Summary: People say that life is ruled by things done in the past; things that cannot be changed. Sometimes, though the past is gone, it still haunts those who it affected the worst. This boy is one of those people. Because of his past, he uses that to shape his future…however good or bad it may be. His journey…has begun….

This is the revised edition of Choices. I changed the title (again, although not by much) so that it would fit more. This version will have a lot more description then it formally did. Hopefully it’ll flow better than before. (I had just been going over the chapters and noticing that some aspects were kind of rushed through when they should have been elaborated and other parts that weren’t that important, but I went into with way to much detail) This time I’ll try to make sure that the whole story has more information for you readers to picture what I’m telling. (I’m surprised that I didn’t give out what the characters fully looked liked much in the story, that and the places they visit.)

Anyway, here’s the story. It’s new and improved! Some parts may be familiar, but they’ll defiantly be parts you haven’t read yet. Oh, and if you don’t like long chapters then don’t whine to me about it cause it won’t change.

R&R please!

Choices and Memories

Chapter One:

PartyPlanning

As he sat in the back seat of the convertible that his caretaker owned, he sighed as the wind blew through his shoulder length, light brown hair. His blue eyes were closed in a blissful light sleep and the heat on his skin was quelled a bit by the cool wind. His white sleeveless t-shirt blew lightly on his tanned skin as the wind rushed past him and the wind moved up his legs through the beige cargo shorts he wore. Straps hung off the shorts at the sides and many pockets were on them as well. His shoes were white with beige stripes and a small chain attached to his hip completed the ensemble.

The seats in the fast car were very comfortable and added to the boy’s blissful state. The cream cushions seemed to hug him as he sat on it. They sunk in when he sat on them, he noticed earlier as he first got into the car. What made the boy even more happy was the fact that this car was new. It had that new car smell that he liked; never driven by anyone till now.

The boy had picked the car when his caretaker, Rjku had asked him. It was the CT 22 Convertible; one of the greatest cars ever made in the history of time; at least it better be because of his huge price tag. It was jet black and sleek, making it go wickedly fast when the driver wanted to. This one was custom made by the company. Although the overall make was the same, it had many things that made it better than the original. It had different engine that could take punishment from the heat, a larger gas tank, doors that opened upward that reminded the boy of a butterfly, spinning rims and a spoiler.

The boy opened his eyes and looked to the seat beside him. Another boy sat there with just past shoulder length silver hair. He also had bluish-gray eyes that were being irritated by his hair. He constantly was pushing the thin locks out of his eyes until he finally just closed them out of annoyance. His pale skin had a thin layer of perspiration that when the sun hit him at a certain angle it looked like he was glowing. His golden mesh top didn’t seem to be helping him much and the same went with his jean shorts. He also had a silver necklace that had an emblem of a wolf and gray shoes. He said that the necklace was from his mother who died when he was two. After that, he never took it off.

The boy’s name was Jin and he soon got the feeling that people usually got when someone was gazing at them; sort of like an inner sense. He opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the brunette boy. He looked tired and like he truly did not want to be bothered. “What, Rizé?” Jin asked coldly. The boy named Rizé jumped and shook his head to quickly quell the silver-haired boy’s growing anger. Jin closed his eyes with a “hmph” and let his wispy hair fall over his eyes once again.

Rizé sighed at his friend and turned to face his own window, looking at the swaying palm trees and the water that rested behind them. Seagulls flew overhead and let out obnoxious calls that pierced through the air. They then flew over the bright blue water, dipping its wing slightly into the water and then flying back upwards. Small waves hit the coast languidly and Rizé couldn’t help but watch it with a bored expression.

“So where are we headed?” asked Rjku, pulling Rizé out of his dazed stupor. Rizé turned to the silver-haired man with a grin. He was Jin’s brother and pretty much had the same features. Blue-gray eyes, pale skin, the only difference was the fact that Rjku was older and had longer hair. Also, he was more built than his brother was since he practiced the reversal blade sword art; Kahitsune. It derived from Rjku’s village that he lived in before he moved to the islands.

These islands where called the Yuriia Islands; The Islands Where the Sun Always Shines. This wasn’t true, of course, they just called it that because the sun didn’t shine as bright in other places. There were six islands all together: Life, Sun, Moon, Cloud, Squall and Misty islands. These islands worked together to survive because all the islands have something unique that the other islands did not have. For example, Life Island had an abundance of fresh water around it while the other islands had salt water around them. The islands all directed their water supply from that island.

Rizé lived on the Life Island it was the less industrial of all the islands, but had a feel that was like people were closer to each other. Everyone knew each other and took care of each other. It was almost like a big village.

“We’re heading to pick up Julia and Kibuto.” said Rizé, “They’re on Cloud Island, at the mall.”

“Cloud Island? Why there? It’s the farthest island away from Life.” replied Rjku, looking in his rear view mirror at Rizé.

