Hey, this is an off to the side story (taking place about 10 years in the future) from the novel that I'm writing. You don't really need to know the novel to understand the story. I was writing this story experimentally, and because at the time it was fresh in my head. It's 4 really short chapters... so i hope you enjoy it.

By the way: If anyone tries to take any excerpt from this story, I will find out, and I will hunt you down.

But still, enjoy!!! : )

1.

"How about we do this...." Ty started. He pulled out his fake sword from his belt and pointed it at her. He tapped her nose, "I'll be the handsome knight that comes to save you, the damsel in distress."

"Aren't you a little bored of that yet?" She asked Ty, rolling her blue eyes, then smiling, "How about I am the knight that comes to save you, the gentleman in distress?"

"But you're a girl." Ty said scrunching up his nose.

She sighed. Yes, he was a four years older than her, but still very immature,

"You're right. You be the knight. And I'll be the damsel."

"Good, now go get my Grampa and tell him he's the black knight. Okay?"

"Whatever Ty." She rolled her eyes once again. At that moment, she saw the tall grass in the feild before her rustle. She jumped up. She wasn't quite sure why, but this wasn't the busy season, and there weren't usually any people wanting to stay in the inn. Ty turned and thrusting his sword forward.

"I'll save you!" He pushed her into the bushes that lined the inn. She'd fallen on her head and cursed wildly at him, then just laid back and looked up at the limbs of the bushes and the leaves, a few of the white flowers that covered the shrub fell in her face. She couldn't get up at the time though. Her hind was way too sore. "Back you fool!" She heard him yell out.

"Watch it Ty, you'll poke someone's eye out and then your Grampa will not be too happy with you for losing a customer." A man with a heavy Najoton accent told him. That was odd. There weren't really any Najoton's around Tamaka. Very odd.

"Cashein! You're back!" Ty smiled his mother's brilliant smile.

Kimp got out of the bush, brushing the flowers and leaves from her pale blonde hair. She straitened out her mangeled hair and stepped forward to hit Ty, "Ty you little ass. What the hell were you thinking?"

"And you must be Kimp." The man had no expression whatsoever on his face, and it slightly scared her. His clothes were tattered, his black sweater, abruptly rolled up on one arm, and down on another. He carried a sword, which was also black with silver rivots on the hilt. He was, in a messy sence, very, pretty. She didn't feel that the word pretty, was usually a label put on a man, but for this one, he was pretty. His shoulder-length black hair was, somewhat neatly tied behind his head, and his blue eyes glistened in the noon's light.

She was just like her mother. There was no difference whatsoever in them, only, Kimp was like a miniature. Her eyes were like his, and maybe her smile, but other than that, she was her mother.

His daughter. Bullshit. What the hell was that whore thinking? But then again...no, never. At this point he was half-thinking of turning around and going the other way because he knew that she'd be there- and he knew that it would hurt him. He'd come only with the intention to sit and have a drink with his friends who he hadn't seen in six years, not to have another

argument. He'd been harsh with Csdona then, but she'd only deserved it. She was out banging another man and she just thought that she could tell him that it was his. Bullshit.

He walked right past the two into the inn. Gabi immediatly came over to him. She didn't recognize him with black hair, but he supposed she could tell who he was. "Cashein?"

"Hey Gabi." He said, not caring to show the least bit of happiness. He wasn't happy. So why would he fake it?

"Oh my God! I haven't seen you in so long! Daddy's gotta see you. He missed you so much. Come on Cashein, he's right around back." Gabi took his hand and he willingly was dragged around to the the back of the inn. "Daddy! Cashein's come home!"

Toya turned his head around from the vegetables he'd been picking. A smile creased across his lips under his gray beard. He laughed slightly then got up. He hugged Cashein and gave him a pat on the back, "Nice hair." He said.

Cashein smiled slightly, that lopside smile, then Denneli came out. "I thought I heard you screamin' bitch. Hey Cashein, how are you?" Denneli came over to him and Cashein recieved another slap on the back.

"Alright I guess." His tone was unchanged, and the light that had once illuminated him had apparently long-since died. He looked so depressed, and they all knew why. But, they were just too happy at the time to say anything about it. He started a conversation that he didn't intend to then, "I suppose Ms. Fayel is here." He stated in that same tone.

"Ms. Fayel? Oh Cashein please don't do this to yourself. Come on." Gabi touched his shoulder.

"Speaking of Csdona where the hell is she? I haven't seen her all day." Denneli asked.

"She's at work dumbass, I told you that this morning." Gabi replied harshly.

"I was hung-over this morning. I wasn't really concentrating on whatever the hell you said."

" Well you should have been."

"Stop. Please. Fight somewhere else." Toya rolled his eyes, "So Cashein, how long are you staying?" He smiled, then bent over and grabbed the burlap sack of vegetables.

"A week or so, or as long as I can stand being around her. Whatever comes first I suppose." He replied, slightly biting his lip.

