Full Circle(Solo/ close

[Sakura]

Sakura sat next to the road with his sword by his side. He was sitting on a bolder looking at a map. His bag was next to the bolder and was tied to his left leg. His travels had tought him caution was better than sacafice as he knew all to well how sneaky thieves were.

"Looks like I am lost again" spoke Sakura as he berried himself in his map. "I am suppose to be in Caelin but according that old woman I am in Tania. Am I cursed or something" spoke Sakura with fustration in his voice.

The young man then jumped off the bolder. He folded his map and placed it back into a pouch on his belt. He untied his bag from his leg. He slung it over his shoulder and walked down the road. " If I am in Tania I might as well see mother" spoke Sakura. Sakura had no intentions of meeting his mother face to face, but seeing her face after two years was a good start.

[Sakura]

Sakura walked down the road leading to Castle Tania. He remembered this road well. It was the same road he walked when he left Tania the first time. "Man does this bring back memories" spoke Sakura.

As he walked down the road Sakura noticed a young girl carrying a basket filled with black berries. "Hold on a second" spoke Sakura to himself. "Is that Alice."

As the words left Sakura mouth the young girl turned around. She had heard her name spoken and turned to see who was calling her. With the reflexes of a cat Sakura rushed into the bushes. Alice was his childhood friend and meeting her would result in him being dragged back home to see his mother. He did not want to talk to her right now.

"What who is there" spoke Alice as she looked for the person who called her. She scanned the area for any movement or sound of the speaker.

Me and my bad habit of talking to myself spoke Sakura in his mind. If that girl finds me I am doomed.

Sakura did not move a single muscle as Alice scanned the area. After a minute of searching she gave up and began her journey a new down the road.

"Oh man that was close" spoke Sakura as he pulled himself out of the bushes. A brilliant idea bounced around Sakura head. Alice lived in town. If he followed her he would not have to worry about his habit of getting lost. " Time to shadow her" spoke Sakura.

"You might want to rethink your decision" spoke a voice from behind Sakura. The voice was un mistakable and Sakura knew who it was. He turned around and was meet with a wall of steel.

"Stalking a young lady is a crime worth of a flogging" spoke a tall man in elaborate green armor.

"Old Priam" spoke Sakura as he looked up at the General. "I am not really stalking her I just wanted to find my way back home."

The General stopped for a moment and looked at the boy. He then picked the boy up by his shirt lifting him into the air with one arm to get a better look. "Sakura" spoke Priam with a tone of disbelief.

"Yelp, it is me Sakura the trouble maker. So Guard Captain Priam can you put me down now. I like to stand on my two feet."

Priam paused for a second and placed the young Sakura back on his feet. "Thank the heavens" spoke Priam. "We all thought you died two years ago."

"Two years ago" spoke Sakura in disbelief. "I feel insulted. That is around the same time I left. What kind of armature do you all take me for."

Priam stopped and gave a stern look at Sakura. "Sakura, you left for home in the middle of the night. Leaving your mother only a poorly written note."

The smile on Sakura face vanished as Priam began to speak. " Yeah, I know" spoke Sakura in a low tone.

"We rallied the guard and tracked you to a cliff. There we found signs of you falling off into a fast moving current. We figured you drowned in the river and gave up the search."

"Yeah, I used a trick I heard from a traveling merchant. You use rope and logs. The trick is to not let the logs touch the ground."

"crafty little bugger" spoke Priam. "What ever the case you need to go visit your mother and apologize right away."

"Of course" spoke Sakura despite his intentions to not speak to her. He knew if he told Priam he would be dragged backed to his mother house and presented to her like a prize.

"Follow the road straight" spoke Priam. "I have some more rounds to make. If you are not at your mother house when I return."

Sakura interrupted his speech. "I understand Priam. Go see my mother right away."

"Good" spoke Priam as he walked away disappearing down the road.

[Sakura]

"Curse you old man Priam" spoke Sakura as the old man vanished down the road. "Thanks to him my time scale has been shorten."

Sakura began to walk down the path thinking long and hard about his current situation. He did not want to see his mother yet. He has not accomplished anything since he left two years ago, but Priam has forced the situation. The young man lifted his head up from the path. The city wall surrounding castle Tania was now in full view.