“They said that they could get everything for the party there. The mall’s huge! I can’t really blame them for going there.”

“And anyway, it’s not that far. It’s 38 kilometres from here; that should only take fifteen minutes or so.” added Jin as he opened his eyes to look out the window.

“That’s true…in a car, anyway. Last time I heard, Kibuto and Julia couldn’t drive.” said Rjku.

“They probably got dropped off by Kibuto’s dad or something. Does it even matter anyway? They’re there already.” Rizé could tell that Jin was getting annoyed with this conversation already and sought to change the subject. He punched Jin in the arm and laughed at the glare that the older boy shot at him. “Don’t be mad today. It’s my birthday!” said Rizé with a small smile. Jin looked at him and turned his head back to the window to look at the quickly fleeting scenery.

Rizé continued. “You know…this is my first birthday party.” He stated with a calm smile as he lay back on the seat, “Never had one till now. My parents…never really thought that I was important enough for that. Even though my mother acted nice…she never really treated me the same after my brother disappeared. Actually…I’ll be getting my first birthday present, too!”

Jin looked at him with an indecipherable gaze and his lips in a thin life. He shrugged and turned his head back to the window. “I’m happy for you then.” said the blue-gray eyed quietly. Rizé nodded, knowing that that was the best he was going to get from Jin.

Usually he wasn’t like this. He was more of a playful tease that was serious when he needed to be. But there were times when he went into this thing where he was cold and standoffish to everyone. Rizé didn’t like when he was like that and used to get sad when Jin was like that; he was young at the time and very sensitive. But Rjku explained that Jin usually had a lot on his mind at the time when he was like that and that all he really needed was a friend to be beside him. From then on, Rizé always wanted help Jin through those times for some reason. …Maybe it was because he helped him…

He felt the car slow down a little as Rjku went over the bridge that connected to the different islands. All the islands were connected by one bridge that curved to be able to link up all the islands. The bridge started from the Life Island and went all the way to Cloud Island, 38 kilometers away. The bridge broke off into other islands and their roads and allowed transport to all of Yuriia Islands.

Currently, they were halfway away from their destination and Rizé was getting anxious. He was excited for his party since he had never had one before and was also kind of scared because he was sure that Julia would treat him like a doll. He was sure he was going to be dragged around the mall even though they were supposed to just be picking them up. Rizé had a feeling that he was going to be bombarded with millions of outfits and accessories and that he wouldn’t even wear. Julia didn’t care about that though, he figured, she just thought that Rizé was cute and loved to dress him up…at least…that’s the excuse she gave to the small boy.

He had a feeling that due to the fact that he was short, he was 5”3, Julia got a kick out of picking out his clothes as if he were a child. Truly, that thought irked him greatly. He wasn’t just some kid who needed to be fussed over. After all…he never needed it before…why now?

Before he knew it, the car pulled to a stop in an empty parking space in a very busy parking lot. Rizé noticed the huge mall in front of him, looming over him with its great architecture. The whole thing seemed to be made of glass and the sun reflected off the glass making it blinding to look at directly. It rose to an almost impossible height, or that’s the way it looked from outside. The mall had 20 floors with most consisting of clothes stores and food courts. Technological and electronic shops were peppered into throughout the mall and it was like doing a marathon by going to all of them.

The three guys came out of the car and began to walk to the front entrance of the mall. Rizé lagged behind feeling slightly intimidated by such a colossal structure. Jin looked behind him and noticed the uncertain look on his friend’s face. He smiled inwardly as he stopped to let Rizé catch up to him. “Relax.” said Jin curtly. Rizé flinched at his tone and nodded looking down at the floor. Jin frowned at the boy. “Look up.” he ordered. Rizé did so with a slightly apprehensive look. “What are you afraid of?”

Rizé scowled. “Who said I was--!”

“Don’t give me that. What’s your problem? Is it the mall? The people?” Rizé didn’t answer and instead looked down walking past his friend. Jin grabbed his arm harshly and looked at him with the intensity of a wolf. Rizé looked into Jin’s cold eyes and held his gaze with his nervous blue ones. It was like Jin’s eyes were boring into his soul; his heart. It felt like he was being left bare, naked, in front of the boy as if all his secrets were laid out before the boy. It made him feel…violated.

“You will have to get over this one day.” said Jin quietly, “Living the way you do, I’m surprised you managed to go this long without breaking. Are you that weak, Rizé?” There was a harshness to his tone, but also a type of sympathy underlining his words.

“You…think of me as weak?” questioned Rizé quietly; he was starting to feel suffocated.

“I think only what you think of yourself. Truly, you’re my friend, but, I’m not the one with his past haunting everywhere he goes.”

“I can’t help it!”

