1 The Beginning

The Darkness!

Chapter 1: The Beginning

"Talking"

*Haku Thinking*

My name is Haku! I was raised in a small town called Rasmuke. My father is the town's doctor. Hes the best at what he dose, and he has taught me a lot of what he knows. *Hes a grate dad, he understands that I can't stay in this small town in the middle of nowhere forever. I am proud to have him as my father!*

"Haku wake up!" My father said from down stares. As soon as I get out of bed I fix the covers! *To days the day I'm leaving on my journey to explore our world*

I think as I slip on my black cargo pants and back T-shirt on. I look in the mirror and brush my soft strate black hair that reachesthe nap of my neck but my bangs almost reach my shoulders, looking at my golden eyes and wonder if there will be more people out in the world with my smooth dark complexion. I'm not as dark as my mom was because my father is fair skinned. But in this small town i am the only one who wont burn in a days work in the sun. I grab my gray hooded jacket and backpack and head down stares.

When I get down stares I can't find my dad so I go out side and hes standing by the wagon. *He must have to go to town?* "Hey dad! Going to town today?" I say, "Yeah Ms. Yoshie has been bitten by Mr. Slay's dog again." He says as he pats Sorah's (our female horse) butt, "But don't worry we'll have time to say good bye latter. After you get Kashi (our male horse) ready, stop by the office to see me!" I watch him hope on Sorah and say "Ok dad good luck!" We wave good bye and I go in sides and make some breakfast for myself. I also make my self one last home cooked meal for supper later.

After I ate I went into the stables to see Kashi. "Hey boy." I say and I kiss his nose, "We got a long journey ahead of us. You ready?" He makes a noise that sounds like a yes. I smile and start getting him ready. When hes ready I hop on him and we haded into town.

I tied him up out side my dads office and went in side. "Good morning Pein." I say. Pein looks up and smiles, "Hey bud! We're ganna miss you!" he says. "Haha yeah. He in?" I say as I point to the door.

*Pein is a nice guy but sometimes i get the feeling hes in love with my dad... But i dont think my dad can till he just say "Pein's so helpful what a good friend" then Pein gets a little sad look.* Pein smiles and says "yeah go on back" then looks back down to reading his paperwork. "Thanks" I said and went in.

"Hey Haku!" dad says.

"Hi dad."

"You ready?" he says.

"Yep!" I said with a smile.

He walks me out side and every one was there to say good bye and i mean everyone! The whole town showed up all 48 of them. After every one gave me there hugs and gifts to help me on my travels I promise to open then when i camped for the night! I was a little tired.

Surah hands me a girl with tears in her eyes, I wasn't sure she would come today we got in a big fight last week about it and she hadn't spoken to me sence. "P-promise me you'll never lose them!" she says chocking up.*I always new she really liked me even loves me but i could never return her feelings. But she willalway be someone important to me* "I promise" is all i can say. "Mom helped me wave protection spell into them." Her mom was the local sorcereres for the town very powerful me and Surah leaned a lot from her but i mostly learned how to do healing. Her mom didn't know much but she said i had the gift for healing. So i should be able to find a magical healer on my travels to train me. Surah on the other hand is amazing with her magic just like her mother. "Thank you, I'll miss you Rah" She bursted into tears and huged me. After we parted with her still crying into her father, I hoped on Kashi, waved goodbye and we left!

At dusk i was able to find a small cave just a bit off the path to camp in. after i set up a fire and my sleeping bag, I pulled out my home made super and dig in. I love cooking my mother taught me, she always said "The fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach!" Everyone loved her cooking, said it was exotic. When I asked Mom what that meant she told me how she was from a far far away land across the sea even. An island called Drache Pit! She told me she was forced to flee because her kingdom was invaded by off landeders. That they tricked the Queen into thinking they wanted peace and when they all sat to eat together the general killed the Queen and took over.

