2 Up Ahead!

Jiku examined Asari from head to toe. She looked just about his age. She had short hair that fell just below her ears. There was something refreshing in her eyes and in her smile. She looked like an unbroken spirit of adventure; a deep well of curiosity. She wore a gray hooded dress, long enough to cover her ankles. He noticed that she was barefoot. A loud growl (obviously from Asari's stomach) interrupted Jiku's train of thought.

"Food… We could get some from where I live," Jiku said. "Or you could have a fruit of this karahiro-"

"Oh! Oh! The fruit of the asari tree!" Asari interrupted.

"Y-yes, as you wish, the asari tree. Tell me about the clouds, where you came from." Jiku turned as he started to climb the tree.

"Do you know about clouders, Jiku?" Asari asked.

"No," Jiku said as he stretched out his hand to reach for the fruit.

"Well, that's a pity. Clouders guard the skies and manage the clouds and the rain. Wait, you don't know about clouders? Haven't heard about us? Not even in legends?"

"No, really, no. Am I supposed to know about them?"

"Sure! Actually, I am-" Asari stopped in mid-sentence and covered her mouth. She took the fruit from Jiku's hand and took a bite.

"Oooh, this is good," she said. "Well, Jiku, you seem like a good kid. First, you let me land on you from the sky, and then you agree to my tree-naming, and then you got a fruit for me. Those seem like pretty good deeds."

"Heh, those are nothing," Jiku said, looking cool.

Asari looked at Jiku and continued, "I guess I can't show you the cloud kingdom after all, since this has cost you nothing."

"Who believes this cloud kingdom, anyway. You might have just climbed the tree on a higher branch before I did," Jiku said as he pretentiously turned to walk away.

"No way you actually believe that!" Asari exclaimed.

Jiku shook his head. "Look, little girl, I've actually got training today, and I never come late or skip class. So I have to go. It was weird to meet you."

"No, no, no, no! Don't go. Come. Come, Jiku. Hold my hand," Asari said, excited as she held out her hand to Jiku.

Jiku stared at Asari with a suspicious look and slowly approached her. Her face was so enthusiastic, it made him smile. He walked towards her, held out his hand and touched hers. Before Jiku could say a word, Asari ran towards the nearby stream, dragging Jiku behind. Jiku wanted to complain about rocks and bruises, not because these mattered to him, but he worried about Asari going on barefooted. However, he felt slightly dizzy, looking at the back of Asari's head, her hair in a fancy disarray swinging left and right. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the cool wind as he ran to match Asari's pace. "How could she run this quickly?" he said to himself. Soon enough, he felt the ticklish waters from the fresh-looking stream, only to realize – it wasn't the stream he actually felt.

There was no splash, no sound, no little waves against the ground. But there was sea and sky. They were flying, riding on a cloud, damp and smooth like the purest kind of drizzle. It was cold. Jiku felt quite cold, but Asari's hand was warm. And so were her eyes, looking both kind and happy.

Jiku was speechless. He wanted to ask many questions but he couldn't speak. He was lifted higher and higher towards the sky. The asari tree that once looked so imposing was now quite small, and the houses and the farms were like patches of textured cloths spread across linen. He got farther and farther away, so that he could see everything, yet recognize nothing.

Asari chuckled, "That's no fun Jiku. You're looking below. Look up ahead!"

Jiku saw clouds like he never did before. They were moving and changing quickly. He was unsure what to call the clouds – they seemed full of character, sharing the same enthusiasm which Asari had. He saw a winged horse, a gentle tiger, a phoenix, a mermaid and a dragon which he and Asari quickly passed by. Asari dragged him along to approach a cloud that looked more like a tornado. He thought it would blow them away, but it took them in and before he knew it, they landed on the asari tree from where they came from.

"What a joyful ride! And a perfect landing, too!" Asari exclaimed, dusting off her clothes, proud of her perfect landing.

"Wait, that's it?" Jiku asked, astounded.

"What do you mean that's it?" Asari said, widening up her eyes.

"Well that can't be all of it," Jiku said.

"Of course, that's not all of it. I can only show you a glimpse of it. The tip of the iceberg, as they say. I mean, we can't go touring the entire kingdom, really. I mean we were able to see some of it because we passed through the southern gate, whose guardian is the southern dog, who I know is always slee---- Never mind! That's all we can do for now," Asari said, obviously stopping herself from saying more.

"Wow, so there really is a cloud kingdom," Jiku said thoughtfully.

"Um, I'd say that's a bit of a delayed reaction but you're welcome… Oh no, I don't believe it! It's almost time!

"Time for what?"

"Time for me to go. I can't stay very long on land or in water. I belong in the sky."

"You're leaving?" Jiku asked sadly.

"Yes, but I'll come back. I'll come back for you… After less than 2,000 days!"

"What? Are you kidding me? I'd be old!"

"I know! Isn't that great? But do wait for me, Jiku. We are friends after all. I'll try to see if I could seek you from up above from time to time. The prettiest cloud you see – that should be me!"

"You'll be back after five years, you're sure of it?

As Asari enthusiastically answer yes, she begins to fade and turn into a cloud. Jiku tried to touch her shoulder, as if to stop her from leaving, but she could only feel cold air as Asari disappeared from his sight.