The Little Bear by Kihin Ranno

Part Three: Stars Look Down

Due to a number of unexpected mishaps, including but not limited to Machk’s outbursts, the procession didn’t reach Elysian until sunset. When they passed through the palace gates, Machk didn’t even bother to look up and see his new home. After all, if given the chance, he would leave it immediately. Why did he need to know what it looked like?

He did notice the older couple and several servants waiting outside the doors however. Somehow, he couldn’t help but see them.

“Kunzite,” the man said warmly, which Machk took to be a clear sign of insanity. “It’s good to have you back with us.”

Kunzite dismounted, and while Machk’s vision was still blurred with tears, he thought he saw Kunzite smile. But Machk realized that was ridiculous. Kunzite’s mouth couldn’t move that way. “It is good to be back, Master Endymion.”

Machk tensed, his fingers tightening around Aineas’s uniform. His mother had told him he had nothing to fear from these men, but that did nothing to chase away his terror. More of Kunzite than anyone else, but he had heard Endymion’s name mentioned enough to know he was probably no friend either. His apparent friendliness with Kunzite did not help matters.

“Where is the child?” a female voice asked suddenly, taking Machk off guard. He had seen her there, but he hadn’t heard a woman for a very long time. It sounded strange to him.

“Private Aineas! Bring the boy here!” Kunzite bellowed.

Machk felt Aineas’s chin brush against his hair as he nodded. “Yes, sir!” Aineas looked down at Machk and said, “We’re here, Prince Machk.”

Machk shook his head, wanting it to be a lie.

“You’ll be all right,” Aineas assured him. “Queen Petra and King Endymion are kind. They will not harm you.”

Machk still hesitated. He knew Aineas would never tell him anything but the truth, yet he still found it hard to believe anyone who associated with Kunzite by choice was someone to be wary of.

“Private Aineas!” Kunzite shouted, sounding even gruffer than before.

Aineas sighed. “He’s asleep, Lord Kunzite! A moment!”

In the end, Machk decided that he could not risk Aineas getting into trouble because of him. He reluctantly let go of Aineas’s coat and dismounted Epona quickly. He reached around and stroked her nose before Aineas joined him, finding some comfort in the fact that she let him. Then the two walked over to where Kunzite and the two monarchs were waiting for him.

In truth, King Endymion and Queen Petra didn’t look scary. The king was shorter than Kunzite, but very broad. He looked as though he could have crushed a man if he put the effort into it. He had dark hair and a thick beard. His brown eyes did not seem cruel, but Machk saw no kindness in them either. The king seemed to be more concerned with sizing him up than anything else. His wife, on the other hand, was tall and willowy with the longest legs Machk thought he had ever seen. She was much paler than her husband, with hair that looked to be the same color as his sister’s – like molten copper. She had freckles on her nose that spread onto her cheekbones, framing eyes as clear as the rivers at his home.

Queen Petra gasped, her hands flying to her mouth the moment she was able to get a good look at Machk. She looked up at Aineas, her eyes narrowing. “Private, what is the meaning of this? The boy is injured.”

At first, Machk didn’t know what she was talking about. Then he remembered how much it had hurt when he was dragged off Epona earlier that day. Of course, there were other bruises to take into account, but the queen couldn’t see those.

Aineas bowed deeply, and Machk could see that the private was blushing. “My apologies, Your Highness. Prince Machk is rather… spirited. He injured himself dismounting my ride earlier today.”

Queen Petra blinked and then laughed a little sheepishly. “Of course. My apologies, Private Aineas. I have a son; you would think I’d know better.”

“Spirited is putting it mildly,” Kunzite confided just loudly enough for Machk to hear. “Master Endymion, if I might speak with you for a moment in private.”

The King agreed without hesitation, and the two wandered off a few feet. They spoke in hushed voices, but Machk could tell that they were talking about him. Machk’s impulse was to tell the King how much Kunzite hated him, that he had struck his mother to the ground. It took a lot to keep Machk from doing what he wanted. Somehow, Aineas’s hands on his shoulders was enough.

