Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 10][END]

A huge amount of water lifted from the stream and struck Suzaku. He, with an intense flame, made carelessly the water evaporate “and what was this?”. The time to look up that he found Shizuku a few inches away from himself. She hugged him tightly leaving no freedom of movement. He struggled , hitting her several times at the hips and arms “what are you going to do?”. Her skin and her hair began to burn at the contact with Suzaku’s body but she remained attached to him. Eiji in a panic tried to approach the two but a huge wall of water was blocking the passage so he took a sharp breath and tried to cross it. Meanwhile, Shizuku called all the water in the stream, the moisture in the air and the trees, she focused all of herself using every drop possible. She felt her body losing strength but she was more than willing to not give up. Suzaku was immobilized, he screamed searching for every way to free himself. The water seeped into his skin, eyes, preventing him from breathing. Shizuku smiled, turned her head slightly toward the stream to make sure that her loved one was safe. Soon both were surrounded by a huge ball and immediately the silence fell. Eiji managed with difficulty to get closer when he saw the ball and fell to his knees because of fatigue and despair “Shizuku!”. He called her name a few times but the silence continued to reign. Shortly after the ball slowly began to shrink letting the water slip away on the ground. There was no trace of Suzaku, Shizuku was standing with the back towards him, motionless and Eiji ran to meet her. The girl barely managed to turn around when she fell to the ground. “Shizuku! Come round, please!” Eiji, with tears in his eyes, sheld her clutching her to himself. She smiled “You are unharmed, what a relief. Don't worry about my destiny, you're safe and I'm happy”. Slowly, her body became evanescent, Eiji still held her close to himself, crying “come round...I beg you “. Shizuku did not respond, her body dissolved in the air. Eiji was kneeling on the ground crying. He was alone again.

(photo's credits to Sicilian Valkyrie)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 9]

Shizuku turned towards Eiji, took his injury hand and she tried to give him relief from pain. Suzaku was furious. His body started to heat up, the brushes at his feet burned “you are crazy! Do you want to die? I'll satisfy you now “. He stretched his arm again, the fire grew out of his hand , hitting the girl in the shoulder. Eiji jumped up, took Shizuku in his arms and ran in the direction of the stream. Suzaku laughed and started to walk following them not caring, however, about the distance that was increasing between himself and the two. The couple soon came to the stream, they entered and remained immersed waiting in terror for the arrival of the spirit of fire. He didn’t take long to arrive, full of self-confidence and arrogance “What do you hope to achieve?”. Eiji knew that the only way to protect her was to allow direct contact with her proper element, meanwhile trying to find a way to get out of that situation . Shizuku, who was holding her wounded shoulder, felt a sense of relief when she was soaking “In this way, you only delay your departure” Suzaku said, approaching them even though he was careful not to get in contact with the brook. The other troubled spirits arrived at the place, some of them tried to persuade Suzaku from continuing his fight but were ignored and threatened with death. ”Human. I warn you once again. Get lost and never come back or I'll be forced to kill you both”. Shizuku, feeling a pang in her heart at the idea that his lover could lose his life, approached Eiji, looked him straight in the eyes, holding his hands, like when they swore eternal love, as when in their hearts they wanted to remain only next to each other for eternity. Unfortunately the only one who could stop the spirit of fire was her, she would protect her beloved. She smiled at him, he looked at her for a moment, not understanding. Shizuku turned, suddenly she gave a strong push to Eiji that he fell to the opposite bank of the river and she raised her right arm.

 (photo's credits to Zarrah-chan)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 8]

Shizuku slowly began to feel more peaceful and, despite the slight hesitation, started again to go out alone. One day, taking advantage of her absence, Suzaku showed up in front of Eiji. They stood a few moments in front of one another. Eiji was watching him. His thick ash colored hair, red eyes as if the flames were locked up inside them, thin body but firm posture. Although the suffered suspect on who the figure in front of him was was pressing his heart he asked him who he was. “So you are the human being who is deceiving the sacred water spirit”. Hearing those harsh words of accusation, he frowned and quickly he drew his sword against him “are you the spirit of fire? Go away and leave Shizuku alone. Strong feelings bind us together and you are nobody to break our bond”. Suzaku laughed out loud looking at the sword and walked a few steps “you're a human being rather stupid, I wonder how that adorable creature fell into such a trivial deception”. Slowly he raised his arm and a few moments later Eiji’s sword warmed up forcing him to drop it, feeling the skin of the hand burning. If you think I'm evil how do you explain the fact that I can see all of you?” he yelled holding his hand that had begun to bleed. Suzaku laughed again full of hubris and leaned against a tree “there are no humans with good mood. Your existence is the ruin of this world. I'll tell you one last time. Go away or the next thing that I will make ashes of will be your heart”. Not far away, Shizuku was on the road back when some kodama frantically warned her of the danger Eiji was in. The restlessness that would not leave her heart was more than justified. Despite the apparent calm, the fear that something like this could happen to him didn’t leave her yet. She threw down the basket with fruits and started running to reach the two as soon as possible. As she arrived in the vicinity of the hut she heard Eiji screaming, she was almost paralyzed by fear, but she continued to run as fast as possible. Suzaku was a few steps away from Eiji, who was kneeling on the ground. The spirit of fire smug laughed of his power “Do you want to be killed? I wouldn't want to go that far though I'm afraid that you are so stupid as to not understand when to obey”. Shizuku fell to the ground in front of him as a shield for Eiji “don't touch him!” screamed without fear. Suzaku took a step back, anger crossed his face “Excuse me? You become so much mad as to protect a human, to risk your own life?”. The girl stood motionless, still staring at him with look of defiance “I will not allow in any way that you hurt him”.

