Cleaning up~ [Houri]

Choices


  Some you make, some you are forced to make, some are made for you, however no matter what you do with your choices, the consequences and joys that are bound to them is what makes life such a wonderful adventure or a terrible tragedy. It is always up to us how to look and the way we face the outcome of what we decided to do with the gift of life.

There deep within the barren wastelands of the Planet Vegeta, inside of a cave carved in the rock, lived a small Saiyan boy, one whose choices despite being innocent to them, were about to change his fate forever. However, who could say if this was not his fate all along?

That would remain to be seen.

  Inside of his cave and while rummaging his belongings in a frantic way, Houri waited for Vulpeca’s return as nervous as a kid could be, after all things had not worked out as he had hoped. After making his decision to go with the red haired demon over the proud and stoic Saiyan warrior Bataka, Houri thought that he was to go to another place and live a different and better life. However, his hopes had sunk as soon as Vulpeca asked for a few days in order to arrange his coming and preparing everything for his arrival.

  During the first day, Houri waited and tried not to be anxious while tried to look at the starry sky for every flash and light he could see in the sky thinking of Vulpeca, however, after the third and fourth day, his hopes had dwindled into a small doubt in his mind.
Would he still come? Had he changed his mind? Did something happened to him?

  He had to have faith in Vulpeca’s word, maybe he was testing him to see how much he would wait? Or was just simply busy with whatever the arrangements he had to do, which at that point, made Houri question how heavy of a burden he was being to Vulpeca, since he must go to such lengths to help him.
He was so lost in thoughts that only after Vulpeca called upon his name from the entrance of his cave that Houri noticed his presence. However, the appearance of the red haired demon came as a light cutting thru a darkened sky.
Houri smiled broadly while coming close to Vulpeca’s figure and greeting him with eyes full of hope and a rewarded faith.

 - Mr Vulpeca! –

 Although the kid only said the fox’s name, so much more was visible in his expression, his words and his eyes. Houri was beaming with happiness while seeing the red haired man, to say the least. Houri even thought about hugging Vulpeca, however he held his hands across his back leaning back and forward while trying to contain his surge of energy and happiness.

He heard what the fox had to say and with a dwindled smile said while reaching out in the cave and coming out with his small treasures. A picture of his foster mother, an old and battered but still functional scouter and a red scarf.

- Those belonged to my mom, the picture, I use it to remember her face, so I won’t forget her, the scarf, she used to wear and gave to me while I was cold one day, I have been keeping it safe ever since she gave me, it still has her smell.

- Finally this, is a scouter of one of the men that took her away from me, I kept it so I can track them down one day. These are my only possessions, and of course, that small pod over there.

- I fixed a few pieces of it and I think it is functioning, but I do not know how to read and pilot it, but I wish we could take it.

While explaining to Vulpeca about his belongings the word spoken by the red haired man struck him like a lightning bolt right across his head. Home, for so long had he not had a home, for so long the only thing he could call home were his tent that he completely lost notion of space and only muttered to himself while a smile crossed his lips.

- Home, a place to go back. –

Houri was clearly dreaming awake, for so long the only thing he wanted was a better place for him and now, he was about to have one, with one big plus, someone that sincerely seemed to care for him, someone he could count on. It was a bliss to say the least. However Houri was caught by surprise when asked about food, after all, his life was simple with his mother and after she died, he only ate what he could catch, so being as honest as he was, he could only reply based on what he had seen across the windows he had spied on.

- Actually, have no favorite food, I cannot remember of what kinds of food I used to eat with my mom but we were simple, but I wish, we could eat ice cream, and rice, cooked food, real food. Anyway, I think I am ready. I only have with me what is really important.

Houri had now at his back a small knapsack and like much of his things, it was something improvised, made of scraps. The sack was filled with his belongings and while he was nervous about what might come to pass, he was ready for whatever might come. Or at least he thought he was.

- Yes, I think having them help me remind what is important to me and why do I keep going forward. It gives me a reason to stand up, to fight. –



Houri had a smile on his childish face as he reminisced about how he choose to face his own life, the skinny kid walked around his camp for one last time checking anything to see if he had forgotten anything, he came and went inside his cave a couple more times while talking to Vulpeca.



- By the way, her name was Minos, she was a good mother, but could be very scary when I forgot to do any chores…


Even if his appearance were to be of a child and his words were to be lighthearted and energetic, his walk and poise were somewhat burdened, stressed out to say the least, the boy moved in a tired way, even if a little bit more than usual, after all, he had been up waiting for Vulpeca for almost four days. It took him no more than a few minutes before he came up everything ready and covering up the pod as he hid it deep inside the cave.