Queen Petra knelt in front of Machk and smoothed his hair back to inspect his cheek. She shook her head, tutting at him as though he was at fault. “Boys and their bruises. Well, we can’t have you looking like that for the ceremony tomorrow.” She leaned forward and pressed two of her fingers against Machk’s cheek. It hurt for a moment, and then he felt his flesh begin to tingle and grow warm. After awhile, it didn’t hurt at all.

Petra smiled. “There. That’s better.”

Machk reached up and poked the area where the bruise was. He expected to wince in pain, but instead, he felt nothing at all. “You fixed it,” Machk mumbled in disbelief, staring without shame.

“Indeed,” Petra said, still smiling. “I have a minor talent for it. I suspect my son’s magic is stronger.”

Machk narrowed his eyes. “Prince Endymion?”

Petra nodded. “The same.” She paused, her smile weakening, though she did not frown. “Prince Machk is it?”

Machk nodded, knowing that it was wrong not to answer her verbally. His mother would be furious if she knew how disrespectful he was being, but thanks to Kunzite, his mother wasn’t there.

“Has anyone explained what is happening to you?” Petra asked kindly. “You seem… disoriented.”

“Pardon me, Your Highness, but he has just woken up,” Aineas said, trying to intervene on Machk’s behalf.

“Truly,” Petra said, still doubting whether or not that was the whole story. “In any event, I would like the answer, Prince Machk.”

“I’m here because Kunzite brought me,” Machk said softly, his fingers curling into fists. “And because I didn’t listen to my mother.”

Petra blinked. “What?”

Machk was ready to tell her the whole story. He had always told the truth, and the Queen had asked him for it. He would have done told her everything had Kunzite not turned and walked back to them, the King just in front of him.

“I think perhaps Prince Machk would like to get some sleep now, Dearest,” King Endymion suggested with a tense smile. He was nervous now; perhaps he thought Machk would try to run away again or that he would be disobedient.

Machk thought he was right to be anxious.

“Of course,” Petra said, getting to her feet. She also seemed ill at ease, though Machk didn’t think it was for quite the same reason. “Private Aineas, you may accompany Prince Machk to his chambers and say goodbye to him there. A servant will lead the way.”

Aineas, who was still blushing, bowed again. “Thank you, Your Highness.” He bid a similar farewell to the King and to Kunzite, saying “my liege” and “sir” respectively. Then Aineas pushed Machk gently between his shoulder blades and the two of them went into the castle. A maid was waiting for them just inside. She gestured for them to follow her.

“I want to go home,” Machk said softly, surprising himself by repeating the sentiment yet again.

Aineas sighed. “I know, Prince Machk. I know.”

The trio wandered up several flights of stairs and traveled through various hallways, all of which looked the same to Machk, though he wasn’t really paying attention. Finally, they reached what was meant to be Machk’s room. The maid left without being asked to, sensing that Aineas wanted to be alone with Machk.

Aineas went down on one knee and rested both of his hands on Machk’s shoulders. “This is where I leave you.”

Machk nodded, his eyes trained to the ground. He had always known it would happen. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

Aineas smiled sadly. “I don’t enjoy it much myself.”

“Really?” Machk asked, not quite believing him.

“Of course,” Aineas said, sounding a bit surprised that Machk doubted his sincerity. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Machk found himself smiling for what felt like the first time. It was unlike any of his previous grins: it wasn’t broad enough. But hearing Aineas confirm their friendship – that he had not been kind to Machk out of duty but because he liked him – was enough to bring it out.

He thought about being manly, maybe saluting Aineas away, but it wasn’t enough. He threw himself forward, wrapping his arms around the private’s neck fiercely. Aineas grunted with the effort of having Machk’s body thrust upon him, but chuckled soon after. He patted Machk on the back, shaking his head. “You know, I should tell you that you ought to be good.”

Machk nodded, having expected this last instruction, knowing it would obligate him to good behavior for some time to come. He wasn’t looking forward to it.

Aineas lowered his voice. “Give them hell, Prince Machk.”

After that, Aineas and he parted. The servant girl, Rasia, appeared at just the right moment, grinning at him. Machk thought she wasn’t that much older than Nara. He wondered if he reminded her of a little brother she’d left behind. She was giving him that sort of look.

