Five years had passed since the Sun had changed poles, its iridescent yellow glow shone down on the lively spring plains of the Nezumiiro vasslands. Peace was maintained upon the steep rocky mounds as the Paladinian people awoke with their humble praises to the Sun above who granted them such dominion. Her kindness ever so abundant.

Scattered across the cliff sides, the cherrapples were in bloom, their petals a splendid vibrant pink. These trees teetered off the ashen graveled descent into the valley, interwoven fields of Sun burnt lemony vass coiled through the surface layer of the earth. The vine-like grass that bordered the edges of the dead wood forest was a colorful splash on the more-or-less bleak nature that had enveloped the world. Beauty able to rise from the ashes of the past.

The pure essence of blessed natural harmony was encapsulated within the village of Nippon, all moving swimmingly as the morn settled within the barren blue sky. Within the Sato household however, a toddler took advantage of his parents' absence. Their errands in the market his time to try and escape his maiden Ayame’s clutches.

His time to be a kid, wild and free.

Bink—crash!

A prized shiny stone shattered upon the ground in the wake of the small child. Toppled off its pedestal, the overly energetic boy scrambled up to the top of it and stared down with glee at his pursuer. The very one meant to keep him inside was left in a bitter sweat as she huffed out agitated breaths that brushed her messy golden strands aside. Exhaustion present in the dull neon stare that settled in her sunken face.

“Master—Daisuke. Get down from there this instant.”

Clink-tink. Smash!

“Master Daisuke. Stop it—now!”

“Just for a turn! C’mon!” Daisuke pleaded as he ran about.

“No, master Daisuke!”

“But Ayame, I just want to go outside!”

“That doesn’t mean you have to wreck the house! You can’t—go outside whenever you—want!” Ayame sputtered as she dashed and dived after Daisuke.

Whoosh—thud!

“Watch me!”

Her efforts fell short, body slammed onto the brittle wooden floor, Daisuke’s slim-self just out of reach. An opening made by her shortcomings as he hurled over Ayame and reached the stairs. His little mind, overly eager to explore the outside world, gunned for the door. Short cuts his only way to get there.

Hemph!

Thud!

Daisuke jumped off the open wooden box staircase onto the dining room table in his maroon wrapped loincloth. Balance unsteady, his legs wobbled from the impact that sent dinner wear flying onto the ashen-gray wooden floor. Restabilized, a pinch of elated relief settled within him, yet the feeling was quickly squandered by the looming presence behind.

Face beet red, Ayame dusted off her tightly wound white and black kosode and stood behind Daisuke with a tinge of restraint. Mere ticks away from lashing out.

“Master Daisuke, why don’t we—take a nap!”

Whoosh—thump!

Anger huffed out and subsided, she leaned forward and dived at him, but he expected it. Daisuke quick enough to allude Ayame’s feeble attempt to end the chase.

Feet planted on the ground, Daisuke kept his focus on Ayame on the other side of the battered table. Both meeting eye to eye on opposite sides, a brutal standoff.

“Stop this—right now.” Exhausted, Ayame heaved out moist air as Daisuke stood there and bounced side to side. His never ending energy enveloped in his plump little scrunched face was the very source of her annoyance. Her thoughts centered around how he wasn't tired yet, they had been at it for hours.

“Ayame, just two turns that’s it. I promise.”

“Your parents—will report to the Chieftain if you get out again.”

“I only got to Azumi’s house last time.”

“That’s far—enough.”

“That’s next door!”

He raised his squeamish hands forward and clung onto the edge of the table. His short cut golden tipped white hair parted to the sides as he batted his green eyes swamped by his black sclera. Joy dissipated in the face of Ayame’s resilience. Her assignment from the High Priest to tutor and raise him as a marked child, the soul inhibitor of him having fun.

He just wanted to be a kid.

Both Daisuke’s parent’s entrusted Ayame to watch over him during their daily chores, each having their part to play in the clan’s societal cycle. Cho, his mother, found specialization from the Sun in plants, deemed the overseer of the crop production for the village. Botan, his father, was an established fighter, not one of the highest ranks but known well enough for his intense strengths and overwhelming morals.

“Master Daisuke. Stop.”

Daisuke, an amalgamation of their outgoing natures, was one perfect blend of young relentless controlled chaos. Too smart for his own well being.

“No. Bad, master Daisuke. Bad.”

Daisuke remained silent but his actions spoke volumes. A single side eyed glance toward the door the only indication Ayame needed to see the scrounging desire still present within him. His goal no more than ten steps away.