"Alright. I'll get you a room ready." Gabi hurried off around the inn, Denneli followed her, most likely wanting to argue some more. Denneli was the type of man who was turned on by that. Many thought he might be one in a million for this trait.

After the two cleared out tears streamed down his pale cheeks falling into the dirt below. Toya almost went into shock. This wasn't right. This wasn't Cashein. What happened (csdona happened)? That had hurt his pride, and anything that went along with it. Killed him. Poor boy. Poor stupid boy.

"Maybe....maybe I shouldn't stay. I'll come back some other time. When I don't need to see her." Cashein muttered, wiping the tears from his big blue eyes. A lock of his black hair fell into his face and he brushed it behind his ear. "I don't think I could do it. It would kill me."

"Whatever you want to do Cashein." Toya replied.

He looked up at Toya his blue eyes glassy.

Cashein had been horrible that last night, and it was his fault. Everyone except him had believed that she hadn't cheated on him, and if he had taken one look at Kimp then..."Did you see your daughter."

"She's not my daughter." Cashein mumbled.

"Then you saw her."

"I saw Csdona's kid, yes. And she looks just like Csdona, yes. And damn it Toya, she's not my daughter." Cashein tried to keep his calm. And he managed that.

"Stop shiting yourself. That kid is yours and you know it. You walked out on them, there's no way around that." He paused, "Cashein, would make you someone worse than your father." Toya turned and walked away, hoisting the burlap sack over his right shoulder.

Twenty minutes later Cashein entered the main room and sat down at the bar. Denneli was sitting at one of the stools with Gabi on his lap, apparently finnished fighting.Toya was scrubbing glasses, as usual. Cashein bowed his head. He didn't know why he had cried. But he couldn't hold the tears in anymore. He felt stupid now. He rested his elbows on the counter and planted his face in his hands.

"Cashein. Are you leaving or staying?" Toya asked him.

"I'm not sure. When does she get home?"

"Soon."

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Maybe what?"

"I might leave."

"Alright."

Just then Ty burst through the door, dragging Kimp along behind him. She looked miserable. One thing that they all knew was that she didn't have her mother's exuberance. They all could understand this, because, she'd never seen her mother happy. Ever. But another thing that did hold true was her mother's beauty. Looking at her you could get a glimps of what Csdona looked like at that age. Also, she never really knew her father, that too, was simalar.

"Grampa, do you have time to kidnap Kimp?" Ty asked, proudly hoisting his wooden sword up in the air.

"Aren't you getting a little tired of that Ty. You should practice swordsmanship, you used to love that." Denneli suggested.

"That's exactly what I said." Kimp boasted proudly, then heard a footstep on the front porch. She darted over to the door and ran outside, "Mum! I missed you."

"I missed you too baby." They heard her say through the open door. Cashein flinched and everyone looked over to him. He couldn't stay. It would kill him. He hadn't even seen her yet but just hearing her voice....it was too much.

"I-I can't...." Cashein started.

"Go say hi Cashein." Ty said, rather loudly.

"Ty!" Gabi yelled smacking him over the head, "How can you be that much like your father, you forget every goddamn thing that I tell you!" She scoulded him. "Cashein, don't you dare leave. Wait right here for a minute." Gabi walked over to the door, whispered something to Kimp, then once Kimp was inside shut the door.

"Csdona, I have to talk to you."

"What was Ty talking about?" There was a slight temmor in her voice. Nervous or scared even.

"Csdona..." Gabi place her hands on Csdona's shoulders.

"Is Cashein here?" Csdona asked, backing up from Gabi's grasp.

"Yes, but..."

"I'll leave. How long is he staying? I'll get an apartment somewhere." Tears streamed down Csdona's face.

Gabi hugged Csdona, who had suddenly had a breakdown similar to Cashein's.

"He was going to leave."

"Good, tell him he should."

"Csdona..."

"Gabi! I will not have my daughter even associate with him okay."

"He hasn't even looked at her. I think he's still mad or something."

"That fucking bastard. Why would he come back now?" Csdona said through her tears.

"Mum!" Kimp exclaimed, hearing her mother curse.

"Kimp! Don't eavesdrop!" Csdona yelled.

"I have to leave." Cashein said, getting off the stool.

"Gabi'll sock you if you try Cashein." Denneli warned.

"I don't want to cause Ms. Fayel such pain." He walked through the door. Spacing out slightly and making sure not to even look the girls way. Stupid whore. Dishonest little slut. Cheating bitch. He'd called her all these things, during those times where he tried to slit his wrists, when he cursed and cried. She'd caused him to feel the greatest rapture, and at the same time, the worst agony.

"I told you to stay in there goddamn it!" Gabi went to punch him, but he grabbed her wrist. Not to hurt her, just to not have her hurt him. He didn't look over at Csdona, in fact he made sure of it almost by looking directly at Gabi.

"I have to go."

"But you just got here."

"I told you, whatever came first. I cannot stay, because I wish not to cause Ms. Fayel any further dispair. It was nice seeing you." God, did he hate her as much as it sounded like?