“That Aineas is a nice fellow,” she said casually, though he had to strain to understand her. Her accent was thick and unfamiliar. “I see him around from time to time.”

Machk’s ears perked up. “You do?”

Rasia nodded, tossing her dark braid over her shoulder. “Indeed I do. He’s one of the soldiers stationed near the palace. I expect you’ll have a hard time getting rid of him.”

Machk felt the corner of his mouth inch upwards. “Good.”

She chuckled and leaned against the wall, folding her arms across her chest. He’d been expecting her to bend down to his level. He didn’t mind it so much when Aineas did it, but with girls it was different. They always made it seem like they were talking down to him even when they were looking him right in the eye.

“So, anything you’d like to do now that you’re in the Golden Palace?” Rasia asked, a smirk firmly planted on her lips.

“Go to bed,” Machk said automatically.

She let out a bark of laughter, reminding him that she was not high born. He liked that; ladies were no fun. “I thought as much.” Rasia jerked her head towards his bedchambers. “Help yourself, Prince Machk. I’ll be around in the morning to help you get ready for the ceremony.” She started to leave and then stopped, making a bit of a show of the action. “Unless of course you need help getting ready for bed.”

The back of Machk’s neck turned pink. “Of course not! I’m not a baby.”

Rasia nodded smartly. “That’s what I thought. Don’t know why I even bothered asking.” Rasia curtseyed with a quick wink, waving as she straightened. “Pleasant dreams, Prince Machk.”

“Thanks,” he said, pushing open the heavy wooden door to his chambers. He wandered in yawning, and while he knew he should have had a look at his surroundings so that he wasn’t too surprised in the morning, he couldn’t bring himself to care. He didn’t even take the time to undress. He just climbed up on to the bed, blew out the candle at his right, and quickly fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

And all the while he hoped that he would see his mother’s face when he woke.

-----

“Katsuo! Keep it down. You’re going to wake him up!”

“That’s the point, stupid.”

“Don’t call me stupid.”

“I’ll call you whatever I want. And don’t pout. You know that doesn’t work on me.”

“…would it work if I cried?”

“And you wonder why I say you’re stupid.”

Machk groaned and pulled a pillow over his head, hoping that would send a direct signal to go away.

“Great. Now he hates us.”

“He does not hate us, Acel,” the other boy, Katsuo proceeded to poke Machk sharply in the arm. “Hey? Do you hate us?”

“Kind of,” Machk responded, gnashing his teeth together.

Machk could feel the smaller one, Acel, deflate on the bed. “I told you.”

There was a noise like someone being slapped upside the head, and Acel whining in response. Then Katsuo returned to his poking. “Come on, wake up.”

“If you poke me one more time, I am going to punch you in the face.”

Katsuo hesitated, trying to decide if Machk really would and if poking him again would be worth it. But Machk was familiar with this sort of behavior from the boys he had played with back home, and he knew Katsuo wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation. He readied himself for the attack…

…which came in the form of not being poked, but punched in the arm.

Machk shot bolt upright in bed, all traces of sleep vanished. He spun to look at Katsuo, whose sharp blue eyes cut through him as easily as a nice. This had been his plan all along.

Infuriated, Machk flung his entire body at Katsuo. The two went tumbling off the bed, where the usual scuffle ensued. The fight largely consisted of trying but not necessarily succeeding at getting another punch in, which resulted in the boys doing more damage to themselves than to each other. After what felt like a very long time, both grew tired of the exercise and backed off, only feebly swinging at each other to try and get the last hit in.

“Woah…”

Machk looked up to where Acel was lying on the bed, his mouth slightly agape. He was looking at Machk in amazement, as if he had done something far greater than fight an annoying little blond mop-head.

“What?” Machk asked, rubbing his throbbing nose.

“You beat up Katsuo,” Acel whispered in awe.

Katsuo started to color. “He did not--“

“I didn’t think anyone would actually do that,” Acel continued, completely unaware of Katsuo’s presence.

“He didn’t!” Katsuo snapped, getting to his feet. “Stupid Acel. You can’t even tell the difference between getting beat up and a little fun.”

Machk thought about warning Katsuo again, but he had learned his lesson the first time. Without a word, he reached forward and smacked Katsuo on the backs of his knees, sending the smaller boy tumbling to the ground.