(photo's credits to Kuyche)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 7]

Eiji was excited and soon she kept her promise and introduced him the various spirits, those of the trees, those of the earth, only one was missing, the spirit of fire. For days, he gave no news of  him but since that wasn't the first time it happened, as it was very expert to appear and disappear at will they didn’t give much weight to it. The two decided to take root in the hut, living off fishing and hunting. Moons passed, the bond between the two had become increasingly strong resulting in love. Everything seemed to be going fairly smoothly, like the flow of a river. But one day Shizuku, who walked away to gather herbs, returned to the hut visibly upset. Eiji, worried, approached her and asked her what happened. She tried to avoid confrontation but eventually she confessed “Suzaku is the cause of all, the spirit of fire. He reappeared in the woods and approached me while I was intent on returning home. He told me that he observed me in the last months, that he is concerned about me and to stay away from humans because they are wicked. He told me to join him because he loves me and it is the fate of the spirits to remain among them”. Her eyes became glossy, she looked at Eiji who was in front of her. “I don't believe him. You are not as bad as he says. You see me! I don't want to get away from you” she hugged him tightly, almost trembling. Eiji hugged her in turn in an attempt to calm her  “don't worry, I will no leave you and I will never and never let anyone hurt you”. Despite the heartening words that he uttered, Shizuku knew that no matter how hard he could try, Eiji was only a human and he could not counteract the force of a spirit. She was the one that would have to try to convince Suzaku to change his mind, to let them continue their life together peacefully and to not give harm to her beloved. Days passed and the couple didn't separate ever. Together they went to the creek not far from the hut to fish, to gather the fruits and herbs. There weren’t any news of Suzaku but the couple kept the fear of his sudden return. The numerous forest spirits gathered and granted protection to the couple. Even in their hearts, the presence of a human being like Eiji didn't constitute any danger and they were troubled by the behavior of Suzaku, considered unusual for a creature like them.

 (photo's credits to Jankolas)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 6]

It was already night, they spread some weeds in a corner creating a bed and the laid down side by side. The girl watched the loof with deep look, then turned her head toward him. She looked at him with eyes full of happiness but also sadness “I'm afraid that it may be just a dream, I'm afraid that I will not find you at my side tomorrow waking up...”. She closed her eyes and moved to one side and hugged Eiji “I beg you...don't leave me”. He froze. In his village such intimate contact with the female sex were almost completely banned and he didn't know how to behave. He reached out and placed it on her shoulder, caressing her “don't be afraid, I'll stay with you. I don't know how to explain it but I feel myself bound to you, I don't feel any doubt, I feel no fear staying next to you. Probably in our past life we were together...” Shizuku still clung to him “we shall live our lives together as one”. They fell asleep overpowered by fatigue. Outside the hut, hidden among the trees, another presence was spying the couple for a while, leaning against a tree trunk. He felt anger. He wanted to get into the hut but he was persuaded by this wrath and stood still. He would wait for the right moment to intervene. The next morning, the two resumed their hut accommodation without stopping until the sun was still high in the sky. Eiji hunted a capricorn and Shizuku picked herbs and berries. “I would like to lead this life with you forever”, she said placing the gathered herbs in front of the fire “would you want it too?”. Eiji looked at her for a few seconds in silence. Would that be his fate? After all he left the village in search of a new home, away from the hypocrisy of other human beings. Spending the rest of his days surrounded by nature and with Shizuku at his side looked in his eyes as the best future which he could aim for “I want it too. We can live here, together”. The girl went near him laughing and exulting with joy, “I must make you know the other spirits of the forest. They will be amazed to get in touch with a human being like you".

