TGC - Voices in the Wind

A little tale from another point of view about our favorite red-haired unfortunate hero. Set after [i]"Ordinary Vanity"[/i]...

Hope you enjoy it.

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[i][color=#fff][u]Voices in the Wind[/u][/color][/i]

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It felt like a pretty mild winter day. The weather seemed cold, button a pretty medium level, as if a break from usual cold winds of December, and all the trees along the road already lost all of their leaves. Snow seemed to remain in just patches alongside the way, leftovers from the recent snow-in and the soft breeze blew accompanied by delicate chirps of passing birds.

A dark blue car was crossing through the road of arched trees towards the outside of the city, reaching a series of house more spaced from one another, giving more of a countryside-aesthetic than the over saturated architecture of suburbia. Finally it reached its destination, a house up the road, middle sized, with a lot of fields around it. The [i]Camdyn-Kobayashi Family[/i] home.

The doors opened, two children eagerly stepping off the car after unbuckling their seat-belts, a boy and a girl or red hair wearing their poofy jackets of blue and pink respectively; the boy wearing a woolly winter hat while the girl having some fluffy ear mufflers. The two children quickly making their way to the front door.

The one stepping from the driver's seat was a tall man, possibly in his 30s but still maintaining that handsome young look as well as a somewhat cold expression. Red hair and dark green eyes and just the slight hint of a stubble He was wearing a scarf around his neck, a brown jacket and blue jeans followed by black boots.

This was [b]Shiro Camdyn[/b], hardworking man of the police force and oldest of the Camdyn siblings. today it was one of his day-offs, having swapped his turn with one of his colleagues so he could spend the end of the year with his family. After locking the car, he walked towards the door with his hands inside his pockets.

The two children who were running circles around him were the two at the other extreme of the family tree; Akito and Hana Camdyn, the youngest siblings and around the 7 years old.

"Alright, you two. Hang your jackets and leave your backpacks at your room and you can play for a while. Then later, I'm preparing dinner, okay?" The man said as he opened the door in a calm but caring tone. The two kids dashed inside, not before removing their shoes at the entrance as they gave a simultaneously chipper "Okay!!" before disappearing at the turn of a corner.

Shiro did the same, leaving his boots behind and stepping into the wooden boarded floor. He headed towards the kitchen, turned out the coffee machine and prepared himself a nice cup before heading to another room and sat on the warm tatami flooring. A warm zip after a day was always a reward for him, probably next for a nice smoke break.

One of the children's voices, Akito, was heard from afar. "Hey bigger bro, where's Gram-Gram? I thought she'd be here" He said, followed by a cute "Yeah!" from his sister.

"She said she will come back soon. She is just busy with...stuff." He responded followed by a mumble of, "Whatever that is.." That the children didn't hear.

Shiro took another zip of his coffee, Akito and Hana walking in and moving near their brother. "Hey bigger bro, do you think Natsuko and Hinata are gonna come for new year's?" Akito asked.

"I suppose. They said that their tour finishes soon so I bet they'll make it in time." The man responded. Natsuko was the second born after him followed soon by Hinata; The two were now on the fashion business, their clothline being a hot seller and they tended to be out traveling the world a lot.

"Ooh ooh! what about uncle Kenta!! And Auntie Trish!" Soon enough the two cheerful children were listing family members left and right. Usually at times of celebration the family gathered a lot. Deep down, however, Shiro had to roll his eyes as some of the people listed, since many of them only used these events to either brag about their lives or to asks for stuff.

"What about mom? Do you think she'll make it" Asked Hana, her expression seemed saddened.

"...I'm not sure. She has been pretty focused don her work..." He said, but as soon as she saw the dishearten look on her young sister's face he quickly added. "But I'm pretty sure she'll try. After all, the hard work she does is for us."

"I-I guess..." Hana said looking down. However the next person she named did leave Shiro unable to answer:

"Do you think big bro will come?"

The man stood in silence for a second. He was the oldest so he always had the nickname of Bigger Bro. She meant someone else: [b]Haru Camdyn[/b]

One of his youngest siblings. Haru was always...a handful. So fixated on the idea of being a Super Hero; Of fighting for justice and all that over-idealism that cartoons tend to fill someone's mind with.

He had to admit, he trained hard to gain that chance to go tot he tryouts for the Defenders of Earth recruitment. However, the night before it he just...vanished. Without a trace.

"I don't know..." Said Shiro, before his face of concern changed into a more upset one. "Or rather he better. I don't know where the Haru has been doing. Just skipping town. it's been days and he hasn't even called or..."

Seeing as he was just mumbling at this point, and Hana and Akito seemed saddened by the new, he gave a sigh and replied. "Don't worry about him. He'll sort out his problems eventually and make it here. I'm sure he not somewhere dangerous..."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"Crap crap crap crap crap!!!"