“He did it again!” Acel exclaimed.

Katsuo’s head snapped over to Machk, positively seething. Machk just grinned at him, doing his best to mimic Katsuo’s own smirk, though he doubted he was as good at it. After a moment, Katsuo’s scowl turned into something not quite like a smile, but it was good enough. “You’re not so bad I guess.”

Machk couldn’t help but smile broadly. “Thanks!” He paused. “So… who are you guys anyway?”

Katsuo laughed, his chest puffing out in importance. “I am the seventh son of King Hotaka and Queen Yuri and prince of the Eastern Kingdom, Katsuo.” Then Katsuo’s shoulders drooped a bit and he gestured in Acel’s general direction. “And that’s Acel. He’s stupid.”

Acel straightened, kneeling on the bed. “I’m not--"

“Yeah, I know your names,” Machk said, not wanting to hear the same argument over again. “But why are you here?”

“We wanted to see who the new guardian was!” Acel gushed. “Which one are you anyway? They wouldn’t tell us.”

Machk blinked. “Which one?”

Katsuo crossed his legs underneath him, shaking his head. “He doesn’t know what you’re talking about, Acel.”

Acel frowned. “Well, that’s silly.”

Katsuo leaned over to Machk conspiratorially, as if their fight had not occurred or like it had meant nothing at all to him. “Acel’s talking about how we’re all the future guardians for Prince Endymion, who by the way is even stupider than Acel for getting a cold two days before you showed up. He wanted to meet you too.”

Machk leaned back a little, trying to comprehend what had just been said to him. “The future guardians? You mean you’re--"

“I’m Jadeite,” Katsuo finished grandly. “Or I will be anyway.”

“And I’m going to be Zoisite,” Acel explained. “Katsuo likes that because it means he can boss me around.”

Katsuo nodded seriously. “Yes, that is why I like him. It’s the only reason.” Katsuo looked up to see Acel pouting and promptly pulled the smaller child down to the floor. “Stupid Acel.”

Oddly enough, that seemed to make things better between them.

“So, which one are you?” Katsuo asked again. “Or didn’t they tell you either?”

Machk thought about it for a moment, and realized he had been told who he was going to be. That was what Kunzite had meant when he called him “Nephrite’s heir.” He couldn’t help but resent the fact that this information had come from Kunzite and not Aineas or Queen Petra.

“Nephrite,” he said quietly.

Katsuo smiled even wider. “That means I get to boss you around too!”

Machk reached over and punched Katsuo on the arm again. “We’ll see about that.”

Katsuo looked down at the place where Machk had hit him. “I am going to forget about that because you’re not Kunzite.”

The sound of the name made Machk’s fist curl up in reflex, but the other boys didn’t seem to notice. Acel said, “Kunzite’s going to be the leader. Katsuo’s hoping they don’t find him so he can be the leader.”

Machk didn’t say it, but if the next Kunzite was anything like the current one, Machk too hoped that he wasn’t found.

“He doesn’t need to know that, Acel,” Katsuo ground out.

Acel merely looked up at Katsuo with wide eyes.

“That doesn’t work either.”

“I’ll find something.”

Katsuo got to his feet. “Whatever. We have to get going.”

“Go where?” Machk asked, watching as Acel quickly popped up as well.

“Outside,” Katsuo said.

“But it’s cold outside.”

“So?”

“So why are we going now?”

“How else are we going to show you how to sneak out?”

Machk rolled his eyes and stood up. “Well, if you’d said that in the first place, we could be there already.”

Katsuo smiled and gestured. “Come on. We have to be really quiet. I think the guard on duty tonight is a light sleeper.”

-----

Machk’s assessment turned out to be a bit off. Sneaking out of Endymion’s castle was a lot more complicated than any building Machk had ever snuck out of before. There were a number of hidden staircases and small crawlspaces behind tapestries. Not to mention, there was a rather large number of guards patrolling the halls at all times. Katsuo mentioned that there seemed to be more than usual, making Machk wonder if the king had ordered for there to be more in case Machk tried to run away again.