After remembering that horrible story, that my mother had to many details not to has witnessed the murder of the Queen, (with a pained look in her eyes i never understood) i wanted to cheer myself up so i thought I'd open my gifts from my friends. "Oh I love the koki family!" they all made me food for my trip! and the note say the should keep for 2 months!! I also got some travel cooking supplies and medical supplies.*Guess dad made bank because of me no wonder he was to happy this week*

Some of the children made me beaded necklaces in school and my friend Surah made me beaded hair pieces witch i put in right away. I weved one through both my bangs there about 2 inches and at the bottom one golded pearl hung on each. Those must have cast a pretty penny. The beads are 4 black 3 gray with what i know are protection runes in gold that matches my eyes and 4 more black. *There beautiful thank you Rah* The old man gifted me a sword for my mother's Homeland…

See he was one of the invaders, who saved my mother from the same fate and the Queen when she was a little girl. He ran with her and abandoned his own people and raised her. Hes kinda like an uncal to me, but he dosen't talk much. After packing everything up i went to sleep.

~One Month Latter~

Me and Kashi are in the middle of the woods walking on a path way. At the town, we past through two days ago, an old man told me the next town down this path is called Simarie. He said "It'd take yah about two and a hafe days ta get d'ere! But theres plenty of bandits in those woods so keep yer eyes wide open and don't talk ta strangers!" I giggled to myself at the memory of the silly, short, old man! *Yes I giggle sometimes.*

As I'm ridding Kashi I here a moan of pain. I grab my sword from the sheath on my back and get off Kashi. "Stay boy" I said quietly and walked towards the sound. He's a smart breed and only listen to me and my mom. Well just me know. I only had to walk a few feet before I saw a man unconscious. I put my sword away and neeled next to him. *He's badly injured.*

I went back to Kashi and brought him to were the man was laying. I grabbed my first aid kit and tended to his injures. "I hope your not a bandit." I said to the unconscious man as I wrap his wounds, healing what I could with my magic.

As I was finishing I noticed it was getting dark so I took Kashi to a tree near a nice patch of long wild muta grass, for him to munch on, and made a camp! After that was done I lade down feel asleep next to the man.

~Early next Morning~

I felt something move beside me as I start to wake up. At first I didn't think any thing of it, then I remembered *The man from the night before*. I opened my eyes and saw the man standing in front of me looking down at me. I finally get a chance to really look at him now that theres more light. He has long black hair up in a ponytail and black eyes that look pools of loneliness, i noticed all the bandages I put on him last night we're off him and laying at his feet.

*All his wounds are heeled? My magic is not thay good...*

"These are dangerous woods! You shouldn't be sleeping in them let alone stopping to help someone who is wounded! Its a good way to get yourself killed!" He said with no expression on his face. "Your welcome!" I said sarcastically, "And I can handle myself!" I started to get up and put my stuff away. *It don't seem like I'm in danger for now* I didn't want to ask about his wounds. *He probably don't want to tell me anyway*.

"Besides I'm to nice to just walk away from someone who is that badly wounded!" I said then looked at him trying to look for any sine of what might have happened to his wounds. "Then you wont last long in this world your heading in to." he replied and looked away about to walk away. "Hey!" I said and he stopped and looked at me, "Do you know where Simarie is?" He points to the east, "Can you show me the way? It seems your heading that way"

*I don't know why I just asked that I can easily find my way on my own, I guess I'm just curious about him. He looks like hes thinking of a way to say no, it wouldn't be that heard to just say he was not heading that way after all, I wonder want hes thinking about?*

"I can, but only to the gates!" He said and I was surprised. I graved Kashi's reins and decided to walk next to the man in stead of ride Kashi. "My name is Haku!" I said. "Ichiro." Is all he said. We keep walking in silence. "So where you heading Ichiro?" I asked looking over to him. He was looking to the ground two feet in front of him feet, now that I look at him I notice his eyes! *His eyes there red now?* "Its not nice to stare at people!" said Ichiro. "Oh I ah... I'm sorry..." *How did he know I was looking at him he never even looked up! Hes kinda hansoms... never mind stupid thought. He didn't answer me*

"Are you hungry?" I asked. "Don't be concerned about me!" He replies. "Why not?" I replied. He didn't reply. "Fine whatever then! How far tell me reach Simarie?" I asked. *Jerk*

"A day and a hafe." he replied. "WHAT? But the old man said it'd take about two and a hafe days and its been three days!" I said. "Well then your old man was misinformed what town was he from?" he asked. "Umm I think it was call Misupo?" I say. "Misopo!? Misopo is a four day ride to Simarie!" he said. "Ah man." I said and look to Kashi, "Remind me never to ask old people for directions again boy!" Kashi naaa'd and I laft. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Ichiro watching me talk to my horse, but as I noticed he looked away, so I ignored it.

it.