- Ok, I hid it inside the cave and it should be safe until you send someone to get it back, and wow, a bath, haha I cannot remember when was the last time I had one, a month ago? I guess.


While the kid laughed loud at his own remark it was true, he was completely dirty and had not washed in a long time, but not due to lack of hygiene, but due to simply not always finding secure places to bath or places with usable water. It did not take long to Houri take flight after Vulpeca, and while they were traveling towards the city, the kid could not help to wander how cool would his new clothes be, how would they look like? Would he be able to choose them? Would he had more than one?


All those questions would have to wait tough, after all, Houri had one more thing in mind as he talked with Vulpeca while flying.


- When you say, ruins, it means the old ruins that are away from the wastelands, wow, it must be some secret super modern base deep underground, you must live like ninjas! Or ninja moles if you are underground… Anyway, I tried to scavenge there sometimes, never found anything really good or usable, and most of the other Saiyans do not like going there. They say it is HAUNTEEEEEED! AHahaha, I cannot believe that there are warriors full of pride that are afraid of ghosts! -



- And about what you are? Well, you are my friend! Even my guardian angel if you think of it like a fairy tale, a fairy godfather I guess, but no, I never wondered what you are, the only thing I know it is that you are not Saiyan, but, then, what kind of alien are you? –





Houri was definitely curious, as always, but his first answer was so sincere that might have caught the fox by surprise, the kid had no preconceptions and knew no prejudice against races, in fact he was more curious than anything else, but know what vulpeca really was would not change how he felt about the kind hearted demon.



- You know, I was wondering, what kind of suit do you think it would look awesome in me? I always wanted to wear something awesome, imposing, to look great, even with a cape or a cloak. It would be awesome.
Also, Mr Vulpeca, can we get things to train me too? I have some savings with me and i really want to train hard now, next time mr Bataka sees me, i want to be able to be stronger than anyone from that academy. -

- So… You are a Demon! Wow! –



- What is a Demon? -


Houri was a funny kid.


That was an unquestionable truth, he might be a prodigy and even have a power level that could put most of the academy recruits to shame, however he was still a kid, and with that, came all the super powers that kids have at their disposal to surprise and to warm the hearts of the adults they usually come across.

It was no different now with Vulpeca, the kid once again showing his kind and innocent nature had shattered the walls of prejudice that the demon was worried about.

With a smile as they flew towards the capital Houri Said.



- You are the first Demon I get to know Mr. Vulpeca, but you know, I hope all of you are as nice as you are. People usually judge us by everything except who we really are and what we do, but look at me, do I look like the regular Saiyan standard? Haha I guess not. –

As they landed, Houri ended up forgetting to answer about the keeping the secret part, and with that, he just smiled and lifted his thumb up while saying.



- Yeah I will, promise, anyway, is she like your mom or teacher? And I never really stayed there at the ruins for long, I did not knew about the radiation, but whenever I ventured too far in there for scraps, I would usually feel a bit sick if lingered too long. The first times I could barely stay more than a couple minutes, but as I got stronger, I could stand a couple more and then an hour, and then two hours, but never more than that.



- I figured out that whenever I burned my power I could stay for a bit longer, so at times I did that to keep scavenging but I always felt sick afterwards, so I never did that more than once in a couple of months, my instinct always told me to keep away you know.



- Were born here? At the capital or at the wastelands? How are your parents like? Do you know them or are you like me? I always wandered where babies come from, is it different for demons and Saiyans to be born?



Houri was curious, indeed the more he knew the more he wanted to know, that was a fact, Vulpeca now was experiencing it first hand as he bombarded the demon with questions that most grownups usually avoid like the plague. However, Houri was more and more energetic as he felt safe and at ease with the Demon, he did not really knew about the nature of races, or the stereotypes, and that, managed to give him a freedom of choice and beliefs that few had.


As they got down at the capital the kid could only marvel at the sightings, even if the place was destroyed it was his first time around and so, he never had seen such a big structure before, or so many people coming and going in such a regular and normal way.


He looked up, to the left, to the right, and almost twirled as he wondered what people do usually to get money and to work. Was there a Saiyan clerk at the grocery store? Or a Saiyan cook?


With that in mind, his curiosity spiked up again as he asked.