That’s when it finally occurred to him. Acel and Katsuo were leading him out of the castle. They were using their expertise to get him out without being caught, and they didn’t even know what they were doing! They thought this was just for fun.

He would wait until Katsuo and Acel were distracted. Then he would sneak away and do what his mother had told him to do: run and never look back. When he was older and stronger like his brother, Iye, he would go and find his mother. He would also be sure to pay Kunzite back for every wrong he had committed against him. Everything would be better then.

Machk could barely contain his excitement as Acel and Katsuo led him out of the castle. The enthusiasm seemed to be contagious as Acel hopped beside Machk, still looking as though Machk was his new hero for laying hands on Katsuo. For his part, the future Jadeite took to calling both of them idiots at every available opportunity.

Finally, they made it out of the castle. It took every bit of resistance in his body to keep Machk from immediately taking off running. Of course, he might have been able to make it. His legs were longer than Katsuo’s, and he knew there was no danger in Acel being able to catch him. Still, Machk knew the value of a head start. Somehow, he would have to be patient and wait for his moment.

Unfortunately, Machk had never been patient.

“Where are we going anyway?” Machk hissed as they slipped into the forest surrounding the castle. He would have tried to lose them in the trees except that Acel was still bouncing around him in a circle, blocking every available exit.

“We’re going to the clearing,” Acel said at normal voice. Machk looked up to see if Katsuo would yell at him for it, but his silence told Machk that they were safe from being caught. “It’s where we always go.”

“Why?”

“…It’s where we always go.”

“It’s where the four guardians train sometimes,” Katsuo said, sounding a bit exasperated. “There are other places, but we’re not allowed anywhere but here. They showed us this clearing when we first got here.”

Machk almost asked if Katsuo and Acel had arrived together, but he didn’t. He didn’t want to get to know them anymore. They seemed fun, and he didn’t want anything fun or nice associated with the past few weeks. He didn’t want to long for anything in Elysian. He wanted to run far away from it without any regrets.

Finally, they made it to the edge of the forest. Machk couldn’t help but be a little taken aback at the sight when Katsuo stepped out of his field of vision. “Clearing” had been something of an understatement. It was in fact a wide field filled with wildflowers that Machk thought would be beautiful in the sunlight. He could also see several spots in the area where it was just grass. He assumed those were the spots that the guardians would train. It seemed like a peaceful place, not the sort of area where men trained for war. Machk wanted nothing more than to lie among the flowers, inhale the scents of the night, and look up at the stars as they looked down at him.

Machk found himself wondering about the four protectors of the king. Were they just as bad as Kunzite, or did they hate their leader too? Were they friends like Acel and Katsuo were? Was he really supposed to become one of them?

Machk closed his eyes, shaking the thoughts out of his head. None of that mattered to him. Freedom mattered.

“All right?” Katsuo asked, rousing Machk from his thoughts. Machk looked over at him, watching as Katsuo tried to raise an eyebrow but wound up just sort of mashing them together.

“Yeah,” Machk lied, nodding.

Acel ran ahead of them, onto the patch of earth raised up from the ground like a sad attempt at a hill. “Look at the stars, Machk! Aren’t they pretty? That one’s called “The Big Dipper,” but I think your kingdom calls it “The Big Bear,” right? And then the smaller one…”

Machk wasn’t paying attention to the night sky. He was only aware of his quickening heartbeat and the growing anticipation rising up in his stomach. Acel had gone away from him. If Katsuo would just turn his back and stop looking at Machk, he could run. If he could get a head start, there was no way either of them would catch him. Then he’d be rid of Elysian once and for all.

Katsuo didn’t move for a moment, as if anticipating Machk’s desires. But eventually Acel’s rambling on about the constellations forced him to react. He rolled his eyes and sauntered ahead. “I’m sure Machk’s seen plenty of stars than this on his way here.”

Machk felt like he was going to throw up. Katsuo was walking too slowly. He was taking his time, and Machk felt like he was being teased. He gnashed his teeth and wished he had thought to knock Katsuo out.

Katsuo looked over his shoulder, and something in his eyes made Machk anxious. “That right?”

“They kept me in the tents,” Machk muttered quickly. “I didn’t see any stars on my way here.”