“So you say, but I can tell you say that only because you feel like it is too hard. So I ask you again…are you that weak?” Rizé frowned and gritted his teeth as he started to remember. Flashes of memories came before him in his mind’s eye and as hard as he tried to push them out they kept coming back, refusing to leave. He grunted and ripped his hand out of Jin’s firm grasp, walking to the front entrance where Rjku waited. Jin watched him go and sighed. Looks like he won’t be getting over it anytime soon…mused Jin as he followed after the boy.

Rizé walked past Rjku with a harsh frown that clearly said that he did not want to be messed with. Rjku respected the boy’s wishes and stopped Jin as he walked up. “What did you say to him?” asked Rjku with a placid gaze directed at the infuriated Rizé.

“Nothing.” said Jin simply.

“Really, Jin. Do you think that I actually believe that? No one gets that mad for no reason.”

“It’s nothing. Rizé’s just being a brat again.”

Rjku frowned at his brother. He sounded totally closed off and uncaring. “You know as well as I do about his past. Poking fun at it isn’t going to make it better.”

“Wise words.” scoffed Jin unsympathetically, “To bad I won’t hear or obey them. He needs to learn that not everything around him is going to hurt him!”

“You’ve never been in his shoes. You don’t know what it feels like. Offer at least some sympathy. …Isn’t that what father taught us?” said Rjku, beginning to walk away from his brother and into the huge mall. Jin stayed behind and looked down with a hard gaze. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he thought about what Rjku said. His father…? Please. “My father doesn’t deserve my obedience…and neither does my brother!”

Rizé was sitting on a bench as the two brothers walked in. Rizé looked at Rjku and smiled, but when his gaze came to Jin, it was unemotional; impassive. Jin’s gaze faltered a bit, but then met the other boy with the same uncaring gaze.

Rizé stood, noticing the some of the people’s long stares at him. He didn’t understand why they looked at him all the time, he wasn’t that interesting. It wasn’t like just the innocent stares that he got from the girls when they were admiring him. This was different. Something more...with an underlining tinge to it. This is why he was unnerved most of the time when he came to the mall. This is the exactly the same looks he gave and that she gave. The same predatory looks that gave off the intentions of hidden want, desire…lust. He had learned what those looks meant at a young age…something he wanted to forget.

“Where are they? Hm, Rizé?” asked Rjku when he was close enough.

“Not sure…they were supposed to be at the front door, but I didn’t see them.” said Rizé with a confused tilt of his lips.

“Did you call them?” asked Jin in a composed tone; fundamentally, he wanted to get on Rizé’s good side again. He was a friend after all.

“No.” answered Rizé with a slightly embarrassed smile, “I forgot my phone at home. Can you do it?”

Jin nodded as he walked over to ruffle Rizé’s hair. Jin often did this as a form of apology with out uttering the words themselves. Rizé got the hint and smiled calmly as he pushed Jin’s hand off of him. “I accept your apology.” said Rizé teasingly.

“Whatever. What’s Julia’s number—“

“Don’t call her! She has caller id and then she add you to her phone and then she’ll call you over and over and ov--!”

“I get it.” said Jin with a laugh and Rjku let out a small snicker, “I’ll just call Kibuto then.” Jin dialed the number immediately after pulling out his phone. It was a black phone that was sleek and smooth to the touch. The phone rang for a moment and then was picked up. “Yo!” said the voice on the other end, “Hey, Jin! Actually calling?”

“Rizé forgot his phone.” said Jin calmly, “Where are you?”

“At the mall.”

“No shit. Where in the mall?”

“Oh! I didn’t know you in the mall. Is Rizé there? Say ‘hi’ to him for me! We’re in the food court.” said Kibuto loud enough for Rizé and Rjku to hear.

“Weren’t you supposed to be at the entrance?”

“Yeah…well, Julia wanted to do more shopping. She said something about getting a cute outfit for someone and ran off. I can’t even move from here cause of all the bags she dumped on me.”

Rizé hearing the bit about the cute outfit tensed and mouthed to Jin to ask which store she went to. Jin obliged. “What store did she go to?”

“Ummm…Karé, I think.” A cloud seemed to come over Rizé at that moment and he groaned in absolute anguish. Jin glanced at him and shrugged. “Alright. We’ll be there soon.”

“Hurry it up!” said Kibuto jokingly as he hung up the phone. Jin smirked and hung up the phone as he put it away into his pocket. He looked to Rizé who had such a concentrated face that Jin began to laugh. Very loudly. Rizé frowned and kicked Jin in the shin which caused a loud yelp to sound from Jin. Jin crouched and held his knee tightly as he glared at the boy who was now looking down on him. “It isn’t funny! This is almost like a covert operation!”

“What the hell are you talking about?!!” shouted Jin as he glowered at Rizé viciously.

“Julia!! She has a Rizé radar or something. She always knows when I’m around and somehow always manages to glomp me!”

“Glomp?” asked Jin.

“Aggressive hugging. Julia’s specialty.” explained Rjku, brushing his long hair away from his eyes, “Rizé, aren’t you over reacting a bit?”

“NO!” yelled Rizé.

