The young blue-haired boy didn’t have a chance to decide his own fate, it was decided for him before he even entered this world. He was accursed, yet he knew nothing about how or why. He never really argued with it. His parents just told him that it was just how it was suppose to be and he shouldn’t question it, but there was always a noticeable shift in their expression almost like guilt whenever they avoided answering him. Children did not play with him and adults shunned him away, yelling aggressive things that he did not quite understand.

He did not have anyone else other than his parents to rely on. However, even that changed, he couldn’t stay in the village with his parents nor with any other villager at all anymore. The villagers often threaten and argued with his parents. His parents always held up with the fight, trying their hardest to keep their young boy safe. But at this point, it was their last standing fight. His parents took him away, far enough away from the village that no villager would even accidently stumble upon finding him.

They took him to a short, abandoned, stone tower that only had a ground level. It had high walls and short metal bar windows that directly faced the direction of the sunset. There wasn’t much of anything in this short tower, just some stone rumble and of what his parents left him. They left him with some bread, water, and a few blankets. Compared to the rest of the structure, the heavy, wooden door seemed in good condition. And on that door, the lock seemed just as good as the door itself, like someone knew that they were going to keep something here in this tower.

And so, the blue-haired boy sat on the floor and remained so as his parents told him that it was for his own sake, locked the door, promising that they would come back, and left.

The young blue-haired boy, Minato did not know what to do now. He was a well-discipline boy, never questioning his parents and even now didn’t do so. He had always been told that he was special and different from everyone else, so that’s why all the other children and villagers disliked him, that now he will be safe here.

Minato took his parent’s words with honest belief.

Days pass by.

His mother does come by often to bring Minato food and talk with her boy. She does genuinely care for her boy even though this was how they had to live now, separated. She’d always bring Minato too much food, books, toys, and stories to share. She’d always share the story of a young and beautiful god boy, wings and hair of black. Minato did not understand why, but it has always been his favorite story and he never questioned it, as how his parents told him to never question anything.

Then weeks pass by.

His mother does come by…but much less frequent than before. She does the same as she had before, bringing food and toys. But now, she’s been looking more and more tired and keeps apologizing for her mistakes. Her visits always end in tears now.

More weeks pass by.

She doesn’t visit anymore. No more food or stories are brought.

Minato is now all alone in this quiet tower. There’s no one to talk to anymore or keep him company. At least Minato was smart enough to save any leftover food from the ton his mother used to bring. So, food and beverage wise, Minato was going to be alright for at least the next week or so.

Another few days pass.

Minato has been pretty lonely all by himself, but he tries not to let it get the best of him. He often talks to himself and to a voice he hears. Even though the voice just recently appeared days after his mother stopped visiting, the voice keeps Minato company. Minato welcomes the voice, as he grows closer and closer to this voice, sharing and talking about anything that ran through his mind. They’d talk about the world.

Minato: Ummm…hey. I’ve been wondering…are you real?

The Voice: Hmmm, what do you think?

Minato: I’m not sure, I can’t see you.

The Voice: Do you need to see me to believe I’m real?

Minato: …well…no, I don’t think so. I-I believe in you. I like you very much too.

The Voice: I like you very much as well. You are… special.

Minato: Does that make us friends?

The Voice: I suppose it can be, yes.

Minato: I’ve never had a friend before. You are my very first one. I’m so happy to be with you!

The Voice: … I see.

Minato did not feel alone anymore.

---

More days pass by.

But something was weird, Minato did not hear the voice for a while now. It just disappeared. Minato never felt so alone in his life before. It wasn’t this heartbreaking when all the villagers shunned him or when his parents left him. This was something totally different, Minato could not handle not hearing the voice speak with him.

His mind was starting to run wild with any and all reasons to why he couldn’t hear the voice anymore. The silence was deafening to him. He was panicking, pacing himself back and forth in the room. He was slowly swaying side to side as he paced. At this point, all the food and water were already gone, either eaten a long while ago or rotted away.

A few more seconds of unsteady swaying and then Minato’s body begins to lose its balance. He falls onto the cold, hard floor, losing consciousness. Slipping…slipping away.

On the last second before losing complete consciousness, Minato heard a voice calling to him. It sounds familiar. Was it the voice…was it him?

---

It was breezy. Air passed lightly against his face and the rest of his body. It felt like he was floating in the air, completely free and comfortable. Then he felt a squeeze on his leg and his arm. Very curious to where he was and what was happening, Minato slowly opened his eyes.

The light of a sunset met his eyes. It was absolutely beautiful, like the view he could see from his tower, but higher. While soaking in the wondrous view, a familiar voice cuts straight though his focus.

“Beautiful view isn’t it?”

Minato, in unbelieving, hopeful anticipation turns his face away from the sunset and sees a beautiful, young angel of black hair and wings, holding him in his arms as they soar through the sky. Shocked, Minato could only stare at this unknown, but familiar boy.

The Black Haired Angel: I’m so sorry that I left you. I didn’t know you were in such a bad state of health, or I wouldn’t have left you. But I had to get my parents to take that awful curse off of you, it would have been very harmful to you in later times. And now, your curse has been lifted and I can take you anywhere you want me to, together!

Minato: …Y-you… you’re the god boy, wings and hair of black. You’re physically here with me, I can see you now. You were always my favorite story. You are also my one and only true friend. I couldn’t wish for anything better in my life.

The Black-Haired Angel: I’m so glad you feel like that about me. I’d thought you be afraid if you saw the real me. I’m not really someone that anyone shares those kinds of feelings with. I’m so happy. Minato, where would you like to go?

Minato: Anywhere, let’s travel the world together, Ryoji.

Ryoji: Wha…but I never shared my name with you.

Minato: That name has been floating in my mind ever since I was old enough to think for myself. I think it was always meant for me to be able to find you, just how I know you knew my name somehow.

Ryoji: I see…we must be a fated pair…and I’m glad it was with you.

Minato: I feel the same.