Acel whirled around, looking as though some great injustice had befallen Machk. He was right of course, but not about that. “That’s horrible!”

Machk folded his arms across his chest. With the two of them looking at him and Katsuo being as close as he was, Machk could do nothing. He was going to have to stall and hope that he got another opportunity. “No, it’s not horrible. That’s not even close to being horrible.”

Acel seemed surprised, but Machk noticed with some unease that Katsuo didn’t even blink. Machk wanted to ask him if he had been forced to come to Elysian as well, but if he knew the answer to that question, he might be convinced to stay.

“You should look at them now,” Acel advised softly. “Maybe it’s not horrible, but it’s not good either.”

It was a stupid thing to want him to do. Machk had seen stars before, and he hadn’t had opportunity to feel deprived while he as being taken to Elysian. But he knew that Katsuo was expecting him to do it and that Acel wanted him to do it. Refusing would do nothing but cause him trouble and attract attention to himself. What he needed most was for them to be distracted.

So Machk looked up.

At first, he had to find himself agreeing with Acel. It was a beautiful night. The clouds were encircling his field of vision, framing the heavenly field. They twinkled at him and he thought of Nara’s smile, Iye’s sword, and his mother’s eyes.

That’s when he heard the voices.

your younger brother will fall and wear a scar on his face for all his days.

your sister will never love and never marry.

katsuo will trip a priest at tomorrow’s ceremony but escape a whipping.

“Who’s there?” Machk called, looking down from the sky and training his gaze to the woods behind him.

“Umm… owls?” Katsuo asked incredulously as the creature cried out into the night. “What are you talking about? No one’s there.”

“I heard voices,” Machk snapped, regretting it instantly.

“Voices?” Katsuo asked, laughing. “Nephrite’s not going to be happy when he hears you’re a nut.”

“Shut up!” Machk raged, turning around to face Katsuo. Even the smug little boy knew enough to take a step back even though he was out of arm’s length. “I heard someone whispering! I’m not crazy.”

Machk looked over at Acel, daring him to say anything. The younger boy remained silent, frightened. Then Machk continued looking around, searching the shadows for a hidden figure. He looked in all directions and found nothing. Then he began to search the tops of the trees.

your elder brother will die in battle.

“Shut up!” Machk raged, tears springing to his eyes. “Stop lying!”

“I didn’t say anything,” Katsuo snapped, almost by rote. He probably heard the accusation a lot.

Machk kicked the ground in frustration. “I’m not talking to you!”

“Then who are you talking to?” Katsuo asked through his teeth. “I already told you. There’s nobody around.”

“Yes, there is.”

Machk and Katsuo both turned to Acel, who’s near whisper had almost been lost among their shouting. Both were surprised to see him looking up, staring open-mouthed at the dark above them. “They’re here.”

Katsuo glanced up derisively. “What? The bugs?”

“The stars, Katsuo,” Acel corrected.

Katsuo’s eyes widened. He turned to Machk in shock and said, “You’re a diviner?”

“What?” Machk asked, shaking his head. “I don’t know--"

“A diviner is someone who can figure out what’s going to happen,” Acel explained quietly, his voice starting to soothe Machk’s anger, but not his fear. “They see it in mirrors or dreams. And sometimes the stars tell them.”

Machk now realized that he knew exactly what Acel was talking about, though he had never heard the word before. His mother had always called them mystics.

Machk shook his head. “No, I can’t be a… diviner. I heard Mama say it would either be Yahto or Nara after she--"

He stopped. He couldn’t figure out why at first. But he felt his stomach threaten to come out of his throat and his skin felt as though it were burning with cold fire.

Machk looked up to the stars and heard the whispering start again. His eyes darted from light to light, moving so quickly that he could scarcely make out one sentence from another. They blended together in a cacophony full of sentences no one else would ever hear. It made his head want to implode. He could only make out snippets about red suns, grey mornings, and loss. He could make out doom and joy and indifference, but he could not find what he was searching for.

“My mother!” he shouted. “Where’s my mother!”

They kept whispering about everything except for his mother. He heard things about Acel and Katsuo, about the kingdom, about his siblings, but nothing about her.