“Right…point taken.” spoke Rjku quietly.

“We have to avoid Karé’s at all costs!!”

“What store is Karé anyway?”

Rizé paused for a moment and Jin watched his face show even deeper despair than before. “It’s…a…um…”

“It’s a fetish store.” interjected Rjku with a wry grin, “Tsora usually gets stuff from there for me as a joke. What has she gotten for you, Rizé?”

“I don’t want to say…”

“Oh c’mon! Tell us! It’s not like we’re going to spread it around or anything.” said Jin.

“It’s nothing important really. She just buys stuff from there to freak me out and it just ends up being something innocent. Like that pink t-shirt I have.” said Rizé shuddering at the thought of the pink t-shirt he owned; how could someone be sick enough to make something like that?

“That’s it? I was hoping for something more…fetish-ish.” said Jin feigning disappointment with a smirk.

“Speaking of pink t-shirt, have you ever worn it?” asked Rjku curiously.

“NO WAY!!!” shouted the boy as if he had been offended.

Jin laughed lightly as he began to walk to the elevator. “Rizé has a thing about the colour pink. He hates it.” Rizé began to follow Jin as he looked at everything around him. The mall was white with blue lines that glowed and crossed over each other. Many chairs and benches littered the large space, even though it was only the first floor. Rizé saw couples and friends together walking around the large space into different stores having a good old time. The elevator was located in the middle of the space that was smooth-looking and also white with blue lines.

The area around the elevator was somehow luscious with greenery. Trees sprouted out of precisely placed areas in the ground where workers had planted soil. Flowers also bloomed around the trees and overall, a man-made garden was created to make the area feel more friendly.

The trio walked into the elevator and turned around as the door closed on them. Inside the elevator was nothing more than a screen. Then it spoke. “Hello, welcome to Cloud Island Mall. Please state your destination.” said the screen as it buzzed to life. Letters of different types moved across the screen and it indicated that the computer wanted a response. “Take us to the eighth floor.” said Rjku leaning on the clear glass of the elevator.

“Confirmed.” The elevator began to move rapidly up the floors until, finally, it reached the eight floor. The threesome walked out onto the floor and proceeded to the food court that was only a few steps away. This floor was almost exactly the same as the first floor except that food was only being sold.

Rizé sniffed the air and soon sighed happily. “It smells good here…” said Rizé lovingly.

“Hungry?” teased Rjku.

“He’s always hungry.” muttered Jin with a chuckle.

Rizé pounced on Rjku’s back and Rjku struggled to stand upright. “Buy me food!” said Rizé happily.

“Are you serious?” grunted Rjku as he pushed off the small boy with ease.

“Please, Rjku?” begged Rizé with huge puppy dog eyes; the only reason he could pull it off without looking absolutely insane is because he looked like he was ten years old even though he was thirteen. Rjku sighed as he looked at the child before him. Ever since Rizé first came into the family, he had had a soft spot for the small boy. Even now that he had gotten older, that soft spot still remained. “Fine.” he murmured giving in.

“Yay!!!” shouted Rizé as he grabbed Rjku’s arm and pulled him to the nearest fast food store. Rjku smiled warmly at the boy and as he turned to look at his brother, he noticed that he was smiling too…somewhat; it was sort of like a mix between total amusement and a type of warmth.

Jin prepared to follow, but stopped as he saw his friend, Kibuto. He was sitting at a small table that looked sparkling clean, with a hamburger in his hand. It was half finished and it looked now as if he didn’t really want it but was eating it anyway. His yellow eyes held a bored expression and his lips held a small tilt of lips downward. His burgundy hair was tied back into a loose ponytail and was also held back by the headband he wore around his forehead. Bangs curved over the headband and over his eyes. He had tanned skin and three scars that were one line under each other; it looked like a cat had scratched him. He wore a black mesh shirt with a black and gray sports jacket and dark brown cargos and black running shoes.

Jin went over to the boy and as a greeting, stole the burger and held it high above his head. Kibuto gasped and then growled as he looked up to see his friend poking at his burger. Jin ripped a piece off from the side that Kibuto hadn’t bitten and reveled in the growl that he earned from his friend. “What do you think your doing?” said Kibuto acidly.

“Missed lunch.” was Jin’s simple excuse.

“Do I look like I care?”

Jin sat in the chair in front of the boy with a coy smile. “Should I be saying sorry?” taunted Jin with an innocent voice.

“Dammit! Give back my damn burger!!” shouted Kibuto and Jin tossed it over with a cocky grin. Kibuto glowered at his friend as Jin chuckled lightly. Rizé and Rjku came up to the group. Rizé held a huge paper plate with noodles dipped in soy sauce and many spices, a hamburger, fries, shrimp, biscuits dipped in garlic and butter as well as garlic bread and breaded chicken. Overall, the plate looked…delicious.

