that supposed to happen?" he asked looking towards him, rubbing his cheek.
"Well...whew!" Akira rubbed his eyes of the tears that came to his face. "I guess so...I believe my Haru has takingquite theliking to you..."
"A liking!?" Nanashi asked, startling the birds around him. "You mean..."
Akira shrugged. "I wouldn't know for sure...hmm...what's this?"
Nanashi and Akira turned to watch as a mail courier ran over to them. He wore a blue cap and the standard blue jacket, whit shirt and jeans uniform. The man tripped on the ground. Nanashi ran over to him and helped him up. "Hiroto-san are you all right?" he asked concerned.
"Yes I'm just fine Nanashi." he looked up at him, fixing his hat and brushing away his brown bangs. "Akira! I have some bad news for you my friend."
Akira sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry Hiroto if it's a huge bill I couldn't really care less, the eggplants are ready for shipment...uh...the look on your face though doesn't seem to confirm my idea though."
Hiroto shook his head and handed him a letter. "The king of Colussus is recruiting every single able man in the country for the war between us, the demons and the angels."
"I thought we were neutral in that war!" Akira suddenly yelled. Nanashi and Hiroto took several steps back in surprise. He sighed rubbing his head. "I'm sorry...it's just that I can't leave Haru here...Nanashi could look after her but, who's going to do all the farmwork?"
"Sir, may I propose that we talk about this during dinner?" Nanashi asked thoughtfully.
Akira nodded. "Y-You're right, Nanashi...we have to finish pulling up all these eggplants for shipping."
Nanashi nodded and looked to Hiroto. "You're invited as well, Hiroto-san." he said with a smile.
"Thank you, Nanashi." the young man tipped his hat to him. "I'm sorry for being the bearer of bad news."
Nanashi waved goodbye to the mail courier and was left with his own thoughts. The war between the angels and the devils was only between them...but why would the king suddenly get involved? Was he going onto the side of the angels or selling his soul to the demons? Nanashi had no clue about how it all started. The sparrow returned, perching on his hat. He felt partlycontent and decided to leave those thoughts until dinner was prepared.
"So Nanashi suggested to me earlier today that we talk about this war thing at dinner." Akira said setting down his fork and picking up the letter. He frowned looking at it. "I've been drafted."
Silence fell onto the dinner table. Haru stared down at her food. She then got up murmuring an "Excuse me..." and left the table. Nanashi watched helplessly not knowing how to contend with such situations. Even before the discussion started, someone was already hurt and looked over to Akira and saw the saddened look on his face. How...he thought, how can a farmer just pack up and leave everything he holds dear to him? The king must be a fool! Hiroto got up bowing and left after Haru.
"Maybe, that wasn't the best idea you had Nanashi?" Akira asked him, looking at the scarecrow's confused and saddened face.
"No offence sir, but not all of my ideas work out perfectly. My guess is that Haru needs to work this out on her own or maybe at least with a friend." he replied.
"You mean yourself?" Akira asked him with a knowingly smile.
"Uh...well." Nanashi held his hat in place, startled that Akira could read his mind like that. "Perhaps..." he looked away.
"You'vealready beenbeaten Nanashi-san." he said with a grin as he got up. "I'm going to hang outside for a bit, all right?"
Nanashi nodded and watched him leave. Beaten...he wondered. Looking at the three plates of halfway eaten rice, he sighed and got up to talk to Haru. He wandered over to her bedroom and raised his hand to knock on the door and stopped ashe heard voices.
"I...sniff...can't..."
"Haru-chan..."
Nanashi's eyes widened. That was Hiroto-san's voice! He backed away from the door and left rather defeated. If anything, Hiroto would be a much better person to take care of Haru. And Hiroto had called her Haru-chan, he thought, perhaps they have taken a liking to each other?
His eyes closed as he walked away and went out to the fields. His heart or whatever it was that helped him live inside of him was filled with many emotions. Many of them confusing the poor scarecrow. The first he recognized as sadness but, never before had he felt this much of it. The second was surprise. The third was confusion, he had gotten used to this one. The fourth was anger, one he did not feel before which shocked him. Was he angry at Hiroto for being human? The fifth and final emotion he felt, Nanashi later swore never to feel again, was heartbreak. Sure he was affectionate with Haru but really, was he in love with her?
"I guess I must be..." he said to himself, sitting down. His jealously of humans began to grow again. Haru was able to cry when she was hurt. Scarecrows couldn't cry. He covered his face with his hands and sighed deeply. The only thing that could help him right now was to cry in his mind. But that never works, he thought, no matter how many times I've tried playing emotions in my mind just does not work.
"I don't understand...why am I like this? Am I nothing but a mere puppet in this world!" he yelled to the sky. "Where did I come from? Why was I created? How...how did I become like this?"
He stood up angrily. There was but three people to blame for this misfortune. His creator, the king and himself. Somehow...he must sort everything out for himself. I need to go find him, he thought a new sense of determination in his eyes, my creator then with his answers I'll try my best to stop this war. For Akira-sama, Haru-san and Hiroto-san.
Nanashi walked back to the house. He took a pen from its resting spot and wrote a letter to his family. He placed it on the kitchen table along with some of his straw. Smiling with grim satisfaction, he knew he needed a weapon in this age of war. He walked back out of the house only to encounter Akira.
"Akira-sama..." he said quietly, concerned that his face would betray his inner thoughts.
The old man placed a hand on his shoulder. "You look discouraged Nanashi...listen I'm sorry for all that's happened to us today. Someone as peaceful as you just isn't used to it are you?"
Nanashi's eyes looked away from Akira's. "Yes sir, I guess. Umm...I'm just taking a walk myself, I'll be back soon."
Akira nodded and walked past him and into the house. He looked back at him and grinned. "Don't let anyone steal yah!" he yelled.
Nanashi nodded, smiling and left for the tool shed for the weapon of his choice. He held the wooden handle that connected with the curved blade. "A scythe..." he said quietly. Haru-san wants someone like Hiroto-san...he thought, and if I can't bring her happiness that way, then at least let me bring her father back home.
With that thought, Nanashi walked swiftly over to the gate that led out to the road. He looked back at the farmhouse and saw many lights turn on. They've seen my note, he thought and sighed, it's better this way. He then looked down the road. "I have a long journey ahead of me." he said quietly.
And with that, Nanashi set out.