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Ku’Aya

Ehud’s words had been so kind, and his hand so warm and comforting. I really didn’t care about that man on the screen anymore. If I ever saw him again, I’d probably gut him in an instant, but…

I never cared about what other people thought of me anyway, so why should this matter? So what if everyone knew now. Like Ami said… didn’t change nothing.

Or so the thoughts ran through my head. But then, why was I still cradled in Abirami’s arms?

It was just too easy not to think. Too comfortable to leave the restful strength of his arms. My head shifted against his broad chest, and I wondered if that was what it felt like to be held by a father.

Ehud’s video played in the background, and I paid little mind to it till it neared the end. Not that I ignored it – just that it played in the back of my attention, like an automatic motion when doing chores.

The shiny ring flickered in his fingers as the screen went blank. A few gasped, and my eyes wandered around the room, hoping to glare heavily at whoever it was should I chance to spot them.

Anyone who thought Ehud was at fault for his stupid parents had rocks in their heads, far as I was concerned.

But Ehud’s shoulders was shaking as he sat in crumbled fashion before me, his fingers scratching, arms twitching and flailing about his head as his tears dropped from his hood-covered head and fell upon his knees.

Rolling out of Abirami’s arms, I turned on my knees and placed a hand on Ehud’s shoulder. He looked up, the shadow of his hood encapsulating his teary face.

How can he be so cute even when crying?

I swallowed… harder than intended. *cough, cough*

“You know you’re not at fault for any of that, right?” I asked. He just tilted his head ever so slightly to the side.

By the Maker! So cute.

I looked away. “Because it’s not… your fault, I mean. It’s not your fault.”

“But-”

Ehud babbled on, but I couldn’t bear it.

“Ugh. Just trust me, okay? It ain’t your fault your stupid mother left you behind and it ain’t your fault your stupid father was-”

“Ku’Aya!” Abirami interrupted me.

I glanced his way.

Great. His hands were on his hips and he stared at me with that stupid big-eyed incredulous look on his face. Made him look angry and confused at the same time. Not his most becoming of looks.

“What?” I challenged. “Lots of parents’r like that, and you know it.” I turned back to Ehud, who seemed more hurt now than sad. Great. Now I’m the bad guy again.

“Look, parents are nothing more than grown children. Age doesn’t mean they know any more than you or me, just makes ’em stupid.” I glanced back at Abirami. “Well, some of them, at least.”

I grabbed Ehud by the shoulders. “Adults are just as selfish and stupid as we are, Ehud. You can’t take the blame for someone else’s choices. It’ll only chain you down and make you miserable. It won’t fill your belly or help you survive a harsh night. And it won’t ever answer that nagging question.

“What question?” Ehud asked.

I turned my back, but then turned again to escape Abirami’s gaze. Walking a few paces, I stopped and sighed. “You know what question.”

Ehud’s voice was soft and low, like a talking whisper. “Why did she-”

“Why.” I agreed. Still, I couldn’t help my muscles from stiffening. Why did she abandon him? Why did they abandon me? Stupid, nagging, impossible questions… get out of my head!

A commotion on the other side of the room rose to a ruckus and then, with a flash, a man stood before metal bucket head. I would say his clothes were intricate and lavish, but… it almost looked like they were carved out of some larger structure… and even though his visage was clearly that of man, his skin gleaming in the light, he too looked as if he had been carved by some master craftsman.

His chest was wide and his shoulder pads rose like a wave on each side. His vest was of burgundy red with a golden chain going from the small of his vest pocket up to the inside of his coat, which was cut short at the waist in front and fell down to the his knees in the back – cut in two like the tail of a swallow.

His top hat was angled upon his head with a feather billowing with each wisp that passed its way. His eyes were dark brown, almost to a default of black, making his penetrating gaze all the more imposing from within his deep-set eyes, thick eyebrows, and strong chiseled chin.

His pants billowed near his feet, which ended with a set of staunch boots of charcoal black. One hand was on the hilt of his sword hung within its scabbard, which nearly met the sole of his boots as it swung loose upon his belt.

His voice was deep and booming. Something about it… it reverberated and echoed, seemingly from and within the walls themselves.

Tin man lunged at wooden butler and began to fight.

Bleh. Boring. Just hoped Abirami wouldn’t get caught up in it. Cause then I would probably be dragged into it too. Such a bother. Plus, Ehud was probably seeing me as some heartless, insensitive, blunt prick. I didn’t know how to reverse that, but I knew I wanted to try…

Gah, they were so loud over there.

A square paper-like apparatus appeared in front of me. Confused, I held my hand out, but my hand passed safely through it. I looked left and right, then up and down. The page stayed centered within my vision.

“What the-” I could hear from around the room.

Writing on the page was a title followed by a simple question.

Boss Event: Lord Castle

Will you participate?

YES                            NO

There were thin lines creating boxes around the “Yes” and “No” on the page.

Was the wooden stud over there Lord Castle?

“What is this?” someone asked. “An RPG?”

A nervous chuckle came from a few of them.

“MMORPG may be a more apt description here, no?” another said.

What were they talking about?

Forget it. If that really was Lord Castle, I wasn’t about to let this opportunity slide. Raising my hands, I sent my hive after him.

Lord Castle, let’s see how you like termites. And if you aren’t made of wood, then perhaps bullet ants.

The swarm, like a dark cloud, billowed forth from behind me and shot towards the castle-man just as tinsel-town in a suit lunged toward him once more with his sword.

The box that said “Yes” pressed in, as if it was a button, then turned green. The page disappeared.

Good riddance. Now, focus.

Castle- …. Bob. Lord Castle is just too formal, too long, and too cool sounding. I’m gonna call him Bob. And metal man is Frank. There.

Bob suddenly had a hostage in his arms as Frank began his downward swing. (Yes, Frank is Saevus… teehee)

Curses. Ami was sure to intervene now. Blast it all.

My swarm covered Bob and Frank – my fire-beetles pinning down Frank as my mites and ticks on the back of silver ants found there way into the creases of his armor. Ticks were so slow, after all. They’d get no where if they didn’t hitch a ride on my silver ants – the quickest of my non-flying insects.  (Saharan silver ants can run at about 200 meters a second!)

Same time, my termites hit Bob and swarmed around him, focusing on his hands. Simultaneously, I let my swarm know to let Abirami through, and not a second too soon, for Abirami plunged into my swarm, rushing in as a wolf. My hive opened a way for him, and he followed it, right to the hostage. With a single lunge, He stole the man from Bob’s grip and ran the man out of danger’s way.

Abirami transformed out and then back into an Aemirok, standing at the ready.

No, not gonna let you hog the fun this time.

I pressed my arms forward and sent more of my hive, increasing the pressure and pressing the attack.

Bob was mine.