“Where is she?” he cried out, his voice cracking and the fire from his skin spreading to his eyes.

Still, they ignored his question. It took him a moment to realize that they could not see the present. They were whispering only about the future. They couldn’t see him; they could only see what had not yet come to pass.

“What is going to happen to Mama?” he asked desperately, his shoulders jerking.

They fell silent for a moment, but it was a short one. Their answer came quickly, as if they were so knowledgeable that they need not even consider the truth of the matter. When the answer came, Machk felt as if a knife had been shoved down his throat.

we see no future for isuza.

That was when he knew the truth. It was family legend that the ability to see the future could only be held by one person at a time. With the death of the current holder, the gift would be passed on. His mother had passed on her ability to read the smoke to him. He could hear the stars.

The tears came quickly, like a wall crashing down on him. They erupted from his chest with a scream, his fingers digging into his palms. He turned and started to run, his eyes shut so that he would never have to see another star, never have to hear another deadly whisper.

He felt two small arms wrap around his waist.

His eyes flew open. He looked down to see a mop of frizzy blond hair on level with his chest. It was Acel, hugging him around the waist and keeping him from running away.

“Let me go,” Machk sobbed. “Let me go… Stupid Acel, let me go!”

Acel turned his face up to Machk, eyes wide and unhurt. Machk felt his sympathy like a warm blanket in the summer, comforting but unwanted. He did not let go. “Your mama’s dead, isn’t she?”

Hearing it didn’t make things any better. Machk tried to push Acel away so that he could run, but he was surprised to find that he couldn’t make his arms work right. He was used to being stronger than everyone else. He didn’t know what to do with this sudden weakness.

“It’s okay,” Acel said softly, his assuredness unsettling. “My mama’s dead too. I never got to meet her though… But I bet she was really nice. Just like yours, right?”

Machk stared down at Acel, wanting nothing more than to shake him away. “Stop it! You don’t know anything! You don’t--"

“I’m sorry,” Acel said, interrupting him with a soft forcefulness.

Machk sniffed messily, tears falling from his cheeks and onto Acel’s hair. “You’re not sorry. You’re not. You’re just--"

Acel didn’t say anything then. He just tightened his grip around Machk and buried his face in the older boy’s chest.

Machk felt his fists shaking with the impulse to act. He wanted to run. He wanted to hit something. He didn’t want to stand there and feel like the world was ending, but Acel would not let him go.

“He is sorry, you know.”

Machk looked up, surprised to find Katsuo looking at him.

“It’s not enough,” Machk whispered hoarsely.

Katsuo walked forward and put a hand on Machk’s shoulder, a gesture Machk thought was too old for him. But there was something calming about that. It made him feel like Katsuo was in control. That somehow everything would be all right because Katsuo at least acted like he knew what he was doing.

Suddenly, Acel’s embrace seemed less like a cage and more like a release.

Machk shuddered again as more sobs ran out of his body. Machk turned and buried his face in Katsuo’s shoulder, wanting nothing more than for someone to say that everything was going to be all right. But of course, none of the boys did. Even at their age they knew that such a statement was neither fallacy nor truth.

“I want my mama,” Machk hiccupped, feeling pathetic.

“So do I,” Acel murmured with a mixture of pain and curiosity.

Katsuo didn’t echo the sentiment, but they all knew that he felt the same.

They stood in the clearing until the sun rose and the stars disappeared, but Machk could still feel them, hidden by the light. He did not look up, using Katsuo and Acel as shields from his pain. They were willing protectors, and it was at that point that Machk realized that they had somehow become friends.

Acel seemed to draw the same conclusion, coming to a quiet realization. “You never told us your name.”

Machk would have laughed at the absurdity of it, but he couldn’t do that yet. The ache went too deep. “I’m Machk,” he said quietly. “Isuza’s son.”

Katsuo nodded. It felt like approval. “We should be getting back.”

Machk could not have agreed more. He needed a ceiling over his head.

So the three disentangled themselves and began to sneak back to the palace with more care now that the sun could expose them. This time, both Acel and Katsuo walked in front of him. Neither of them ever turned around to see if he was still there.

Machk thought it would have been stupid of them to do so. He wasn’t going to run away anymore.

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