Today it wasn't a easy day for young Haru Camdyn. After failing to aid Rikka with her sister, tricked by that nasty Ignis, the hero-in-training headed to other worlds to gain his groove back, gain some exp and become better. Ending up in the the arid sands of Agrabah, he took a simple request: Check was were the wired noises coming at night from the city's outskirts.

Simple enough it seemed. However, when he went to check he found out it wasn't some simple Heartless, but rather a huge [URL=http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Cephadrome]Sand-Swimming Monster[/URL], possibly misplaced from its origin world by the Great Convergence...

...and it was eager for blood.

Haru continued running deeper into the desert as the creature jumped from under and out the sands, like a fish in the water, as it chased after the red-haired hero to snack upon him.

"Why does this always happen to me..." He groaned as he continued to run from the beast in frenzy


----


Victory!

The creature known as the Cephadrome expelled one last growl of pain before slamming down on the sand, its life extinguished. Haru stood proud...or would have, if it wasn't for the severe exhaustion of running and fighting so much...

"Whoo...that's why...ah...you should never...huff...try to eat me..." Said the red-haired young man in between pants and wheezes.

He then gave a glance to his spirit companion, who just sat with an unimpressed look on his face. "What's...*pant*...the matter, Skoll? We won! I thought...*huff* you loved winning..."

However that sense of victory soon vanished when he gave a look around. Empty sands as far as the eye could see, with no signs of civilization in miles. They were stranded in the middle of the huge desert.

"...OH COME ON!!!"


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


[b]*CRACK*[/b]


"Uh oh..."


"Oh...this isn't good"


Hana and Akito looked down at the floor after what they have done. there lied a articulate figure of the [URL=http://www.animecourtyard.com/gallery/plog-content/images/videogame-art/zettai-hero-project/former-hero2.jpg]Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger[/URL] now broken after having meddled too much with it.

"Big Bro is gonna be so mad..."

"Um, Maybe he won't notice. He does have a lot of toys around..."

As they played around while their oldest brother was relaxing, the twins had sneaked inside Haru's old room. While still dim in darkness, they were still able to see all the different items he had as decorations. Tons of different toys, or "collectible figurines" as he always exclaimed, adorned his shelf as well as the bookcase full of books about the world, demons & angels and, well, tons and tons of comic books and manga.

Posters of Tokusatsu Heroes adorning the walls, some videogames just laying on the floor next to the TV and his bed somewhat messy, as nobody had before venture inside ever since his disappearance.

The two children were just looking for something to do, eventually picking the action figure and then accidentally break it after Akito accidentally tripped. However, that did not stop the two from continuing snooping around his brother's room.

"There's gotta be something else we can find." Hana said before searching inside his drawers.

"Find anything good?" asked Akito.

"Some comic books..." Hana replied.

"Oooh, normal ones or the ones Gram-Gram says to stay away from?"

"Nope, just normal super hero ones. I don't think Big Bro really has those other ones..."

"Bo-ring..."

It was then when the young girl noticed something deep inside. "Huh? What's this?" She takes out a photo. "Akito look!"

Her brother soon moves in close to see: The picture shows a young Camdyn Family; Their mother the first one to recognize. A woman of long dark red hair and blue eyes, wearing some thin-framed blue glasses.

"She looks so happy..." Commented Akito.

To her was a man of scruffy yet spiky red hair and a soft stubble. Almost looked like an older version of Haru himself. in his arms her was carrying a little red-haired baby as three other children, one male and two females, posed nearby "Is that dad?..."

"I think it's him..." Hana replied giving a smile, "This is probably before we were born. Look at Haru, he is just a baby. How cute!"

The two children then headed out of the room in search of their oldest brother, eager to show him their findings.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


"Ngh!!"

He fell to his knees.

[color=#9300C4]"What's wrong?"[/color]

"I felt my heart crunch up..."

[color=#9300C4]"What?"[/color]

Haru stood up with a face of horror, as if he had seen something truly earth-shattering...

"...someone messed with my collectible figurine shelf!!"

[color=#9300C4]"...you're an idiot..."[/color]

"Hey!!" Haru turned to Skoll with a frown. "They are important to me!! Do you have any idea how much they cost!?"

He was stills tuck in the middle of nowhere, the intense heat getting to him as he and the Dark Wind bickered.

[color=#9300C4]"You humans are truly an strange bunch. Caring for such trivial distractions. How is it that as soon as my creation happens I end up entwined to someone like you?"[/color] Skoll said as he slowly shook his head before continuing walking, followed by a wicked grin. [color=#9300C4]"Well, at least seeing you struggle with your already fickle sanity is entertaining enough."[/color]

"It's not funny!! I can die here!!"