Rizé sat down in the chair and put his plate down in front of him with a hungry gaze. “Ummm…!” moaned Rizé as if he were in pure ecstasy, “Time to dig in!” Jin watched the boy take his plastic fork that he brought and start eating; he was like a vacuum cleaner. “Take it easy!” said Kibuto laughing.

“Leave him, Kibuto. It’s not like he can hear you anyway.” said Jin.

“How much of a dent did he leave in your wallet, Rjku?” asked Kibuto as he continued to watch the small boy.

“A big one. A hundred kilias.” muttered Rjku as he glared softly at the content Rizé.

“100 k’s? Wow…”

“Yeah, I know.”

Jin sniggered. “My brother’s push over when it comes to Rizé.”

Rjku glared at his brother, but conceded. “It’s true.”

“HI GUYS!!!!!”

Rizé, currently into his rhythm for fast paced eating, stopped abruptly, choked and began to cough harshly. Jin patted his back and Kibuto offered water to the boy. Rizé, with wide eyes, turned to the voice with slight fear and anger. Before him stood a girl that was slightly taller than him with a slim build. She had orange hair, blue eyes and medium sized breasts. She wore a blue belly top that hugged her chest tightly showing every small detail and beige capris. She also wore blue and white running shoes and her capris had two straps hanging down from the back. “Hi, Rizé! I got stuff for you to try on for your party!”

“I don’t want them, Julia.” said Rizé curtly.

The girl named Julia frowned. “But…their gifts…”

“Take them back! I don’t want them!”

“Rizé, don’t be rude. Julia, stop buying things that he doesn’t like.” said Rjku simply. Rizé sent a cold glance towards Julia and then went back to his food.

Julia eyed him with a confused stare and went to sit next to Kibuto. Kibuto had a wide smile and Jin had a face masked with no expression once so ever. Rjku looked at Rizé’s tense form and sighed, knowing that he would have to be the mediator for the fight that was about to brew.

“What’s his problem?” questioned Julia sighing.

“You.” said Jin bluntly as he stole a shrimp from Rizé’s plate; Rizé glared at him because of it.

“Me? What did I do? All I said was that I got some clothes for him and he freaked out.”

Kibuto heaved a sigh. “Supposedly…he doesn’t like the clothes you buy for him.” Julia looked at Rizé and raised an eyebrow. Rizé could feel her stare on him and began to grow even angrier than he already was. “Is that so?” said Julia, brushing her long hair out of her face, “Alright then, Rizé. I’ll take them back just because you’re being a baby.”

Rizé snapped his head up and gave her a ferocious glare that sent shivers down Jin and Kibuto’s spine. “Julia. All I said is that I didn’t want the clothes. If you’re mad, than that’s your problem, not mine. Take them back.”

“You haven’t even seen them yet and just because you didn’t like what I bought for you before, you’re all bent out of shape for no reason!”

“Whatever.”

Julia growled and then calmed down when he saw Rjku’s gaze. It was like he was telling her to “try and understand him” but without saying a word. Julia sighed and got up and went to Rizé with the bag she brought. She went behind him and hugged him tightly, putting the bag in his lap at the same time. Rizé calmed down a little bit and frowned evenly. “Just look in the bag, please? For me?” she asked knowing that Rizé was silently laughing. Which, actually, he was.

“Fine.” He opened the bag and noticed that…he actually liked the clothes. They were all baggy, just the way he liked it. Also they all had some form of a dark colour in it, also the way he liked it. Rizé closed the bag and looked at Julia who had a wide smirk. “Tricked ya, didn’t I?” she muttered, obviously feeling hurt about the incident earlier; even though Rizé considered it small in comparison to other things.

“Sorry about snapping at you.” said Rizé meekly, “And thanks.”

Julia squealed and hugged Rizé even tighter than before. “Awwwww!!!! You’re so cute!!” Rizé blushed profoundly and noticed that Jin was laughing quietly at is dilemma and was also going to be absolutely useless to help the poor boy. Kibuto and Rjku were pretty much the same. Luckily, Rjku became aware of Rizé mangled cries from loss of air and was able to Julia to let go. Rizé took in many gasping breaths and cast a withering look at the beaming girl.

She then seemed to remember something. “I’ll be right back, I’ll meet you at the front entrance. Can you carry the stuff there?”

“Like you would actually help us even if you where coming with us.” said Kibuto narrowing his yellow-eyes at the giggling girl.

“I promise, I’ll be there in a sec.” She cast the boy a wink and ran off in the opposite direction and into another store. Kibuto watched her go and sighed shaking his head. “Well…I guess we better head to the car. Thanks again for picking us up, Rjku.”

“No problem. But after I drop you guys off I have to meet Tsora.” said Rjku.

“Alright.” remarked Jin nodding. Soon all four boys went to the elevator and headed outside to where the car awaited.

Rizé collapsed on the couch and faintly heard Jin and Kibuto bringing in the rest of the bags. His eyes were closed and felt his head spinning. He wanted to do nothing more than sleep for a very long time. The fact that he couldn’t upset him greatly; he liked to sleep.