- Soooo Big! I had never been here, but why is it all wrecked up? Did someone fought here? Also, where is the place? Are we there yet? -

- So a demon is an evil spirit… You seem quite fleshy for me to be a spirit, anyway, someone should revise that description, I do not agree that because you are born on an evil place you are evil too… Everyone is free to choose how to live and what to, being good or evil, it is a matter of choice, not of birth… I could be like all the other Saiyans, but, if I did that I would not be as special as I am, and I choose to be good.



- And I am really happy that you are good to Mr. Vulpeca, I can sense how good you actually are, I feel your heart you know. It is a kid’s super power! –





With a smile Houri was again at his brutally sincere mode, one he could not turn off and would turn on more often than he imagined, as they walked down the streets and the demon spoke of the incubation chambers Houri at times put his hand on his chin thinking while being instructed.



- Ok, incubation chambers, I would like to see a baby being made someday, it must be cool to look the incubation chamber changing with the small baby inside. And Again, underground tunnels, Ninja moles, that’s all I am going to say haha. Funny thing to think.



- And do not worry Mr Vulpeca, I promise I will not go to the ruins and will not be playing there. And Nakiya? It is a nice name, is she nice and good like you? –





  Houri while asking and talking with Vulpeca ended up entering the bath house and by being so distracted with the questions and all the sights and smells barely noticed that he was being scrutinized by the owner of the place. As he went to get ready for the bath Houri stated to Dimitri as he was about to leave.



- Hello Mr Dimitri, sorry if I did not talked to you when I came in, I really liked your place, it is very nice, thank you for letting me in. My name is Houri. Nice to meet you.-


   Good manners, his mom never had much in life, however she was wise enough to teach Houri how to behave and greet other people, because as stated by her long ago. “ Good manners are a good way to stay alive and make a good impression on ones that you know nothing about”

After entering the bath area Houri managed only to gasp as he slowly and carefully took off his ragged and tattered clothings. He was bewildered at the sight of the bath area, there were no showers around, in the place where they should be, on the walls, small waterfalls came out of the walls with crystalline water, at his feet a pond big enough for more than five people laid there waiting with hot water, salts and other beauty items.


  Houri did not wasted any time at jumping at the water like a pool and for the first time in a very long while relaxing, he undid his ponytail and took the bath of his life. He scrubbed every inch of his body, every area, took out even some bugs from his own hair in the process. Truth be told he was not just dirty, he was filthy, but after almost two entire hours bathing and playing in the water the kid was a new person. His hair had lost volume and now reached around his shoulders, his face was completely clean and he even smelled good enough to be accepted and welcomed at a restaurant.

One curious thing is that anyone looked at his body while he was naked, they would be able to see an innumerable amount of scars, from small lines to bigger ones resembling claws from animals. Most of them were faded, but still there to be taken pride of.


After being a bit lost about what to do with his own clothes Houri wrapped himself in a towel and asked from the door.



- Hello? I am finished here, what should I do now? Mr. Vulpeca?

- WOAAAH this thing is awesome! Look, how amazing do I look? This Armor is great! I love it! I love it! Mr. Vulpeca thank you so much! So Much! –

Hope, it is a funny word, it means something that is deeply desired, needed and that even at the slightest of chances, can be achieved. For a child that for so long had nothing but crumbles and scraps from what society had to offer, now he had the promise of a better life not just in front of him, but happening at that very moment.

However, it was not just about the gifts, about a chance to live a better life, to have a home, to become part of something larger than his own life. It was about acknowledgment, be watched over, about being cared for. Houri even if he did not realized this and although he did not showed or talked about it his heart greatly desired what he was getting from Vulpeca in such a natural and selfless way.

To be cared for, to be protected from other people, for once he could laugh and be happy, be light hearted as any child deserved to be.
That is why, upon seeing his clothes and trying them on for the first time, smelling the new and clean clothes Houri hugged Vulpeca as warmly as he could, for a couple of seconds he kept the hug until breaking it over with his eyes full of tears.

- Thank you so much for saving me from what I lived before, I did not have much hopes for me, but you gave me back the hope to believe I can be more than just a kid from the wastelands. –

He did not cry, instead, he only brushed away his tears while looking at the heavy weighted armors as if measuring how much effort he would do to wear them.


- These are heavy, do you wear things like this every day to train? I would take some time getting used to it but I liked it. All of it, these armors are incredible, they are beautiful, and the colors, I love blue and black! Thank you! –

- What are we going to do now Mr. Vulpeca? -