[color=#9300C4]"That's because you fleshlings need water and nutrition. As long as there's mana, I can exist just fine. Although, food is pretty fun and delicious."[/color]

"That's not fair...." Haru then suddenly got to the realization. "Wait a minute, Skoll....y-you're talking!?!?"

Skoll stood quiet, looked around himself, then glanced back at the red-haired young man and tilted his head slightly while still keeping a deadpan expression. [color=#9300C4]"Am I really?"[/color]

"Yes!!"

The Mystic Beast closed his eyes and smiled, [color=#9300C4]"Maybe...or maybe I'm not and you're probably suffering from hallucinations. We have been roaming this desert for a while so you can be suffering from the heat."[/color]

"Maybe...but then why does it sound so exactly like something you'd say?!"

[color=#9300C4]"Maybe you're going insane after so many bonks to the head. Or maybe I [b]am[/b] actually speaking and I'm just messing with you. See, that's the beauty of it: You can never know, and just keeping you guessing is so much fun."[/color]

"Ghaa! I hate you!!" Haru shouted loudly as he scratched his head furiously.

[color=#9300C4]"Right back at ya'."[/color]



~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Shiro was now laying on his side, looking at the outside as the screen door was scooted open. He had to admit, this was a beautiful place; Even in cold days it always felt like the field kept most of their green and flowers still managed to pop out beautiful regardless of weather. He then took another zip of his coffee.

"Bigger Bro!! Bigger Bro!!"

The silence was broken by the young twins just rushing through the hall and reaching him, almost bumping on the nearby low wooden table. "Hey careful!"

"Bigger Bro, check it out!!" Exclaimed Akito

"Look what we found!!" Said Hana.

The grown man got up and sat with his legs crossed before taking the picture from the children. His eyes widened slightly. This was--

"There's you when younger right?"

Hana was pointing to one particular kid in the picture, who was standing right between the mother and the father and close to the baby being carried.

"...yeah, that's me" Shiro responded softly.

"And that one is Big Bro, right?"

"Yeah, that's Haru. He probably had one or 2 years of age when this was taken." He said. "Wait, did you two got this out of his room? you shouldn't be--"

"Yeah yeah, we know" Akito said softly as he stared down. "Gram Gram has told us a thousand times to stay away of his room."

"She says by just staring at it will probably numb our brains, but I think he has a lot of cool stuff in there!" Hana said with a chippy attitude.

"A lot of stuff that can be potentially dangerous for you too. So many sharp figures just dangling near the edge up top. you could get hurt." The older brother explained.

A silence followed. He didn't know why, but...looking at this picture, it just made him feel really quiet.

However something cut said silence...



"...Bigger Bro....how was Dad like?"



Shiro's eyes widened. That was a question he did not expect. He struggled a bit to say words, just looking at Hana was had asked.

"He..."

Another struggle. Why it always felt so difficult sometimes?

"He...he was a very optimistic person. He was always so full of energy. Sometimes he was out for long periods of time, he was a Soldier after all, but whenever he returned home, he was always doing something with us. He was truly a strange man."

"Big Bro really liked him, right?" Asked Akito. the two children just eager to hear their older brother speak.

Shiro just sighed but continued. "Pretty much. He had a big love for Haru. You see, he...well..let's you say that when he was born, the doctors were fearing he was actually not gonna wake up, and all seemed to point to that...but Haru did wake up." He took a pause, "..."Our little miracle" I remember dad say once."

"And Haru,..well...he idolized your father. Everytime he came home you could just see your brother's eyes just glittery in joy; He once even smacked his face against the front door because he rushed without thinking. Dad just laugh it off even if Mom was concerned. He always thought Haru would just grow stronger every time he tripped and hit himself."

"He sounds like a very cool guy!" Said Hana

"B-but why do our uncles an aunts are always cursing him and making fun of him then?"

It was hard to say this to children. He wanted to fight back what they said, he really do, but...

"Well, Dad's job...was not something everyone approved upon. He was a particular soldier, in squadrons to defend the Earth from demon invasions. Some people in the family always said he should have done something more productive...less risky."

"...like they say about Big Bro?"

"Haru's case is different! Look is just..." Shiro rubbed his temples. This was /not/ a conversation he wanted to have right now. "look, it's getting late, you guys go wash your hands and I'll prepare you dinner, okay?"

As the children were given orders, he glanced down at the photograph and sighed.

[i]"What the hell were you thinking, Haru?"[/i]



~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Haru just reclined back. Finally some luck struck on him!

After hours of just dwelling through the arid sands, in his darkest moment, he reached to find a beautiful oasis, full of water and luscious fruit.

Having previously splashed his face with the refreshing spring water, he was now laying on his back at the shade, Skoll resting beside him.