He felt someone shake his arm and he cracked open his eyes a small bit. It was Jin that came into his sights and he narrowed his eyes at the silver eyed boy. Jin looked at Rizé with a slightly annoyed expression. “We can’t have the birthday boy sleeping now.” he commented. Rizé noticed that Jin had tied his hair back and that some of his thin strands had come loose and were hanging freely in front of his face.

“How long was I out?” asked Rizé.

“For five minutes. C’mon, we have stuff to do; mainly concerning you.”

“Me?”

“Yup. A new year brings new beginnings. This will be your first change.” explained Jin as he watched the small boy stand up from the cream couch he was just laying on. The living room was a plain space with a flat screen tv on the largest wall. Around the tv was a surround sound system and an entertainment unit. The walls were painted a pale peach colour and carpet was the same colour. The couches were a darker cream to make them stand out and they were made of leather.

Rizé and Jin left the room and headed up the nearby stairs. The banister was made of wood and was stained to look like a dark wood. The stairs themselves were hard wood, but were a lighter brown than the banister. Soon the duo made it upstairs and noticed that Kibuto was bouncing a ball on his head. He seemed quite content and didn’t seem to notice that the two boys were watching him. When he did, he bounced the ball up once more and caught it in his hands. He tucked it under his arm and grinned. “Did you call Julia?” asked Kibuto to Jin.

“Yeah. She said she’s on her way. We can get started though, without her.” replied Jin with a smirk and a snicker.

“Cool.” Rizé didn’t know what it was that they were talking about, but that didn’t stop him from getting a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Jin, sensing Rizé’s apprehension, grabbed Rizé’s arm to keep him where he was. “Where do you think you’re going?” asked Jin with a wolfish grin and a predatory gleam in his eye.

“Thinking of getting away from two wolves?” asked Kibuto. Rizé smile an anxiety ridden grin at his two demi-human friends. Demi-humans were a mix of the human race and an animal of a certain type. They were different than humanoids in one way; they could change into their respective animals and humanoids could not. Also, humanoids usually had some of the traits or body parts of the animals that they were related to, demi-humans did not. They looked like regular humans in their human form and perfect replicas of the animals that they were mixed with. But there were cases where some demi-humans resembled humanoids and their characteristics were almost identical, but they could still change into their respective animals.

Kibuto and Jin were part of the wolf-type demi-human, but they were from different species in the same area. Jin was part of the rare white wolf race while Kibuto was part of the more common gray wolves race. Both were primary hunters and Rizé was beginning to feel like he was falling prey to their instincts. “Don’t worry. We won’t bite.” joked Jin as he and Kibuto laughed.

“What are you guys planning…?” asked Rizé shakily.

“Not us, Julia. She’s planning to give you a makeover.” said Jin with a small snicker.

Rizé scowled at them. “And you went along with it?!!” boomed Rizé.

“Of course. Thought it would be fun.” explained Kibuto as he opened the bathroom that was located nearby. Jin smirked and went behind Rizé and pushed him into the bathroom. On queue, Kibuto closed the door on behind the stumbling Rizé and pulled out a key to lock the door. “First things first. Take a shower. When your done, Julia should be here by that time, give us a knock and I’ll let you out.”

“The door is locked from the outside and you can’t unlock it from inside, so don’t bother trying.” added Jin as he moved into Rizé’s room to look in his closet. Kibuto watched the door handle jiggle as Rizé futilely attempted to get out. He heard Rizé yell and swear plus sending moderate threats to the two wolf half breeds outside.

Kibuto sighed and move into Rizé’s room to join Jin. “What a stubborn guy.” muttered Kibuto quietly as both boys still heard Rizé’s shouts and screams.

“Yo! Rizé! Shut up!! We’re not going to let you out until you take your shower!” shouted Jin.

“Fuckin’ dammit! Let me out! Let me out!” shouted Rizé in response to Jin’s outburst. Jin growled angrily and snatched the key to the bathroom out of Kibuto’s hand.

“What are you--!”

“Relax, Kibuto.” said Jin with the coldest glare imaginable.

Kibuto sighed. “Make sure not to bruise the poor kid.” Jin nodded and opened the door to see Rizé charging right towards him. It hadn’t clicked in yet that the door was open, thus Jin getting tackled was the result.

