Strays: A Romantic Fantasy Adventure

Sakura was kicking everyone from the tent as the first sliver of light came over the horizon, having barely slept all night. Ivy and Zero rose slowly at the demon’s relentless pestering, mourning the loss of sleep. Ren rolled from the tent ready to go, having rested just as much as Sakura. The majority of the night had been spent with the two of them alternating whispering to the other to go to sleep, neither able to comply.

The woman’s footsteps started the journey strong, determined, ready to face anything in front of her. But as the sun rose further into the sky, they began to slow and lose their confidence until she was straggling well behind the group. Without a word, the angel stopped to crouched down in front of her and she collapsed onto his back without hesitance, wrapping herself tightly around him the way she had done so many times in the past. He continued on while she buried her face against his neck and finally drifted off to sleep.

When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a sea of endless bamboo on either side of her, the tall stalks reaching towards the sky and only allowing glimpses of light to stream across the path. She closed them again, willing the pit in her stomach away. It sat heavy, unwilling to budge, leaving her no choice but to carry it with her. She pushed from the angel’s back, landing on the ground, and walked next to him.

Ren looked down at her, giving the fox a small smile. “Never too late to turn around.”

“I never back down.” Sakura attempted to smirk before looking to her other side as Ivy linked their arms tightly together.

The girl made a fist with her free hand, showing it off proudly. “I’ll do it. I’m not scared.”

The demon smiled softly at the offer, and pecked the top of the girl’s head. “I know you will. You’re a vicious thing. No one in their right mind would mess with you. That’s why I always make sure to stay on your good side.”

The bamboo seemed to go on forever, creeping closer to the road and narrowing the field of vision before and behind them. The sun was well into it’s descent by the time they could see the clearing past the bamboo. They had arrived when Ren had said they would.

Sakura could hear the voices long before she could see the village, her dread increasing with the volume. It would be so much easier to run, just like she did all those years ago. No one would blame her. They would all turn and follow, and she could continue to avoid what she had already once escaped from.

But they had already come this far.

“Just got to get through,” she said quietly, not realizing that the words had escaped from her mouth.

They broke free from the bamboo, the den now in their sights. It was almost exactly as the woman had remembered, mostly small homes with thatched roofs and raised floors, a few larger homes belonging the den’s current and former alphas, the dirt path turning to stone, multiple large plots for crops throughout. But now the grass was green, there were flowers, thriving trees, and the crops were flourishing. She could hear the rushing stream. See the blooming waterlilies in the pond.

The group made it closer to the village, the children running around screaming and playing, women carrying baskets in their arms and babies on their backs, men with shovels and hoes and pushing carts, some with katanas at their hips. The den was used to travelers passing through, hardly giving any of them a sideways glance as they went about their day.

But everyone stopped, their voices silent, their gazes following the fox that had left the den.

There wasn’t so much as a whisper.

The demon closed her eyes, squeezing Ivy’s arm a little tighter, allowing the girl to guide her forward.

The silence made everything worse.

It made the memories so much louder.

But it wouldn’t last for long.

They just had to keep walking.

Just walk.

Just walk.

Just…

“Keiko?”

Sakura froze at the name that she hadn’t heard in so long, her breath lodging painfully in her chest.

Run.

Run.

Why couldn’t she just run?

She turned around, releasing the girl’s arm, and opened her eyes to look at the old woman walking towards her. Her long silver hair was held in a thick braid, her ears and tail the same shining color. Time had etched itself deeper and relentlessly into her skin, but Sakura was still familiar with the warm gold eyes that stared in shock at her.

“I thought you were a ghost,” the woman muttered, unsure of herself as her hands reached up and cupped the demon’s face, proving that she was really there. “But you’ve come back, Sakura. After all these years, you’ve come home. You’ve gotten so big. So beautiful, just like your mother. I was certain you were her. But those eyes... Do you remember me?”

That calming voice and gentle hands, the only ones that ever offered her anything. “Akiko,” she croaked.

Akiko twisted her body towards those still staring and waved them off. “Go! Quit your gawking and leave the girl be.” She turned back at the younger fox. “Where have you been, child?”

Her inquisitive gaze was too much, and Sakura had to look away but managed to reach out to Ren, her fingers pulling at his shirt, pleading for help.

“Hollis,” he told the woman. “In the Northern Mountains.”

