Chapter One : Normality I

Hey, I'm Taru: Your normal, average high school kid who, as well, has to work to get food on the table. It's nice to meet you.

Yes . . .  It's that beautiful voice again . . . I wonder what will sing of tonight?

Slowly and slowly, the voice gets louder . . . . just as the moon starts to rise and rise to the sky,

its light being reflected through my windows. 

As I slowly drift into a seemingly endless pitch black, her voice is the only thing I can hear.

It is reverberating, it almost sounds like chimes, the ringing forever in my head. 

Tonight, it seems to be the full moon, so this song will not have words . . . 

Oh how much I love to hear this sound.

It always soothes my nerves, making everyday easy to live.

It makes me feel truly that I am not alone----

even though I truly am . .  no parents, no siblings, no family. 

Slowly, and gracefully,

the chimes slowly started to start a song . . .

quietly making a pattern of sounds that I am to indulge in. 

But then, they soon stopped and another sound rang in my head. 

What . . . ?

Is she crying? 

But . . . Why . . .?

The sound of water dropping on a larger body of water echoes in my head as well

now becoming louder than the sound of her voice, which started to diminish. 

Why is she crying? 

What could have happened that made her like this?

I want to hear her beautiful voice again, like I do every night.

"Who are you . . ?"

The sound ends and this single question echoes in my mind. 

For the first time in all the years I have heard her voice, she finally notices my presence. 

But why?

Why now and why in this place?

I cannot see anything for I am in the realm of my dreams.

Everything is pitch black and only her voice provides some direction.

Yes, the voice that fully represented the sunset,

the voice so bold and so full

that could change with every song. 

Just like a person could change in their lifetime . . . .

"Who are you . . .?"

The voice asks again, waiting for my answer patiently

as the sound of dripping water slowly started to decrescendo. 

"I--I am---!"

I could not finish,

for when I started to speak

the darkness suddenly disappeared

and my eyes opened to a new dawn. 

---

Taru sat up suddenly, chestnut-colored eyes widened to find that it was now the early morning,

when the sun had just started to rise.

It was still somewhat dark and you could barely see the it through the mountains

but the sun was rising . . . and he knew that would mark the end of his dreaming.

He was again in his simple and dark bedroom,

right at the early hour of 6:12 A.M.

"What was that . . .?"

he mumbled, running his right hand through locks of brown hair,

so very crumpled and messy,

"I didn't get to hear . ."

He could not finish his sentence, for the sound of a familiar ringtone interrupted him from the side table. 

In reply, he reached to the side and turned on his cheap lamp, 

one that he had been given a long time ago and grabbed his phone before

rubbing his eyes and then looking to see who the caller was to make sure. 

"What would Saki want at this hour?"

he sighed, contemplating about whether he should just ignore her or answer her.

If he ignored her, she would start yelling at him during school

for she knew that he was usually up at this time.

If he answered her, it would save him the yelling.

He really had no choice . .  and the ring was starting to reach its end. 

Taru then grunted and then pressed the answer button as he lazily got off the bed,

walking toward the kitchen to get something to eat after he opened the windows. 

"Hey Taru!"

an extremely loud voice rang through the phone,

making Taru flinch from the sound,

"Good job not ignoring my call, I would have gotten you back for it in the morning!"

She seemed awfully excited, judging from her tone

but Saki was a morning person,

a loud afternoon person,

and an even louder night person as well so it was expected;

Saki Takinama, his best friend. 

At least now he was somewhat awake as he pulled a chair from under the table and sat down on it, 

facing the beat-up window so he can watch the sun rise through the mountains.

He lived in a small place at the edge of the city so I guess he had somewhat of a view.

"What do you want Saki?"

Taru asked abruptly, letting her know that he didn't really want to talk to her right now

although going a little easy since she was his best friend,

"It's way too early to do anything anyway . . ."

He rolled his eyes and crossed his legs,

sitting back on his chair and watching

even though his mind was still on the voice in his dream,

still wondering why it had started to cry rather than sing. 

"Geez Taru, I know, I know. You don't do mornings don't ya?"

she replied, this time sounding as if she were talking to him like she does a child,

"You were always fond of your naps in kindergarten anyway." 

There she goes, making fun of Taru as always. 

He expected it really when he had talked to her that way.

Knowing her, anyone would expect it.

"Not as much as you did though."

he retorted, smirking a little, 

"I remember you would always start to cry whenever nap-time ended and I had to help make you feel better with ice cream."

Taru couldn't help but chuckle when the other side remained silent for a while.

He could imagine her turning red right now

and probably wanting to grab his shirt and throw him off to a wall or something.

Saki was like that, the tough girl who knew what she wanted and would pummel anyone who would

get on the slightest of her nerves.

She was quite the opposite of him

for he was the strange boy who always depended on her, even back then . . and now.

"Sh-shut up--!!" 

Saki then shouted at him after a while, 

making Taru laugh heartily,

"If you laugh anymore, I'll slap you when you g-get to class!!"

Ah  . . she was always so shy. 

"Okay, Okay."

Taru sighed afterward,

still watching as the sun slowly started to rise and realizing that he should end her conversation with him soon,

"Why did you call me then? You need anything Saki?"