"Home" spoke Sakura to himself as his eyes feasted on the stone walls of Tania. It had been two years since he last visited Tania.

"Sakura" spoke a voice in front of the young novice.

"What" spoke Sakura as he looked down to see a young girl with orange win tails.

"Sakura" spoke the young girl again.

Oh crap it is Alice spoke Sakura in his head. I have to play this off.

"Sakura? Who is that suppose to be" spoke Sakura as he looked around. He was placing up an act in order to fool Alice. If anybody were to ruin his plan to sneak away it would be Alice.

"Don't play stupid" shouted Alice. "You are Sakura. There is no man in all of Lycia with pink hair like yours."

"I have no idea what you are talking about" responded Sakura. "Besides I am not from Lycia" he lied in an attempt to throw her off.

"Sakura stop acting stupid" shouted Alice. "I can tell who you are by your face. It is not like you have changed that much in two years."

Curse you Alice shouted Sakura in his head. I need to convince this girl I am not me. If this goes on it will attract the attention of the guards and my mother would probably come her to investigate.

"Listen here you twin tail. I don't know this Sakura you speak of. My name is Rath and I am from Sacae. I have no idea who this Sakura person is but I am not him."

This was the best Sakura had. If this did not work he was surly busted. His clothing supported the lie. His shirt was indeed made in sacae, but his face gave him away. The bright pink hair and dark skin was not a popular trait in Sacae. In fact dark brown skin and bright pink hair was not a major trait in Lycia.

Alice paused for a second. She took a good look at Sakura and his Sacaen outfit. She then looked at his sword.

"I guess so" spoke Alice to Sakura satisfaction.

Maybe I am out of the woods Sakura thought to himself.

"Since you are not from around here I can escort you around town" spoke Alice with a bright smile on her face. Normally one would think her smile was a sign of good faith, but Sakura knew better. That smile was actually a mark for her next few malicious deeds.

Refusing her hospitality was out of the question. Sakura knew if he refused to join her he would be revealing himself. He had no choice, but to entertain her purposely.

"Very well young lady" spoke Sakura in his impression of a Sacaen voice. "I could use a guide."

"Good then I will get right to it" spoke Alice as she grabbed hold of his right risk. The young girl wasted no time pulling him to the gate. Her plan was obvious. She was going to use the guards to discover his identity. If what he said was true he would have to show a sign of legal entry into Lycia. His name had to be on it.

Cleaver move thought Sakura in his mind. Alice you were always one of quick witts and intelligence. Unfortunately for you things will not go your way. I already have a way out of this ploy.

As Alice and Sakura arrived at the gate she let go of his hand. "Hay Mr. Johnson" shouted Alice.

"Oh, back already from the farm" spoke the guard.

"Yeah" responded Alice as she stopped in front of him. "You won't believe who I found along the way."

"Who" spoke the guard as he looked up to see the young Sakura standing behind her.

"Sakura" spoke the guard with excitement in his voice.

Curses thought Sakura to himself. Why does my mother have to be friends with all the gaurds. What kind of Tailor hangs out with guardsmen anyway.

"Nope" spoke Alice in an upbeat tone. "He says he is a swordsmen from Sacae."

"Sacae" spoke the guard. He looked at the young Novice. He noticed the shirt and clothing the young man was wearing. It was indeed form Sacae, but his face told him otherwise. "Well then" spoke the guard. "We are going to have to see about that. Young man. If you are really from Sacae then you should have a pass right.

Got him thought Alice to herself. She was dead sure he was Sakura and this would prove her suspicions. If he did not have a pass port then it meant he was lying and was indeed Sakura. If he did have one his true name Sakura would be on it. Tactics and Strategy was always her specialty.

"Yeah sure" spoke Sakura as he reached into his side pocket and pulled out a card and handed it to the guard.

"What is this" spoke the guard as he looked at the card. "It says here you are a member of a mercenary company out of Illia and that your name is Rath, but noting about being form Sacae."

"What" spoke Alice in shock. She was sure she had him.

"Yes that is true" spoke Sakura. "I am from a mercenary company in Illia. I took up work there when I left the plains. The trouble in Sacae was to much for me."