The two boys landed on the floor with a thud. Jin groaned in pain and Rizé looked down to see Jin below him. He quickly got up and let out a huge yell. “Whooo!!! I’m free!” he said, unapologetic that he just knocked down Jin. Jin looked up at his friend and grinned as he began to stand up. More strands of hair fell free from their prison and covered his face as he stood. Rizé couldn’t see Jin’s eyes and that unnerved him a bit; his earlier happiness gone. He backed up back into the bathroom with a small grin that he hoped would appease his older friend; it didn’t work. “Eh heh heh…sorry?” said Rizé, “I’ll…uh…close the door myself…”

“No. Let me.” said Jin quietly as he pushed the smaller boy further into the bathroom and walking in himself, closing the door behind him. “Kibuto. What ever you hear…don’t come in.” Kibuto nodded and sighed as Jin closed the door. Soon enough he heard random “thuds”, bangs, screams and yells and shortly a whimper. Jin emerged from the bathroom, locking the door behind him. He looked at Kibuto for a second and then went to Rizé’s room again and sat on his bed. “He may have a shiner later. Can you go to the store and get a Tamer?” asked Jin as he began to relax on Rizé’s bed.

“A Tamer? Alright, I’ll be back in a sec. Oh! Tell me this. You didn’t bruise him, did you?”

Jin shrugged. “Maybe. If I did the tamer should take care of it.” Kibuto nodded and shot his hand into the air with two fingers sticking up in a “peace” type gesture. Jin smiled gently and laid on the bed comfortably. He never knew that Rizé’s bed was so soft and cozy. His room was warm and comfy in a sort of homey way.

Jin glanced around the room and smiled at the childishness that seemed to live in this room. Small plush animals and teddy bears littered the room. Jin knew that all the teddy bears had memories that Rizé held dear to him, but Jin was still confused about the plushies. He sat up and picked up a nearby teddy bear and smiled at it with a happy grin. “I gave him this one when he was nine. Looks like it got a lot of love.” he murmured as the sound of falling water. The teddy bear had a small red bow around its neck and had a light brown fur. It was soft and huggable although it was small. Rizé used to love this bear and always carried it around with him.

Jin remembered how he teased his friend about his girlish behaviour and often sent him home crying. Jin usually came home and began to tease him for crying. Jin didn’t understand his need to carry around that dumb bear anyway, but, now that he thought about it, it must have signified Rizé’s connection with him; something that he could actually see instead of just imagining it. He must have cherished the bear that much, hoping that his and Jin’s friendship would never end. Jin laughed. That was kinda corny, he thought as he put the bear back where he found it.

The room was a messy one. Clothes littered the ground along with Rizé’s game consol and controllers. A tv was beside the window on the right side of the room, adjacent to his bed and his closet was over flowing with stuff. Jin wondered how anyone could live in this room now. Before, when he and Rjku first moved in, this room was bare and empty. It really only had a clean bed and closet space; almost like a guest room. Now, it was clearly lived in and was distinctly Rizé.

He then noticed, next to the bed, on the nightstand that Rizé had, was another bear. This one was white with blue eyes and a blue t-shirt that said K.I.R.A in white letters. Jin frowned at it wondering where that one came from.

He then heard three knocks on the bathroom door outside of Rizé’s room. He must be done, thought Jin as he stood up and walked out of the room. He walked to the door with the bathroom key and opened it with a happy grin. He looked down and his grin widened. Rizé looked bedraggled. His hair was all over the place, the towel barely hung from his waist and he kept fidgeting with it to make it stay up, plus he was holding his clothes in one hand hoping to get to his room soon. Overall, it looked like a balancing act.

“Can I go to my room now?” Rizé sniveled as Jin noticed the bruise on his cheek; he mentally slapped himself. He guided Rizé to his room and Rizé chucked the clothes on the floor with the rest of them and plopped on his bed with a hurt gaze. He gingerly touched his cheek and whimpered unhappily as a small pain reverberated around the area of his cheek. “Ow…” moaned Rizé.

Jin tried to act casual. “Tch. Suck it up, Rizé. It’s only a bruise and a black eye.”

“A shiner?!! Shit…” Jin sighed quietly at the boy in front of him. Then he remembered the teddy bear. Maybe if he got Rizé’s mind off it, he would stop whining. “Hey, Rizé.” began Jin, “Who gave you that white teddy bear?”

Rizé glared at the boy. “You beat me up and then ask me about a stupid bear? Like I would tell you anyway!” said Rizé childishly.

“God! What do you want me to say?! Sorry?! Fine! Sorry!” shouted Jin.

“Hmph. I guess it’s a start. Where’s Kibuto?”

“He went to the convenience store for a second. Now answer my question.”

Rizé narrowed his eyes at Jin. “Why do you care?”

“Curious.” was Jin’s simple answer.

Rizé frowned at the boy and then laid back onto the bed with a wistful sigh. “It was given to me…by a friend of mine.”

Her name was Kira. I never got to ask her her last name since she didn’t stay that long. She moved two weeks after she came to the islands. On the last day…she came to give me this bear. White and pure…just like her.

“Rizé! I wanted to give you something!” said a girl with slightly curly but straight golden brown hair. She had shining hazel eyes that had a playful glint in them and a happiness that four year old Rizé couldn’t describe. She wore a boy’s sleeveless tee and shorts with a bunch of pockets that made her look kind of boyish. She also had tanned skin that matched Rizé’s own and small cat ears and a cute tail.