 (photo's credits to Hellobaby)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 5]

(VERS. ITA QUI)
Shizuku approached him taking his hand “I waited so long for the arrival of a human being like you”. The warrior stood looking at her, he smiled at her's happiness but he didn't say any word. Meanwhile the sun was disappeared almost completely from the sky. “Come, you would not want to sleep outside this night too? I will bring you in a shelter” and started to walk. The warrior followed her without question, he felt he could trust her. Although until a few minutes before his journey was proceeding in solitude without feeling any discomfort, he felt in his heart that the company was grateful, and slowly his heart felt a warmth that wasn't felt in years. After a while the couple reached a small wooden hut. It seemed to have been built several years ago, probably by some hunter or adventurer who, however, abandoned it long time ago. The roof was damaged and it lacked the door and windows. “It needs some accommodation but you shouldn’t sleep in the cold”, the girl smiled again, let the hand of the warrior go and she approached the building picking up from the ground a small wooden plank covered with moss and fern. For a moment he was invaded by memories of his village, the meetings with wise men around the fire, his childhood and the people who once were dear. He decided to enter, he found inside a small table without a foot and a slightly rusty brazier. He near it and soon he started a fire that illuminated the interior of the hut. The girl came in shortly after with the beam still in her hand “I think that for the moment is sufficient just to fix the roof and a bed for the night, at the rising of the sun we will do the rest”. He looked at her, smiling he moved closer to her “you rest by the fire, I will employ a short time”. Shizuku stood still and smiled “I can gladly help you, don't worry”. He hesitantly accepted the help and soon they were able to complete the temporary repairs to the roof and they relaxed their bodies in front of the fire . “You didn’t reveal your name yet”, said the girl, stroking her hair again. The warrior stood up abruptly, “I apologize. My name is Kimura Eiji” he made a composed and slight bow and then sit back down. “Eiji, I like it!”, she smiled again. Eiji felt his heart accelerate with every smile of her, his heart was more and more bound to her as if she were part of his life all along.

(photo's credits to Kuyche)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 4]

(VERS. ITA QUI)
Confused he kept silent to observe her. He couldn't say anything, he just listened to the sweet voice that, in his heart, he felt as a part of himself . “Forgive my euphoria. I waited for you so many moons and the fear that it may be merely the result of a dream makes me desire to live this moment fully”. While speaking she stroked her long hair, smiling. “Oh, don't worry . I'm just rather confused. I'm afraid I don't understand what you say”. He went one step closer to her so much that he brushed her hands. Upon contact with her skin he shivered . It was cool and smooth, almost like a crystal. He winced, “you are cold , are you ok?” he observed her. “Don't worry” she said, smiling and shaking herself to show that she was fine . “I didn’t introduce myself, my name is Shizuku and I'm a spirit of water”. He was puzzled and worried that the girl was making fun of him. His silence was lasting too long so she decided that showing her true nature, was the only alternative “if I may ask, have you a flask with water?”. He still didn't understand if the intentions of the girl were good or not. The many negative experiences restrained him to give trust easily. However, slowly and without question, he undid from his belt the small flask and handed it to her. She took it, opened it and let the liquid come out. Promptly the warrior moves to stop her but he saw the water defy the fall and rise upward, as drawn by some supernatural force. With her other hand she maneuvered it, forming floating bubbles. Remained petrified, he almost thought he was dreaming, he watched the girl maneuvering the liquid smiling, she didn’t endanger him but her power alarmed him. After a while she made the water go back in the flask and closed it handing it to the warrior who still stared at her in disbelief. “Here you go, I hope I persuaded you” she smiled gently tilting the head to one side. The warrior grabbed it and put it back on the belt “yes...I would say that you convinced me. But it is still hard to believe, it's amazing! The elders of my village have always told about divine creatures that lived in the forest but in their stories they were described as disgusting monsters or with weird shapes”. The girl began to laugh , the sound of her laughter was sweet and sincere, “those creatures really exist but us spirits are hard to find”. She laughed again, her hair moved animated by a slight gust of wind “as the years go by less wise and pure-hearted people populate this world. Only with a wise heart and free from all evil one is able to see us”.

(photo's credits to Orangepopfox)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 3]