In truth the card belonged to the mercenary who saved him when he was in Ilia. He gave it to him so he could find work and move around freely. However Sakura, nor the mercenary knew that they were related. He had no idea that the man who gave him that card was his father.

"Still I think I have heard the name Rath before" spoke the guard.

"Can I have my card back" spoke Sakura.

"Oh yeah, here you go" spoke the guard. You may enter, but be on your best behavior we don't take to kind to rowdy mercenaries.

"Thank you" spoke Sakura as he walked through the gate into the city. As he walked in he turned around and looked at Alice. He gave a great smile and spoke to her. "Well aren't you going to show me around."

Like Sakura Alice was sharp. She new that smile had a completely different meaning. It was as if he said Round One is mine. There was one thing certain to Alice now and that the young boy standing before her was Sakura.

[Sakura]

Alice's blood was now boiling. She was certain that the young man standing before her was Sakura, but she had no proof. He was cunning and quite skilled at his lies. A trait Sakura lacked while he was in Tania, but the roads are harsh. It would not be strange if one would pick up a trick or two from the road.

"So what are the sights to see in Tania" spoke Sakura. His tone infuriated her. She knew to well what the sight were in Tania. He was acting and she was sure of it.

"Well let me see" spoke the young maiden while hiding her emotions from showing up in her tone. "There is the peach orchard, the town square, castle Tania, and Clair's lovely Clothing Shop."

Clair's Lovely Clothing Shop, Sakura eye twitched at the sound of its name. That was his mother's shop. He had no idea Alice would pull such a low blow. Even if she was sure who Sakura was he thought she would care enough about his mother to not bring him to her before she confirmed her suspicions. What would happen if she brought a total stranger who looked like him to her? It was clear to Sakura Alice was now playing hard ball, and if he did not adapt he would be crushed.

"Clair's Lovely Clothing Shop" spoke Sakura in a confused tone.

"Oh" responded Alice! "Do you recognize the name? I wonder, have you been to Tania before Sakura?" I have him now thought Alice. The trap has been set. Even if he smooth talks his way out of recognizing the shop name he will surely fall for the last comment.

"Sakura" spoke Sakura in a surprise tone. "Don't forget Ms. Alice I am Rath. I am not your friend Sakura. I know you must miss him a great deal."

"Oh, sorry about that" spoke Alice. She did not think he would catch his name at the end of the sentence.

"Also it is quite puzzling to me how a clothing shop is a tourist attraction" spoke Sakura.

"The shop itself is not really the attraction" spoke Alice.

"Oh really" spoke Sakura in response to Alice's question.

"The true attraction is the woman working there" spoke Alice in a friendly tone. The moment those words came out of her mouth Sakura almost lost it. She was talking about his mother. He never liked the idea of men gathering around his mother, nor did he like the idea of Alice talking about her. Alice was one who spoke ever word with reason, and the fact his mother was in a sentence of hers meant trouble.

"Oh really" spoke Sakura trying to keep his cool. "What so special about this woman that makes this shop is so popular."

"That is simply, silly" spoke Alice. "She is the picture of perfection. She has silky smooth skin. Her hair runs like ribbons down to her lower back, and to add to top it off her hair is a briliant pink. It is no question why every man in Tania visits her shop."

Sakura eye twitched again. She was pushing all of his berserk buttons over and over again. She was trying to get a response from him, or hear the change in his voice. He knew her plan, but the attack was quite fearsome.

"Really" spoke Sakura in a calm tone. "Can a stunning beauty truly exist in this world."

"Of course" spoke Alice as she walked up and grabbed his arm again. "How about we start your tour of Tania at her shop? It is the best spot in all of Tania so why not go there first."

"I am going to have to disagree" spoke Sakura.

Got him spoke Alice in her mind. There is no way he should not want to visit the shop.

"What" shouted Alice. "Why would you not want to go to Clair's lovely shop? I am sure she would like to meet you Rath. "

"I think you misunderstood" responded Sakura.

"What" replied Alice?

"You are mistaken" responded Sakura. "It is not like I don't want to see the shop and the lovely lady working there. It is just we of Sacae usually save the best for last. So I wanted to vist the shop last."