Rizé’s face always flushed when he saw her. She was cute and was fun to be around. She always loved to do the things he did, like looking for bugs or going swimming. But today, she seemed to be slightly unhappy, even though there was a smile on her face. “What is it, Kira?” asked little Rizé with a small smile.

Kira quickly caught her breath and grinned at the boy with her hands on her knees. She shoved a white teddy bear into the hands of the boy before her and smiled shyly at Rizé. “What’s this?” asked Rizé with a small confused pout.

Kira stuck her tongue out at him. “Duh! It’s a teddy bear, stupid! It’s for you.” she said sweetly.

She was always cute like that. Kira was a type of person who was different; her own. I liked that about her. She was someone who I envied…someone who I admired and yet…I could never be like her. I was the type to try hard to please people so that they would like me…I felt…that she was the only one who truly knew me at the time.

“A gift? Thank you.” said Rizé with a small blush; his face felt hot.

Kira then grew quiet and looked down at the ground. The two kids were on the deserted island that was of the coast of the Life Island and had nothing, but white sands and clear blue water. Waves crashed onto the beach and the rocks, filling up the void of noise that appeared when the two children stopped talking. Palm trees swayed casting a calm, serene feeling over the island. “Kira…?”

“I’ll…I’ll be leaving soon…” murmured Kira sadly; the news hit Rizé hard. She looked like she was about to cry and Kira…never cried. She just didn’t. Something inside him wanted to comfort her, but…he was rooted to the spot. She was leaving…? She couldn’t leave. She…couldn’t…they were friends. “Leaving?” whispered Rizé.

Kira nodded. “Yeah…I’m sorry, Rizé…”

“Don’t apologize! It isn’t your fault!”

She smiled. “Thanks, Rizé. Oh…mom and dad said that they found a better place for us to live…but…how could it be better without my best friend!”

Rizé laughed lightly. “Well…this doesn’t have to be the end, does it? We can visit each other and stuff, right?”

Kira shook her head. “Mommy said we’d be moving far away. I won’t be able to see you again. But that’s why I got you this bear! If you keep it with you, you’ll never forget me!”

“But…how will you remember me?” asked Rizé with a frown.

Kira smirked cockily. “I’ve got a good memory! I won’t need a reminder.” Rizé and Kira shared a happy laugh before Kira looked out to sea. She saw boat and gasped. “Damn…not much time…” Rizé didn’t comment on how she just swore since he didn’t have time to before her lips descended on to his cheek. He immediately blushed a bright crimson and stuttered as she moved away from him with tears in her eyes.

Her tears streamed down her face, but she was still smiling; it made Rizé want to cry right along with her. But he didn’t. He moved to her and she hugged him quickly before running off to the nearing boat. When she got to the makeshift dock, that was slowly going into decay, she spun around and waved. “Rizé! Don’t forget about me! Don’t or I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life!” shouted Kira. Rizé laughed at her knowing that she couldn’t haunt him unless she was dead and she wasn’t going to die anytime soon, right?

Rizé waved her off as he saw her father get off the boat and drag her away. He was still waving when she was far off, nearing Life Island. His hand finally came down when she was out of sight and he looked down at the sand. He sat down and looked at his gift. He hugged it lightly as a single tear fell from his eye. He had just lost a friend; his only friend.

She was gone just like that. I never saw her again, but I never forgot about her all.

“Even now…I still miss her.” said Rizé finishing the story as he was putting on white socks. He was now wearing black silk boxers that he got as a gift from Tsora a year back and pretty much nothing else. Jin sat on Rizé’s bed with a thoughtful gaze towards the white teddy bear. Kira…huh…, thought Jin with a narrowing gaze towards the small bear. “Cute story.” commented Jin as he turned his gaze to Rizé.

Rizé crimsoned a little. “Thanks…”

Two seconds later, a door opened downstairs and an obnoxious yell sounded throughout the house. “Rizé! Time for your make over!!!” shouted a high feminine voice.

Rizé tensed. “Julia…” he whispered backing away from the door. Jin smiled mischievously and sauntered up to Rizé in an innocent fashion. He grabbed his hand and began to pull the now protesting boy down the stairs outside his room. As they reached down the stairs, they were surprised to see who else was at the door.

A boy, who was at least 5”8, leaned on the now closed door with Rjku beside him; he head must have just got home. The boy had short golden brown hair that flared out at the ends and light aquamarine eyes. His lips were curved into an arcane smirk that Rizé didn’t necessarily trust. He wore a green zip-up hoodie that was left unzipped halfway showing his slightly tanned skin tone on his chest. He also wore green cargo pants that had patches of various bands on them that looked like he had sown on himself. His shoes were cut off so that it showed his ankles and they were gray and green. “So what’s this I hear about a makeover?” said the boy with a quickly growing grin.

Rizé life had just become a little more complicated.

To Be Continued…

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