This time, he sounded much kinder, now that he got a laugh out. 

The sun was now halfway there.

"I just . .  just wanted to check on you, you know?"

Saki admitted, in a much more timid voice,

"I . .  wanted to ask . . what did you dream about or something ahahah ."

She couldn't help but chuckle a little just as Taru smiled.

It seems as though she was worried about him, 

especially when he just became all alone a few days ago

when his aunt passed, the only one he was living with. 

"Well, do you want to know what I dreamt about?"

he then asked, waiting for her answer as he stood up and put the chair back where it came from,

turning his back to the window,

"Yeah, I just asked you know?"

Saki replied in her, again, more excited and loud tone.

Taru chuckled. 

"I dreamt about flying fish and talking dogs."

he replied, lying to her as he walked around,

"You looked a lot like them Saki!"

Taru couldn't help but laugh right then. 

"W-why you little---!!"

she muttered angrily at him, probably grabbing and squeezing the life out of something near her.

She didn't fight back, but only sighed leaving an awkward silence to fill in the gap. 

Taru was walking into his bedroom then, noticing that the sun had illuminated his room

but the only sounds he could hear were his own. 

"H-hey . .  Taru . ?"

she finally spoke, probably realizing that it probably was not good to leave a space like that.

Saki sounded very different from her usual voice, actually more timid.

But Taru knew that he had to be serious in replying to that or he would seriously get hurt.

"Yeah, Saki?"

he replied in a warm tone, putting the phone between his cheek and his shoulder so he could start making his bed,

"I'm still here."

There was then another small gap that filled the space,

Saki probably being hesitant in what she was going to say. 

"Taru . . . "

she quietly murmured enough for him to hear, 

"You're okay, right?"

Taru smiled.

"Yeah, I am."

Another gap filled a space. 

"You. . .  Do you feel lonely?"

Saki asked hesitantly, as if walking in forbidden land.

"Well, a little, of course."

he replied, thinking of his aunt, his chestnut colored eyes looking a little sadder.

"Hey Taru. . "

she repeated again, as if she was waking him up,

in which she did since he was drifting off into some memories,

"You know you're not all alone . .  right?"

Saki was a little louder this time and at the thought of those words he stopped moving,

just as he had folded the blanket that he was sleeping under and after a while,

put it on top of his pillow. 

"T-Tar--"

she tried to call, thinking that he had hung up.

"I know."

he reassured her, and himself, in the process,

"You and the others are there for me right?"

At the sound of those words, Saki became silent again,

probably planning her next action or the next words she has to say.

Taru was now in the kitchen again, getting things ready for breakfast.

"Y-yeah!! That's right!"

Saki suddenly became her excited self again, her voice cheery,

"You can always count on us Taru!"

It was as if she was proud of herself for cheering him up,

or maybe trying to cover up the fact that she had brought out some painful memories.

"Mhm."

He replied, pulling out the frying pan and the pancake batter from the cupboards,

"You're right."

He looked through the refrigerator to look for some blueberries right after.

He needed to hurry, after all, he lived a long way from school. 

Taru was now waiting for this conversation to end

although he could not bring himself to end it.

Because inside, he really wanted to keep going.

He didn't want to lose the only voice he heard that morning.

But God will have to will it to end soon.

"A-anyway, you're busy right?"

she asked, hearing the muffled sounds of other things going on through her phone,

"I-I should probably get off the line . .  my mom is also getting angry."

Taru knew she was lying.

He heard no screams and usually her mother would scream at her from the other room.

I guess he just had to oblige and get off as well. 

"Yeah, I guess so."

he said after a sigh,

"See you at school Saki."

"Yeah, see ya!"

she replied happily

and with the  click of the red button, the connection ended

and he was all alone again. 

Taru : [ x ]

Saki : [ x ]

Author's Note

I am A Little New at This . . Please go Easy On me?

Edit (August 6, 2013) : I Changed Saki's Picture URL.

Reviews

[dw817]

"Who are you . . ?"
OMy, you have a Guardian calling you. :)

I did a little of this in some simple earlier blogs but you are doing it quite excellently here in your story. Changing the ink color to represent the person who is speaking. That's really quite nice !

As for the story itself, as I tell all writers, consider the re-read equation. With what you have written, do you think someone would want to read it again later ? If yes, why do you feel this ? If not, what do you think you could add to or change in it that would make it more interesting to read ?

As with all your writing, carve small words with big meanings. PLACE the reader where you want them. They should not merely be floating above your story, you want them to be IN the story, to feel what your actors are feeling and to know what they know. This then is the greatest writing of all.

Effective and effectual.

[Chichichiyo]

Thank you do much for the advice!
I'll be sure to look at it when I write again! :D

[dw817]

Looking forward to the next chapter, but yep, it's definitely time for bed for me. :)

[Chichichiyo]

Good Night :D

[PokemonFan#1]

Aww! Poor Taru! D:
I really liked this chapter, keep up the great work~

(p.s. I love the pictures :D)

[Chichichiyo]

Thanks :D
And Yeah. I pity my own character xD

[PokemonFan#1]

You're welcome~