"Wait just a minute you little bastard! Are you going to leave all us just because of her?! I know that you wanted to see us, don't let her think that she's ruining your time. Even if she is."

"I'm right behind you Gabi." Csdona spoke up, then turned and went inside.

"Why can't you just try to get along. You don't have to be like you were before, just don't try to kill eachother." Toya suggested as he dried a plate off.

"And you expect I can do that?" The two said in unison.

"Shut up." Cashein told her.

He turned to Ty and Kimp who were tugging at his shirt. "What is it?" He asked them.

"Could you practice with me. I got a real sword now. Please Cashein!" Ty begged, dragging his sword that was obviosly too heavy for his small arms to lift.

Snap out of it and just do it. It'll make you look better than Csdona. "Sure."

"Thank 's Cashein! Come on let's go around back." Ty smiled his mother's exhuberant smile that seemed to light the room.

"Kimp. Stay here."

"But Mum, I wanna see Ty get his ass kicked."

"Stay here."

"Csdona, you turned into a real bitch." Cashein said, then rushed himself out before she could attempt to beat the shit out of him.

"Fine. Kimp, go. But he even looks at you..."

"Mum." Kimp rolled her eyes, "Why are you acting like this, he seems pretty nice. Ty says he's really cool." Kimp smiled. Csdona loved her daughter, but hated the fact that she had her ex-husband's smile and his eyes. Damn genes. Csdona despised that she had to be reminded of him every time she looked at her.

"Watch it Kimp." Csdona warned, and her daughter went running off around back. Csdona knew that she shouldn't tell Kimp that he was her father, not if she couldn't figure it out herself. Ty would probably say something eventually, but, she just shouldn't deal with him leaving and Kimp being crushed. It wasn't worth saying anything. Even though, when she did find out, then she'd be mad. But until that time, her father remained dead.

"So Kimp, what happened to your father?" Cashein asked her, curious to find out what had Csdona had said about his fate.

"He left my mum. She loved him very much, but things just weren't working out." Kimp explained, folding her hands in her lap and looking at the dirt on the ground infront of her, and Ty's bare feet. Ty started laughing, but she didn't understand why. She looked up at Cashein as he unsheated his sword with smooth, elegant grace, much like how he spoke. Smooth and rich. She loved the accent. But she didn't understand why her mother hated him so. It was most likely because the council didn't like Najotons. That was what her mother had told her. But Kimp herself, was to avoid the council at all costs. Her mother had told her that Jopin, the leader, hadn't approved of the marriage. That, Kimp wasn't to be born because Jopin hadn't wanted it. Because he wanted a blue cross and... she didn't understand the rest of her mother's words from that conversation. The two of them had spoken of Kimp's father. And her mother had cried. She spoke of him as if he was this, bitter-sweet memory. She said that, for about a year before he left, they hadn't been getting along all that well, for reasons that she wouldn't speak of. But, she also said that they'd fell in love when she was thirteen. They had gotten married when she was seventeen. It was sad, because it seemed like she really still loved him.

"You're holding your sword wrong Ty." Cashein corrected the boy, moving his fingers into the proper position. "Good." And it went like that.

The next day, Kimp and Ty were back on the porch again, debating what to do with themselves. Denneli and Gabi were arguing about him being a drunk and that he needed to join a practice to get more money. Cashein was lying down, chasing off a high. He was going to quit soon, because he was sure that he looked like shit. And he didn't want to get high that bad. Csdona had left early to go to work. Toya said that she was working at a bar. Cashein planned on giving her money. Since he had more than he knew what to do with. He'd been sending her however much he felt like giving her for the past six years. For whatever she needed. He wasn't that bad of a person. And, he wasn't dead.

"Cashein, are you okay?" Ty's head hovered over his. Kimp stood behind him.

"Sort of." Cashein answered. Not really, he felt like shit. He needed to vomit more than anything else but other than that...

"Cashein!" Ty laughed.

"Come on Ty. Stop bugging him. You're such a pest." Kimp said, crossing her arms over her non-existant chest. She was nothing like her mother. At least nothing like her mother used to be. Cashein barely got a good look at Csdona the other day. But she had cut her hair, and she was wearing this skirt that didn't look legal for a work environment. But Toya didn't mention what kind of bar. Though Cashein doubted she was desperate enough to flaunt herself, or demoralize herself at that. She was still beautiful, though he didn't much care anymore. He'd lost interest in her as soon as she'd lost interest in him (and decided to fuck Hinoshi).

"Is your mum dating anyone?" Cashein asked, sort of out of the blue.

"You shouldn't ask that Cashein. She's not exactly into you." Kimp said, matter-of-fact-ly.

"I don't mean it like that. I just, would like to know." Cashein muttered, placing his right arm over his eyes.

"No. She isn't. And she's not interested." Kimp said, then grabbed Ty's shirt and dragged him out of the inn. Cashein sighed, he wasn't quite sure why, but he felt relieved. Though he wouldn't be for long, seeing that he made the horrible mistake of talking to the girl, and about something that she would tell her mother. Oh well.