(VERS. ITA QUI)
Returning to the bed he extinguished the small fire that was still burning, he picked up his belongings and went on his way . The sky was covered with a thick layer of clouds and the air was fresh and full of moisture but nevertheless sweat appeared on his forehead. He went on briskly for a few hours keeping on thinking about the previous night. He walked for a couple of days, repeating himself that the meeting at the pond really happened and that couldn't be the figment of the imagination. In his infancy he heard many stories about evils and scary creatures hiding in the forests and dark places but he found difficult to compare that girl to those figures. The sun was about to go down, but nevertheless, the young man refused to stop and keep on going his way looking at the road ahead of him. Deep in thought, listening to the sound of the forest, he was trying to pay attention to any extraneous noise. After a few steps he noticed a rustling behind him. Suddenly he whirled brandishing his sword, ready to pull it out if it was needed. For a moment, his breath was caught in his throat. In front of him there was a girl with long hair of the color of the sea that fell over her shoulders like waves of a stream that flows from the source. She looked at him with her clear eyes smiling. Her long white dress, dirty of the earth of the forest at the lower end, was swaying slightly because of the blowing of the wind. "Finally I found you." Her voice sounded like the melody of nature. The warrior stood still, loosened his grip on the sword and stretched his arms helplessly. Although that face was completely new for him, inside of himself he felt a deep sense of joy now that she stood in front of him. Completely charmed by her beauty, he repeated her words inside of him but he didn't understand the meaning. He was almost completely sure he didn't meet her before, also because in his village there weren't people with that hair color. It seemed like an unusual color, but in his life he had never seen beings that do not belong to his race and he did not know the physical characteristics of the other inhabitants of the world so he didn't give it much weight. "I knew that one day I would find you, I only had to wait that the sky would send you to me" said the girl again approaching the warrior, in his eyes shone sadness and happiness.

(photo's credits to Maevachan)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 2]

(VERS. ITA QUI)
He approached and with his head down he savored the waters. The fresh felt at the contact with that pure water reassured him. Glancing up he noticed a presence at the center of the water's basin. "Who’s there?" he screamed going back upright and clutching a sword fastened to the belt. Failing to see no one he thought of a bad joke of fatigue or the tree’s reflection on the surface. After a slight hesitation, he bent again on the water, drank a few sips and looked again. It was then that he noticed the silhouette of a girl who silently watched him immersed in the water. Caught by astonishment the warrior jumped back falling seated on the ground. He didn't know what to believe, the confusion took possession of his reason. The poor light prevented him from seeing if this was really happening. "Are you real or are you the result of my tiredness?" he said with a trembling voice. The girl grinned slightly but she didn’t answer, she stood still watching him intrigued. The warrior, still hesitating and with confused mind, stood up and went near her, this time trying not to speak with trembling voice "Please, show me your face. With the night's darkness I barely see you." The girl smiled again, turned and walked away slowly "sir you are tired, please rest” she said disappearing into the dark. The warrior, more confused than ever , looked down resigned and walking while thinking returned to his bed and laid down in front of the fire. He thought and rethought about that shape, that voice. "Was that a forest demon? Did I probably disturbed his dwelling? " a mild panic made him shiver. It was already night and despite fear and curiosity, soon he fell into deep sleep. The next day, opening his eyes, the warrior thought immediately about the meeting of the night before and running he went to the pond but he found no one there. Standing still staring at the water surface in search of the slightest movement, he sighed resignedly, "Did I dream, perhaps?". Yet that voice rang in his memory so clearly that the idea of a dream seemed even more absurd of the meeting itself.

(photo's credits to escume)

Yume no danpen (夢の断片) (eng version) [PART 1]

(vers. ita qui)
Once upon a time, in a far away place, there was a young warrior. Powerful body and dexterity made him a formidable opponent for those who undermined the peace of his native village. But in the young's heart, a long time since, had settled anguish. He was tired of the meanness and pettiness of the inhabitants of his village. Try as he might, he felt that the place was hostile and pretend to be at ease was no longer possible. One day, just at dawn, gathered his few belongings and walked stealthily to the north of the village in search of a new home. He looked into the woods for the last time his old home saying goodbye but without that emerged in him a sense of nostalgia. He walked fastly all day folloeing the course of a steam. Through the high treetops filtered sunlight now high in the sky. The air was soaked with moisture, the ferns that covered the ground around the trees were still covered by the night dew. After a few hours of walking he stopped and sat on a wet fir trunk fell probably due to a storm, to eat a few mouthfuls of rice that he had prepared for the trip. After the meal, the warrior felt his body full of energy and went on his way until, in the dense forest, not evening came. Collected a large number of branches and leaves artfully lit a fire and arranged a bed for the night a few meters from it. He had been taught as a child how to survive away from the village, how to get food and water and how to protect themselves from wild animals. Sitting in front of the fire he drifted from his memories and for a brief moment he was overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia. But soon the good memories were matched to as many bad memories so his mind went back to the crackling of the fire that warmed his limbs. Intrigued by a pleasant rustle, however, got up and noticed that a few steps from his bed there was a large pond dotted with water flowers from pink color. That place must surely be unknown to travelers or otherwise they did not have a word to anyone in the village. Its waters were clear and reflected the pale moonlight that filtered through the high treetops. The atmosphere was eerie enchanted, moisture of plant and water did shine the air as if the stars had fallen from the sky to illuminate the place. 

(photo's credits to Narandel)