Fading Away
All that's left is a prayer for the dying..
 

Dedicated to my good friend A, who is a inspirational person and a wonderful friend.
And the thought of treasuring who and not what you have


 
 

    “Teepo… no.. you can’t..” Tears ran down Ryu’s face as Rei rushed forward. Kneeling before a broken and bleeding Teepo, the violet hared boy stared into Ryu’s vibrant green eyes. Ryu stared back transfixed, Teepo’s sanguine eyes seemed dull, absent of luster, like embers of a dying flame. But as Teepo spoke rasping to Rei, his eyes captured Ryu’s attention, speaking volumes. They seemed to be calling for him no begging…
     “Teepo!” Ryu went down beside the slight weak form. “Don’t die, Brother! Please!” Ryu took his hand unable to control his sobbing any longer. Teepo smiled, a sweet look on his battered tortured face.
     “After all this time, what I have done to you, Ryu. You still call me that?”


     Snowflakes flew gently blanketing the forest with pure white. Shimmering white glitter that sparkled in the clouded morning light. Teepo, a tiny young boy, sat on a walkway on top of his home, that he shared with Ryu and Rei. He shivered, the boy covered in a light layer of snow. Teepo wondered what he would look like covered in white, then laughed at his own foolishness, an echoing sound through the empty forest. He loved the feeling of the icy cold trying to claim the warmth of his body, but it will never succeed. This child was too alive, and full of inhuman strength to succumb. Teepo smirked and shrugged the white chill off his body. Then he turned around and opened a door that led back into inside, accepting the house’s protection.
     Inside was a pair of beds, a desk with Ryu’s diary sitting on top. A small shivering bundle occupied one of the beds; a tiny blue hared head stuck out of the blankets, staring at a wall.
     “Teepo.” He whimpered turning around, bright green eyes shimmering with tears, his face flushed with fever. The small child clutched the blankets tightly to keep the cold away.
     “Ryu? Why are you here all alone? Isn’t Rei supposed to be here?” Teepo asked impatiently.
     “He told you that he was going to town for more of my medicine, remember?” Ryu sneezed, and shivered with renewed vigor.
     “Oh…I’m sorry Ryu.” Teepo replied sheepishly, looking for a distraction; finding it in Ryu’s diary. “Hey! Have you already forgotten this? It’s been days since you have last written inside of it.” Teepo held out the book and pen to the somber child.
     “I don’t wanna.” Ryu sniffled miserably.
     “Come on.” Teepo flashed a dazzling smile across his pale lips. “Ryu! You love this worthless worn book. You can’t forget about it! Hey why don’t you read over your entries from the fall?” Ryu sat up, still clutching the blankets to him, brightened by the other boy’s enthusiasm. He nodded almost eagerly and took the book from Teepo’s hands. A slight smile appeared on his flushed face as he busily began to read.
     Teepo planted himself on the edge of Ryu’s bed, watching the boy read contently for a minute. His hand drifted down to his pocket, pulling out a small ball and bounced it lazily against the floor. Easily catching it with deft fingers.
     “Ryu were you crying…. Because you were lonely?” Teepo asked not looking at the boy’s face.
     “No, well…” Came the quiet shy response through the shuffling of paper. “There’s this man, in my dreams. He wants something from me! I don’t know b-but he scares me.” As Ryu spoke fresh tears poured down Ryu’s face.
     “Well, I…you shouldn’t have been scared!” Teepo looked up at the startled boy, eyes flashing, rushing forward before the startled boy could respond. “Ryu, no matter what I’ll protect you. Because you’re just a little squirt and I…”
     “Like a brother?” Ryu asked innocently. “You’ll be my brother right? You’ll protect me?”
    “Y-yeah…” Teepo grinned nervously. Ryu giggled a bit and wrapped small arms around his brother’s waist. A content look on the sickly boy’s face.
     “H-hey! No! Germs!” Teepo leaped back and fell off the bed.
     “Teepo…? Are you all right? Teepo!” Ryu peered hesitantly over the edge, only to find Teepo wasn’t there.
     “BONZAI!” Teepo yelled tackling the boy from behind, and tickling him unmercifully. Shrieks of laughter and screaming filled the room, as the two brothers fought. When it was over there were no more sickly and sad children in that house.


     “I… I broke my promise, Ryu.” Tears dripped down Teepo’s face. “I failed you, I couldn’t protect you. I betrayed you Ryu. How I hate her! How I hate myself!”
     “No...” Ryu hugged the dying man’s body, suddenly it seemed as if all his friends were gone. It was just him and Teepo there together. Teepo’s weak arms held on, his face buried in the stronger light dragon’s shoulder.
     “Teepo, don’t worry!” Ryu pulled away not noticing the blood covering his tunic. Teepo’s lifeblood. “You can make it! We’ll go… to Windia together, just like you’ve always wanted!” Ryu couldn’t see the mournful and guilty expressions on his friends faces, or the quiet whisper that tried to tell him that all their healing magic was used and there wasn’t potions to cure him.
     “Windia.” Teepo said treasuring the word, a sweet reminder of that innocent time, when his dreams were filled with hope and freedom. Before a life of loneliness and despair, trapped in solitary prison for crimes never committed.


     “Teepo?” Ryu stood next to his violet hared brother, who was sitting on the bank next to a tiny river. Teepo was staring at the sky, a dreamy expression on his face.
     “Zenny for your thoughts?” Ryu asked holding out a small coin and giggled. Teepo snatched the money and grinned, even though it didn’t matter they all shared their meager money anyway. It was just Ryu’s way of getting the older boys’ attention. Ryu sat down and tugged at Teepo’s sleeve impatiently.
     “I don’t think one zenny is enough.” Teepo teased ruffling Ryu’s messy blue hair.
     “Teeps!” Ryu whined and pouted, folding his arms across his chest.
     “All right, don’t get upset.” Teepo sighed. “I was thinking about Windia.”
     “Again?” The younger boy asked incredulously.
     “Yes again!” Do you want me to tell you or not?” Teepo asked annoyed that he was interrupted. Ryu nodded and Teepo continued. “Windia is the most beautiful city in the world, there are plants, trees, and flowers. It’s not dirty like most cities, everything is white and glowing in the clear sunlight. We’ll never go hungry, the place is teeming with any kind of food you could want. We’ll have a real house, not that drafty and leaky old fort. Rei won’t have to hunt anymore, and we can eat every day like everyone else.”
     Ryu’s face glowed with happiness. “Do you really think we could ever…?”
     “Of course! I’ll make my dream happen Ryu! For you, Rei, and me, I promise Ryu I’ll make my dream come true.”

  


     “A child’s wish, never realized..I.” Teepo’s voice was struggling to be heard, his words weak whispers. Then desperately he shouted, “Forget about me Ryu. I died a long time ago, when Balio and Sunder came for revenge. Teepo perished when our dreams were torn apart, the monster that tried to destroy you. He isn’t your brother, he doesn’t deserve it any longer…” Teepo fell back then, his eyes fluttering closed for the last time.
     “No, Teepo you’re wrong.” Ryu whispered. “You’re not a monster, never were a monster. Just a confused, lonely, and mournful child, my lost brother.” As he spoke a soft smile seemed to curve the dark dragon’s lips, slowly as the boy’s body faded away. Leaving a piece of armor, sending a message to the mourning company.

Fight her Ryu. Be safe, this is the only way I can protect you.

The only thought to comfort them was that he is finally free.
 


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