I looked up at her - to her heaving chest, flushed face, and disheveled hair. The exercise(dance) has started to catch up to her.  

Then I turn my head to look outside where Aki glued her eyes too.

Dark cloud rolling and grasses swaying. 

The past few weeks I started coming down, this is the first time I see oncoming rain on this floating island. 

Never before a thought cross her mind of the possibility that this island as rain since they live at high altitudes. If she was to remember her past life geography study, the higher the altitudes, the sparse flora, and fauna at that place. But here, such a law does not seem relevant as a floating island in the sky is. 

Then... if they were to it the clouds of rain, thunder, and lightning would the physic be the same as when an airplane run through the same matter?

Or would it be different?

And are there no clouds above this island?

"Want to step out a bit?" her voice sounds breathy.

"Linden might bite me if he knows I take you out without him together... that daughter's fool," she chuckled a little. "So?"

Aki opens one of the panels and she waits for me before stepping out. A gentle smile decorated her face. She was waiting for her. 

She did think of wanting to go outside a couple of minutes ago...

Aki somehow in many instances, able to read her mind. Past few weeks too. 

When she was struggling with her hands to eat her grapes, when she was thirsty, to go to her potty, or she was missing Linden by her side at night...

For one whole year, she has never spoken once. 

Yes, she sang and danced but it was when was alone Aki did confess once she heard her sing yet it did not count for any vocal interaction. 

Still, Aki understands her wants and she waits for her patiently. 

Seeing I grab the end of her tunic, Aki puts her finger on her mouth with a glint of mischievousness in her eyes. "Don't tell daddy okay. It's our secret."

As we step outside and for the first time my small feet touch the wooden deck, a gush of strong winds blew strands of my silver hair to my face, obscuring my vision. 

"Oh, dear!" Aki yelp and her laughter roars. Then picked me up for fear I might be blown away by the wind.

I scrunch my face while I try my hardest to push my hair back.

"Maybe this is not a good idea, eh?" 

'You think?'

"Maybe this is Linden's way of punishing me for taking you out first without him, ehe. Oh, look!"

I look at the way Aki points her finger to. 

A cloud of heavy rain is on its way toward this island and we stood on the deck with wide eyes full of fascination.

As much as I know that the world is round and it rotates on its axis but I can't help but think that the cloud has a mind of its own and is able to surf the sky. 

The land of the floating island greets the heavy cloud and everything instantly turned dark and damp. 

Thank god there was no thunder and lightning or we might have to retreat inside when we both still want to witness the phenomena from this spot under the shelter. 

"The first time I met Linden, it was raining like this," Aki says softly almost in a whisper. 

"And I thought the last time I ever going to see him, it was raining too."

I look at her face. Her eyes seem distant as if her soul was lost in memory but she quickly recovers.

"Want to try to feel the rain?" She took my small hand in her and hollered it to the droplets dropping from the roof.

It is cold as expected but it somehow made me smile. 

'Drip, drip, it drips,

Catch, catch, rain catch me,

My heart tumbly-tumbles,

Spring is here for me.'

That tune continue to echo in my mind even after I went in and the rain passes. And it also plays in my dream with seas of coloured sticks and bright lights.