Akuno×Reno. Part |

Chapter 15

'The smile I once had, sometimes wonder where it's gone?'

'Could there be an end to the bottomless agony I feel inside?'

-A sad young man.

'No fair Akuno!! I wanna come too!!' A much younger Reno, Six to be exact. 'Sorry Ren, but those are the rules' Akuno told him. 'You're no fun when you stick to the rules!' Reno screamed as he ran to his room.

'Akuno never lets me come on missions, big jerk! I'm never talking to him again!' Akuno left to find his brother, using the stairs. On his way monarchs, kings and stewards of the highest ranks passed by him, they greeted him with respect, some even shuddering in his sight, a fifteen-year-old red-haired king. Despite his age, he surpassed the level of a monarch, gaining him a bad reputation amongst his peers despite his innocent demeanour.

He was a well-mannered young man, seeking perfection in everything, his hair was always well-combed, his teeth as white as stars making a spectacular smile, and his ruby red talisman which complimented his jade eyes brilliantly placed on his handsome face, always wearing black gloves that concealed a dark secret.

He let out a tired sigh, exhausted. 'Where'd he go this time?' he asked himself aloud. A black-haired girl came by him; she was reading a book not even noticing him.

'Hey, Luna do you know where Reno is?' he asked as he stopped her by the hand grabbing her book.

'Give me that!' she yelled at him taking back her book, 'Where else would that baby be except his room'. She parted her bangs so she could see better, revealing her charming little face with freckles decorating her pale creamy skin like snow.

They argued playfully, back and forth after bantering, as they always would, after all, they were siblings.

'Aren't you supposed to be out of here by now? Or were you already sent back' she asked indifferently.

'Reno wanted to come too...' looking downwards, saddened ignoring her witty comment. She noticed her brother's gloomy look. It somewhat concerned her. She could have consoled him, but that wasn't who Lisa Woo was.

Instead, she walked away coldly.

Akuno looked out, to the sun going down, and in the vibrant orange sunlight, his crimson hair looked even more exquisite, staring at the glassy sky above him while the wind swayed his hair around fervently, deep in thought. He looked...

...Sad.

At age 15, Akuno Woo set out overseas to a distant land on a large scale monster subjugation mission. Reno wasn't too sad about the fact that his brother was going on missions before him, but it was that he would hardly ever see his brother again.

It wasn't easy for Akuno to break the news to him; the two of them had an unbreakable bond. Akuno did whatever he could to be with his brother, and Reno spent all his time laughing with his brother, in many ways Akuno was his hero.

The two especially loved to watch the rain, listening to the violent sounds of falling water as music the dark clouds and lightning as their theatre and after it the soothing smell of petrichor to relax them, sometimes with their father when he had the time. Akuno would always make fun of Reno's messy black hair and would always stick a small wooden comb in it, a habit he had that Reno valued.

But now, Akuno stood on a boat heading out to sea and Reno at the dock, as the distance between them grew larger, so did the hole in their hearts, Reno reached out his little arm trying to touch him even though he knew it was impossible. That night the clouds gathered, but the smell of petrichor was not there to soothe them.

All they had were fond memories growing heavier in their hearts, Akuno sighed in his ship bunk looking at his black gloves on his hand, and Reno stayed silent on his bed without uttering a word.

Six months later, Reno heard from his brother finally, he sent a letter, it was red and the stamp was from a country Reno didn't recognize. He hurried with it to his room and opened it eagerly, he struggled a little trying to understand Akuno's complex handwriting, and then Luna came by. 'What do you want?' Reno asked still struggling with the letter.

'He's my brother too, hand it over' She said to him rudely, Reno hesitantly gave her the letter confident she wouldn't understand it either. She took the letter from him and frowned, 'it's upside down you dolt!'.

She gently sat next to him on his bed, He looked at her and noticed how tall his older sister was compared to him and with her good looks and intelligence she could be called a princess and Akuno would be the prince.

Luna read the letter to herself first, she smiled briefly after analyzing its contents, then read it aloud to Reno.

"Dear Ren and Luna, it's been a while since I've spoken with you, there's no cell service on the island and the situation's getting a little worse but I'm still needed here. I'll be home in a few months; I miss you all and can't wait to see you".

Akuno's soft short letter left tears in his sibling's eyes, Reno screamed 'yes!' in excitement. Luna held the letter close to her chest, she couldn't hold back her joy.

Lisa left immediately to inform her father who was in a leisurely meeting with the Gaiden, she burst in with a big smile, King Raphael looked worried, it was rare to see his daughter smile so visibly.

Before she even took another step in she began 'Father! Akuno, he-he's coming back!! In just a few months! Can you believe it! Just a few months and-

'Of course, I know darling. I knew for a while, I was hoping to surprise you. We're having an event to celebrate him and the other kings who will be returning'.

Luna's excitement died down a little, she realized she was in the presence of the mighty Gaiden, she comported herself. After that she was allowed to leave, she left and told Reno, holding back her excitement.

She passed her mother's room and wondered whether to tell her. Their mother was a timid woman who always stayed in her room, she got nervous easily, making it hard to raise her children or even talk to them. But she had faith in the one she was confident enough to raise herself, and that was Akuno.

However, since Akuno was born, he was cursed. Anything he would touch would instantly wilt hence his black gloves, she always felt guilty for giving birth to him with such a flaw. And as it affected him later in life, he was unable to make friends or interact normally with most people, she shut herself out of his life, Raphael tried for years to help her, but at a point he just accepted it. That's how she is.

Luna was born two years after Akuno, she inherited some of her mother's traits, she couldn't express herself fluently making her come off as cold, harsh rude and at times arrogant.

Luna left notifying her mother to her father, she and Reno waited impatiently for Akuno's return.

The day finally came, at the port, a large white ship docked. Their father was with them wearing a captains hat and a pair of shades which looked nice with his white beard.

The passengers all came down, anyone would be scared by just feeling the immense power coming from a ship filled with kings. Their families went out to greet them and welcomed them with warm smiles. But some didn't return. Luna feared her brother didn't make it and showed visible sadness.

Reno held her hand and assured her 'Don't worry Luna! Big bro is strong!'

The ship unloaded and set off again, but his faith didn't waver he still believed that his brother was coming.