Horrific Past of Kou's Life - Part 01

The citizens of the Town Hatly continued to pass through the streets with barrels of water held above their heads. They were looking at each other, smiling and enjoying their everyday work.

"Hey, grandfather Jiwan. Are you sure that this will be enough water for a month? I hope it will because I really don't wish to go back to the Shautara Island."

"Worry not, Kyou. This should be more than enough water for two months at the minimum. Unless you're planning to abuse it for showering every day. If it happens, then we'll just have to go grab some more."

"Then I'm definitely not using it to wash myself."

"Sparing the water is not that important if I may say so. Shautara Island has enough water for this entire town. It has more than enough water for centuries. So, worry not."

"It's not that I'm worried about sparing it, not at all. I'm just not comfortable constantly visiting Shautara. Those Hornhogs are creepy."

"Aw, those Hornhogs shouldn't attack unless you wake them up. Why are you so scared of them? They won't hurt you."

"They're weird..."

"Ahh, I see. So you're scared of some horns."

"Those horns bulge out from their mouth! That's way too creepy! I wouldn't mind if it were like bulls, but that's just too much to take in."

"You're such a coward at times, but that's why I'm here for you. By the way, your parents are returning tomorrow morning, so make sure to be an early bird and greet them like you wanted to do for two years."

"Really?! Tomorrow?! Awesome! I'll finally be able to see my parents, and sister! Come, hurry up, geezer! We've gotta get ready for tomorrow!"

Kou reached for Jiwan's arm and dragged him behind. Both of them laughed in sync and ran through the street through which others looked at them, happily.

"Hey, slow down a little! These old feet can't keep me steady for long, haha!"

"Then I suppose you'll have to work out more, hahaha!"

"Oh, you little baby!"

"I'm not a BABY! I'm a man!"

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Kou began preparing a feast for his parents, who were about to return to the Golden Wasakona, with the help of his grandfather. They prepared fresh Hornhog meat purchased from a hunter near the Hatly's center, along with fresh lettuce gathered near Shautara Island, the Golden Wasakona's only grassy terrain, and some fresh water collected during the day's hunt.

As the hours passed and the sky began to darken, Kou swiftly made the decision to go outside and play with his friends, who were normally gathering at the playground a few meters from his home.

Kou hastily grabbed the football and dashed into the door in his uniform, raised his arms and waving to his grandfather.

"Okay, geezer! I'll be going out to play! I promise I'll be home by nine! See you!"

"Good bye, Kou. Don't be late! Make sure to keep your promise!"

"You got it!"

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A pirate ship continued to sail through a thunderstorm somewhere in the Vast Expanse, with multiple pirates preparing to visit the Golden Wasakona, which was still a couple of hours away.

"Captain Jawjack. We're getting close to the Golden Wasakona. We'll be able to get food and water in the nearest town, which is reported to be Hatly. Many folks go out into the wild to gather food and water."

"Ha, Ha, Ha! Then raiding the village will be extremely professional! All of those poor people toiling away for a meal! It'll be fantastic to sabotage their everyday "party."

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It had been two hours since Kou had reached his football-playing mates for some fun and relaxation. With his pals cheered him on, one of his friends managed to play another friend out and go forward, where Kou swiftly sprinted forward and snatched the ball between the attacker's feet. He dashed through a few and then pulled his leg back and kicked forward once he had gained enough distance. Everyone on Kou's squad raised their arms and smiled as the ball was sent through the air and into the goal.

"You did it! We won!"

With an ashamed attitude, the opposition team hurriedly went to pick up the ball, then grinned back and congratulated Kou's team on their victory.

"Guess we lost..."

"Great job, Kou. That last shot was great! We won because of you!"

"Yeah, we should do this again, but next time let's switch teams!"

"Yes, that would be fantastic. Anyway, I've got to get home. My grandfather is expecting me at home, and I promised him I'd be there by nine o'clock. In addition, I'd like to get some rest before my family returns from their trip to Karumori Country tomorrow."