She looked at him and shook her head in disbelief. “There’s no way. That’s a two-week trek.”

“Three,” Ren corrected.

“How? She was only five when she left. Just a tiny thing and half starved.”

“She walked and snuck onto wagons when she could. Stole food. Though I’m not sure how long she was on the road for, and she didn’t know. There wasn’t much to her when I found her.”

Akiko observed the man closely, his long limbs, blue eyes, and fine features. She looked back at Sakura, noticing the black feather etched across her shoulder. “Have you been with this angel this whole time?”

She nodded; her head lowered.

“Has he been good to you?”

She looked up, emerald against gold. “He has.”

The woman smiled, relieved. “I’m so happy to hear that. I’m sure you’re just passing through, but your house is still the way it was when you left. I’ve gone in a few times to tidy up over the years…” She hesitated. “But other than that, it’s been left untouched. You four can rest there. If you want. If you do, I’ll come to see you later on when I can, but I have to attend to a birth so I have to go now. Do whatever you need, but I do hope to see you.” Akiko wrapped her arms around the younger and taller fox before releasing her and hurrying off further into the village.

Sakura stood there, staring off into the distance where Akiko had gone. Her mind was foggy and the undecipherable noise continued to get louder. Something pulled her against a solid form and enclosed around her, the feeling warm, familiar, and safe.

“What do you want to do?” The voice she knew the best commanding her attention.

The vixen rested her chin on the angel’s chest as she peered up at him and he down at her.

She should run.

Run and never look back.

“I want to see my old home,” she said quietly.

Ren smiled, carefully encouraging. “We can do that.”

Sakura pulled away, and slowly led them off of the path and towards the edge of the village to a home that had been noticeably neglected. She stepped up onto the veranda and placed her hands on the door.

She could still run.

It wasn’t too late.

A larger hand covered her own and she looked up at Ren.

“Should we run?” he offered.

She shook her head and slid the door open, the smell of must and dirt and loneliness filling her nose. She stepped in, looking at the small kitchen and dining area with its low table. The living area still had the two futons folded and pushed into the corner the way her father had left them when he still had the ability to tuck them away.

One for her.

One for her parents.

She walked into the kitchen, the pots and dishes still on the counter, filthy after years of being forgotten.

“I need to clean,” her voice barely audible.

Ren grabbed a bucket that sat near the door and left without a word. Ivy grabbed the broom against the wall near the table and handed it to Zero. She found a few rags, handing one to the fox, and they began to dust. When the angel returned, he set the bucket of water on the floor in the kitchen for Ivy to claim, and grabbed the futons, taking them outside.

Sakura carefully made her way through the small home, settling on wiping down a long, cedar chest. In a daze, she wiped the rag along its length, clearing it of all the dust that had tried to claim it. Her fingers went to its silver latch, a motion that had once been second nature. She pulled it and lifted the top open, the scent of stagnant, unworn cloth emanating from its abandoned contents. There was a katana strapped to the inside of the lid and the chest was separated into three sections.

One for her.

One for Mama.

One for Papa.

She ran her hand over the different fabrics before clutching and lifting her mother’s dress, the skirt billowing to the floor. Light blue. Capped sleeves. Soft.

The dress that had been her mother’s favorite.

The dress she had collapsed in.

Her father scrubbing it clean in a frenzy, his eyes frantic and hands trembling.

She’ll be okay.

She’ll need it when she gets back.

She’ll be okay.

But she never came back.

And neither did he.

All of the whispers.

Growing louder.

And louder.

Reminding her of just whose fault it was.

Who did that to them.

To everyone.

Sakura heard screaming.

Loud and desperate and pathetic.

Someone should help that poor woman.

And everything went black.

Ivy dropped the bowl she had been cleaning, the ceramic shattering to pieces on the floor. She had never seen the demon in such a way, and she panicked as she watched the woman clutch at her ears as a sorrowful yowl spilled from her lips. The girl looked to Zero, hoping for some idea of what to do, but found him frozen and as lost as she was.

What had the woman always done for her?

Should she do that?

Ivy took a step towards her, her own body shaking. What should she do? How could she fix this?

“Don’t worry. She’ll be okay. Just gotta let her ride it out.” Ren strode past the girl, going to the floor and gathering Sakura against him. He crushed her body tightly as she wailed and fought against him, his lips calmly whispering in her ear.