"*Phew* I thought I was gonna die in there. But for once, life throws me a bone. And what a bone it is!!" Said the red-haired fighter as he stretches slightly.

[color=#9300C4]"You really think so?"[/color] Asked the Dark Wind, only for the young man to respond. "Why do you have to be such a pessimist? Sure, we had our lot of rough times, but hey, we can only go up from here!" He then returned to relaxation, as he took out a pair of sunglasses and a pristine comicbook from his belongings to read.

[color=#9300C4]"It's funny that I almost don't need to try..."[/color]

"You're planning something, aren't you?"

[color=#9300C4]"Don't have to. Just give it time..."[/color]

"I am not letting you get into my head this time! I survived!! I'm alive! And it wasn't thanks to you!! Now, I think I won at least some minutes to chill out, am I right?"

"Of course you're right, Haru." Said a certain winged maiden as she approached with a silver tray and a tropical drink while just wearing a red two-piece bikini. A certain transformed girl also appeared fanning him with a big palm leaf followed by a certain Ninja girl also in tropical attire to give him a delicious cinnamon bun....

That when it hit him.

"...Okay, sunglasses and random comic was passable, but suddenly scantly-clad girls!? That's too much!!" Haru paused then said deadpan. "...I'm in a mirage, aren't I?"

And right on cue, everything vanished in an instant, leaving the young man back on the hot sands with noone but his spirit companion and the powerful heat above.

"Whyyyyyyyyy...?" Haru groaned.

[color=#9300C4]"Told ya. You're basically a cosmic chew toy."[/color] Skoll stood up now that fun was over, [color=#9300C4]"Now let's g, I may be able to survive, but doesn't mean I like the heat on my fa--"[/color]

But Haru didn't move, he just curled up on the sand.

[color=#9300C4]"Hey genius, you wanna die in here or something? Let's go!"[/color]

No response.

[color=#9300C4]"Look, really? You're gonna act like that?"[/color]

Haru just sighed. "Can't seem to never get anything going right...is just like my mom always told me...and Grams....and my uncles...and Shiro...and Hinata...and Natsuko...and pretty much everyone else..."

Skoll sighed, moving close to him. [color=#9300C4]"Is that your pack?"[/color]

"My Family..."

[color=#9300C4]"You never really mention them before. Guess I can see why..."[/color]

"They never believed in me. And they were pretty up-front about it, too." Haru stood up. "That I should get a "real" job, or that my dreams were stupid. Even when I tried my best I was never on their approval. That's why I was ready for the tryouts to get enlisted in the Defenders of Earth program. I wanted to show them all I CAN do it..."

"*Sigh* And then that rift happened, and ended up together with you...they probably think I backed out and went into hiding or something..."

[color=#9300C4]"..."[/color]

[color=#9300C4]"...well they are on to something. You're an idiot..."[/color]

"Gee, thanks for the pep talk, you jerk..."

[color=#9300C4]"But you're abilities has been...impressive. I do not care what humans think, as far as a demon mind' goes, you're a good fighter, and that's all that matters..."[/color]

Haru stared in awe at the Dark Wind. Was that...a compliment?

The demon wolf just turned his head away. [color=#9300C4]"Don't dig too much into into it. There's still the chance you're just imagining all this in your head too, you know..."[/color]

"...Well. Whatever this is a hallucination or not....thanks Skoll." He smiled. "Let's go."

The two continued their way, pushing all Haru's gt to stop himself from collapsing. But eventually, it payed off. So close to touch, the gates to Agrabah were right in front of him. This time lady luck DID smile for him...



~*~*~*~*~*~*~


[i]"No, you're wrong!! I do have what it takes!"[/i]


Shiro was now sitting on the wooden flooring outside, his feet touching the stoney steps that lead to the grass field they had as a garden. His eyes continued to stare down at the photograph with that cold expression of his.

[i]"It's not dumb!! I know I can be a Super Hero!!"[/i]

He guessed he probably just failed his tryout, or maybe chickened out and ran away, not wanting to show his face to people that would just laugh or scold him.


[i]"Y-yes I applied myself for the DOF program, so what!? I'm gonna show you all!!"[/i]

Still, how could he not scold him? He had been gone for weeks, with not calls or messages, his younger siblings worried about him. How could he be so irresponsible? So childish!? He just couldn't understand...

A dream that would probably get him killed, having the chance to do /anything/ else...just because of idolizing Tatsu, idolizing his father.

[i]"I'm gonna become a Super Hero, no matter what you all think!!"[/i]

"Idiot...." Shiro muttered to himself, "Why couldn't just grow out of it?"

"Why do you keep going after something that will just get you to get killed...just like him..."

He probably would never understand...

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