Curse you screamed Alice in her mind. Every time she sets up a trap he seems to worm himself out of it.

"Ok then" responded Alice. "Were do you want to go first."

"The Peach Orchard" spoke Sakura without hesitation.

"The peach Orchard" spoke Alice with surprise. She did not think he would chose such a location. It should be hard for him to hide his emotions in the orchard. Especially since they use to play there as kids.

[Sakura]

"Amazing" shouted Sakura as he walked into the Peach Orchard. "It has been a long time since I have seen anything this beautiful"

"Really" spoke Alice. I heard the plains of Sacae would dwarf this scene by far.

"Yes Sacae is quite beautiful, with the seas of grass and fesh air, but this orchard. It is somthing diffrent. It out does Sacae by far" spoke Sakura

"Well I think we should move to the next location" spoke Alice. If she could speed him through the other events than she could exposé him with ease. In her mind there was no way Sakura could lie to his mother. He had never could not lie to her even when they were kids let alone now. Alice knew if she could get him to the clothing shop victory was hers.

"Actually I want to stay here a little bit longer" spoke Sakura as he reached up and grabbed a ripe peach from one of the trees. He brushed it off on his shirt and took a bite out of it.

Got you yelled Alice in her mind. Not many people outside of Tania knows that the trees are open for the public. When most visitors come to Tania they think they are privately owned. The only people who would know this fact were locals, and a mercenary from Ilia sure would not.

"Oh Sakura", spoke Alice. "I did not know Sacaens were into thievery. Here I thought you people were upright individuals."

"What are you talking about Alice" spoke Sakura in a common tone. "The Peach Orchard is open to all who visited Tania." At that moment Sakura realized his mistake. A mercenary from Ilia should not know about that. He just revealed himself as a native Tanian.

"Really Sakura" spoke Alice in a cheerful tone. A smile was once again on her face. "I did not think someone new to Tania would know that. Are you sure you have never been here before Rath, or maybe you grew up here?"

Curse you shouted Sakura in his mind. He had to think of a counter quick.

"I am not so foolish to vist a place without looking up any information about it" spoke Sakura as he took another bite from the peach. "This place is quite beautiful, but I just remembered I have a appointment to keep."

"An Appointment" spoke Alice in a surprised tone. In truth she was not surprise by his word. She had cornered him. She knew he would try to find a way out. "OH, what kind of appointment is it."

"It is rather simple" spoke Sakura. "I have to diliver a letter."

"To who" spoke Alice. "I might be able to help you Sakura."

"None of your concern Alice" spoke Sakura. "It is a important letter that need delivery. I can't tell you to who the letter is written to because I was paid for silence."

"Really Sakura" spoke Alice. "Someone paid a mercenary gold to deliver a letter."

"Believe it or not they do" spoke Sakura.

"You know Rath, or should I say Sakura you are not very bright" spoke Alice. "I have been calling you by that name since we entered the Orchard. It is hard to remember your fake name when you speak in casual conversation in a familiar place. Along with a familiar face."

Sakura stopped for a moment. He took another bite from the peach finishing it off. "Yes you are right" spoke Sakura. "I am not Rath, and I am your childhood friend Sakura. I also have to deliver this letter so I ask that you don't get in my way."

"Hay wait" shouted Alice as Sakura began to walk back toward the street."Where do you think you are going?"

"To deliver a letter" spoke Sakura. "Then I am leaving."

"Deliver a letter. To who" asked Alice?"

"Who else" spoke Sakura? "My mother of course."

"Your mother" yelled Alice. "Is that all you are going to do. Give her a letter. That is it after leaving in the middle of the night."

"That is right" spoke Sakura as he walked into the street leading to the main square. "I am not ready to see her yet. I can’t tell her I failed. I can’t go back and tell her I left home with only a note behind for nothing. So all I can do is giving her a letter."

"Stop Sakura" yelled Alice as she grabbed his arm. "You can't do that again. You can't just show up and leave again only leaving a letter."

"I did it once and I can do it again" spoke Sakura as he ripped his arm form her grasp. He then began to walk down the street away from the square.