"Karumori Country? That's where they were?! That's awesome! Present were a lot of fantastic samurais and ninjas there, according to what I've heard! They must be quite fortunate to have the opportunity to visit such a lovely and interesting island!"

"Mhm! I'm certain that they'll bring back some photos! So, I promise I'll show them to you the moment we meet again!"

"Yeah! Please do! I hope they'll have some photos of samurais and ninjas! I want to see them!"

"Well! I gotta go! See you!"

"Bye, Kou! See you tomorrow!"

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Kou returned home a few minutes before nine and quickly entered his house, calling for his grandfather who happily greeted him back. He put the ball to the side and ran into the kitchen for the dinner.

"Hey! I'm back home!"

"How wonderful, Kou. You came home sooner than usually."

"Y-Yeah! I had to get back home since we were having so much fun! Didn't I say I'd be back by nine o'clock? In any case, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow! I'm looking forward to seeing my father, mother, and sister! I'd been wanting to speak with them for a long time!"

"Then eat the dinner and hurry up to the bed."

"Yeah! Sure, I'll do so! But first, I need to take a shower since I've been quite worn out from the running around the playground."

"Be careful! Don't use too much water!"

"I will!"

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Upon washing himself and dinning, Kou ran into his room for a good night sleep and for one last time looked at his parent's photos that were put aside on the shelf. He smiled at them with tears in his eyes.

"Mom. Dad. Sis, I'm so happy to finally see you again. When you arrive tomorrow, I'll make sure to inform you about the two years we were apart. We've been having so much fun with my old geezer since you departed. We went fishing and then tried to catch! We took a short cruise on the ship, stopping at Oxfell Arton and Havertona! Oh, my goodness, I almost forgot! He even brought me surfing on a Shore Shark's back! I even tumbled off one and got caught in the sand because it was so much fun! It was amusing! Oh, but I should probably save that for tomorrow, huh? See you in the morning! Good night..."

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"I didn't really know much about Kou back then, since I never met him before. But the next morning as his parents arrived home, the day wasn't as happy as he expected it to be."

Tim and the rest of his friends listened carefully in their seats as they appeared to be curious about the reason of why Kou hated pirates.

"Two years without his parents? He must've missed them."

"Yes, but not even after they rejoined. Finally, the pirates began an attack. Because, since he was a child, he has revered and worshipped all pirates as if they were gods. He adored them and regarded them as a bunch of individuals embarking on a voyage across the sea, something he had aspired to achieve since that year. That changed abruptly, though, when pirates stormed the settlement on the same day his parents returned..."

"The next morning. The thunderstorm came to rule over the Golden Wasakona which is extremely rare occurrence in such dry places as this."

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Both excited and prepared to visit their family and parents, Kou and his grandfather waited outside the town's gate. Despite the thunderstorm, Kou remained cheerful, and after the sun rose, a large gathering of people began to flock to him. His mother, father, and sister were in the middle of the crowd, dressed in their hometown garb.

"Look! There they are! Mom, dad and my sister!"

"Hey! Mom! Dad! Kara!"

From the distance the returning citizens smiled and Kou's parents quickly waved back at him. Kou ran at them with full speed not stopping, his grandfather slowly moving behind.

"Kou! I'm so happy to see you my son!"

His mother, father and sister all ran toward him as well and once they came closer they hugged each other with happiness, with slight tears slipping down their eyes.

"I'm so happy to see you! I waited for this day so long! I have so much to tell you!"

"Oh, really? How curious, I am. I see you've grown up quite a lot ever since the two years of when we left you and your grandfather alone."

"I sure did! Hey, I need to know! How was your journey across the Vast Expanse! I've been waiting to hear your adventures for so long! Have you gotten any pictures?!"

"Okay, Kou. Slow down. Breathe, haha. We'll tell you everything that happened at home. We don't want to be soaked for too long in this weather."

"Okay! I hope Kara had good time too!"

"I sure did! Everything was so nice! There were so many animals that I managed to ride and pet! It was the best adventure of my life!"

"Let's go home. We'll share everything the moment we get inside..."