“Just—one turn!” Daisuke let out as he made a last ditch effort dash for the door.

“I said no!” Ayame clamored, fast on her feet, the lane to freedom cut off.

“Eep!”

“Room, now!”

Daisuke sputtered back and ducked beneath her rushed attack. Ayamed left empty handed as Daisuke ran around to the other end of the table, distance maintained. Both ended up back where they were, no advancements made. Seconds were burnt up as they caught their breath, waiting for the other to make a move. One creak of a board all it too, and with that the game resumed.

This cat and mouse chase was intertwined in a never ending cycle that ensued throughout the first floor of the household. Their bodies bounced off the shaved teratoma flesh drapes that hung over the blood soaked wooden walls for the bitter winter months. A cushioned bounce for Daisuke to propel off of.

“I—got you!”

Whoosh—tink-bink. Clash!

Swords fell over and boards splintered as Ayame tripped and failed to catch Daisuke repeatedly. Even at only five years old, his potential was apparent. While reckless and free spirited, he was quick witted nonetheless.

Thud-thump. Whoosh.

From the boxed stairs to the preparation quarters, an open space with a dry rack cabinet for food storage, the two ran about. Daisuke dodged her every move as Ayame swiped at the empty wind in his wake to no avail. This base layer Paladinian home was enough for Daisuke to go with the plan to tire Ayame out. Its dried mahogany coloration from the dried blood and tar, to seal out the outdoors, left them in a sweat box. Ayame being pushed to her limits.

Shifted in front of the doorway Ayame panted in air as she slumped back against it. Escape route cut off. Daisuke, at a loss, found himself forced to come to a stop, no thinkable way around her. The teeny boy’s entire plan obliterated by a single step. But did he even have a plan to begin with?

“Master Daisuke. For the last time, no means no. I’m sorry.” Ayame wheezed as she tried to reason with the wild minded child.

“But they would never know!”

“It’s not up to you. You know that.”

“Yeah but . . . other kids get to go out.” Daisuke sulked, his spirit sequestered by reality.

Daisuke glared down at the space between them, gloom seeping out of his eyes as tears trickled onto the floorboards. He sniffled up his weary emotions and rubbed at the slight slippage. Caught off guard by his mopy face, Ayame sighed, his desire one she could relate to.

“I’m tired of this. It’s boring in here.” Daisuke admitted.

“Look, master Daisuke. It’s for your own safety. You know that.” Ayame shifted back upright and calmly gestured to him. “What if something happened to you? How would master Botan and master Cho feel?”

“I—I . . .” Wiping his eyes, Daisuke rubbed out the wet streams of bleary feelings for the desired freedom he couldn’t yet obtain. Cheeks rosy red, he held back his dejection behind a puffy pout. Needless to say it was adorable.

Unable to refrain herself, Ayame walked around the table and knelt down to Daisuke’s level. Annoyance shoved aside, Amaye embraced the role designated to her. She smiled as sincerely as she could and took his little pale hands within her own.

“What if tonight I ask them if we can go outside for a little bit some day? But just down the path to the market. No farther. Understood master Daisuke?”

Sniff. “Okay.” Daisuke agreed timidly.

Arms lifted up toward the sky, he maintained his pouty face and continued to tug at her weak spot. Ayame, an easy pushover, fell for his precious gaze. Hoisted up, she consoled his childish mindset, a few pats and a long winded hug all she felt he needed to calm down. To acknowledge the truth. Her relief in his descent into understanding a blatant blinder of a missing dinner blade from the table. The jagged limestone tool hidden neatly in the knot of his loincloth.

“You’ll get to go out soon enough, I promise. But for now, let's take a little nap, okay?”

Yawn. Daisuke nodded in agreement.

Carried up the stairs to his little coar fur rug mat in his quarter of the house, Daisuke was gently laid down for rest. The sewn skinned hide was of a mammal herd that settled near the Nippon village in the valley. A generational mixed breed of a cow and boar descendent. Setting him down on the rug, Ayame patted the tuckered boy's head and made her exit from the room. The fleshoar skin tarp slid closed, not a sound made beside the creak of the boards beneath her feet. Their absence was the only signal Daisuke needed to hear.

One eye popped open to make sure the coast was clear, Daisuke lunged forward.

“Finally.” Sat upright on his twin bed sized rug, a new plan formulated within his feeble mind. But what way out was there?