[Sakura]

" Sakura" screamed Alice as the young novice disappeared in the amongst the trees. Disappearing was a skill he had picked up on his journey to Ilia. It was quite useful in avoiding stupid bandits.

As Alice wondered through the orchard in pursuit of Sakura the young novice moved back towards the main road. He knew his time was short and his window of opportunity even shorter. Priam should be finishing his rounds in two hours. If he was not out of the city by then he would be in trouble.

Sakura moved through the streets blending in with the crowd. He moved towards the exit of the city until he came to a small house that was made of white stones. This was his destination. It had been two years since he last seen it.

"I am finally home" spoke Sakura as he walked up to the door. He then pulled a long cord around his neck and lifted a solid iron key out. Sakura had been wearing his house key as a necklace for the past two years a trait he picked up in his youth. Sakura placed the key into the slot and twisted it, and the door open up.

"Who is there" spoke a voice from the inside the small white stone house. The sound of the voice made Sakura panic as he knew who voice it was. Two years was not enough to erase from his memory the sound of his mother’s voice. She was already home. He thought she would still be at her shop in the town square, but she was not. In his panic Sakura dropped the letter and ran away from the door. He could not face his mother right now. He could not bare the weight of her tears.

As Sakura twisted the door his mother moved in the house. She immediately grabbed a knife that was in the kitchen. She was not a fighter, but she was ready to defender herself from a thief. She then yelled out to let the thief know someone was in the house. She hoped the thief would leave.

At the sound of Sakura running away Clare, his mother, breathe a sigh of relief. She then opens the unlocked door to examine the lock. Upon opening the door a bright ray of light shinned into the dark little house illuminating Clare's brilliant pink hair and radiant brown skin. The maiden covered her eyes and shielding them from the sun. She then turned and examined her lock on her door. To her suprise the lock was still intact. It was not broken nor did it show signs of a pick. Puzzled by this discovery she noticed the letter on the ground.

"What might this be" spoke Clare as she picked up the letter. "This must belong to that thief" spoke Clare till she looked at the writing on the outside. The letter heading wrote dear mother, but Clare knew the hand writing well.

"Sakura" shouted Clare as she rushed out the house. She then stopped and closed the door to the small house and locked it. The crime in her section of town was great and leaving ones door unlocked was a foolish mistake. She then moved out to the main street and began to look around to see if she could find her young son.

Sakura heart was now pounding as he hid behind a tree next to the road. He was almost caught. "The letter" spoke Sakura as he realized he had dropped it. The young boy panic for a moment and then he heard his name being called in a frantic tone. He then realized his mother must have found the letter.

"Good enough for me" spoke Sakura as he moved from behind the tree. "I better get ahead of the old man Priam" spoke Sakura as he rushed toward the gate leaving Tania. His mother Clare was moving in the opposite direction as she did not think he would leave.

Sakura passed the gate with little trouble from the guard. He was only asked why his business in the city was so short. He responded with the same line he originally told Alice. "I was only here to deliver a letter." With that Sakura left Tania and moved on to train himself in the way of the sword. He would return to his mother after he had master the blade.

[Sakura]

As Sakura left Tania he looked back. The city itself was useable, but the sounds of people and horses could still be heard. The young Sakura recognize the sound of the guards moving. “Looks like old Priam had caught wind of my movements” spoke Sakura to himself. Despite his need to rush Sakura stopped for a moment and began to think on his actions. The way he left home again. The fact he left a letter behind once more.

"Full Circle" Sakura spoke out loud as he began to walk again. His destination was outside of Tania. He was hoping to go to Worde, but fate had a way of twisting his arm. He prayed his sense of direction would keep up as he did not want to repeat his bad habit of getting lost on his way.

Sakura looked up into the sky, and once again as he departed on his trip. As always he saw a magnificent Pegasus flying over head. As one of the feathers fell from the sky and landed on the young novices shoulder he began to speak. "I wonder if that Pegasus is the reason for me getting lost" spoke Sakura as he walked down the road. Leaving his home behind once more the young novice stepped out into the harsh world once more. His goal was to become a magnificent swordsman and obtain that which was beyond his grasp, a Pegasus.

Full Circle end
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