I the wind never cease, souls were scattered on me and I carry them, their thoughts, memories and ashes. I the wind am unseen. I bring forth pleasure and sorrow. I am too just a wind like you.


Cinder awoke feeling well rested after his long stay in slumber. His dreams for the most part were helpful in bringing him to a new decision. He had been clouded previously and worn with a deep and shadowed hate. He would not be hindered by this any longer. He yawned wide and rubbed his eyes focused on the small table, everything was nice and dark, cool.
He found the storage much more suited for him than the captain?s cabin he had slept in. He walked over to the small table and stared at the cloth resting on top of it. It was white once now a dingy yellow gray covered in blood in some spots. He unraveled the cloth and stared at his left arm. He stared at his elbow and tried to image the arm severed on the table still joined to him. He shook his head with a grin and wrapped it back up.
"I am ashes".

He faced the bed tempted to return under the covers yet decided he had spent far too long laying in a sleep. He opened the door and headed up the steps onto the deck. The sun shone brightly that day and a cool wind carrying the salt of the sea. It brushed against him pulling his hair free from the beautiful sash which soon caught the wind. He caught it and tucked it under his head and pulled his hair over it. He looked to the masts and saw his crew hidden in the canvas. His wraiths were hidden under the protection of the sun, he grinned ordering them to come down, and they did so as the sun hid behind a storm of clouds. They knew it was their master and was thankful for such kindness; he was the one who thanked them.

?Men of the darkness, you creatures of blight, you who have roamed the nether. Thank you, I relieve you from your tasks and return you with freedom?.

?Freedom??

Cinder turned and laughed at the sky as the clouds passed and the sun crept like an assassin over the ship. The wraiths felt faint yet failed to wither and grow weak.

?Ja , freedom. No longer are you hindered by the sun, or are you my souls to command. Go, you have all done well?.

Through their grim expressions they grinned, smiling expressions of wraiths was a rare sight. Some laughed and vanished quickly a few remained behind and thanked him.

?Massterr, thank you. If wish again, call usss?.

?Yesss we will aid theee?.

?Go, and thank you?.

?Whereee will you goo? Will you remaaain on this shippp which goooesss nowherrrre??

?Goodbye?.

He cast the rest of the wraiths away with one glance and smiled. ?I have my reason to remain in the middle of nowhere, for I am somewhere in the ocean and alone?.

He walked over to one of his ravens, its body motionless on the deck. He picked his messenger up and cradled it gently, its eyes have been poked out and its feathers distressed.

?You have been dead for a few days, where have you been, what news do you have for me dear one??

He continued to stroke the dead bird lovingly, suddenly it gave life and flapped violently in his hands springing free and hitting the deck as it cawed. He reached out to caress it, it grew calm and Cinder began to hold it once more. The raven spoke to him softly.

?So you have journeyed rather far indeed. You were bested in the air from a sea eagle yet managed to free yourself and find the Naglfar. Daiyouji is it?I haven?t seen that boy in many years. You brought a letter, is it from him??

He found the letter on the deck inside a sphere and immediately knew who it was from; he kissed the raven on the head and tossed it up into the air. The raven took flight and kept within range of it's master.

?No, it?s Ren?.?. He wondered if the blue rascal was upset with him, the last time they met he wanted to kill the angels, and was rather dismissive of the human beside Renne and the one in company of Johnathan.

?Find Daiyouji keep an eye on him and don?t let him see you, I doubt my boy knows I am still alive. Go now?!

He watched the raven fly away and followed the sphere as it rolled on the deck from the sea. He knelt down and it rolled into his hands, as expected it opened up like before when he encountered a sphere much like this.

?Ren, what troubles are you in now that I am of no use to? I am a not a good friend I wish you could understand that. For somebody who is not chance with magic you picked a fine friend in a wizard, still though you are dear to me too. Thank you Blue Rascal.?
He was calm and clear as the skies, a smile on his face he tucked the letter into his pocket and looked across the horizon.

?On this ocean you are to be found is that it? Perhaps I am to be found?. He closed his eyes standing in the salt wind and warm sun. His Hair blowing in the wind with a brilliant coloured sash.

(i)textEarth you give and take, the gentle drifting violent quake
The soil which gives many lives does hinder those in time.
We bury our dead in you..

Many are dead.(/i)



A man stricken with grief over the loss of his mother sat quietly waiting for the blessing. Accompanied by his grandfather and grandmother they all sat in wait, the evening was approaching with haste. Outside they could hear the daily routine of the town going on outside.
Topi Temple rang four bells and four priests paraded out from the alcoves carrying four candles and stood before the altar and waved the incense burning. The smoke rose and they bid it over the portrait of a beautiful woman. It waved it over a cedar vessel adorned in red silk, and then up to the great statue.

Daiyouji looked at his mother?s portrait placed in front as the vessel was now being taken away to the hearth by the priests. He looked down as the men shut the grate and the flames engulfed his mother, a few tears fell but they weren?t silent for one man.
His grandfather Seiichi rested a hand on his grandson?s shoulder for a moment then walked over to one of the priests. They were wearing simple black robes and cone like hats and kneeled before the statue of Oyakani a giant froglike Buddha. He conversed in silence to the one named Nobuyoshi.

?It has been a hard and long day even the cranes weeps for us. Daiyouji will be alright my friend?.
?Yes, though I perhaps should let him know about his father, he has wished to know him all his life. It was my daughters dying wish. What pity she had to die before me, I cannot turn my back on a promise now can I??

?I suppose not, what will you do??
They both turned looking at Daiyouji and the elderly woman beside him, his grandmother Kana. The head priest picked up the portrait and handed it to Daiyouji; he bowed to him and turned to give his grandmother a hug. She was barely holding it together, thankfully she had Daiyouji to comfort her, and he held her hand and helped walk as they both left the temple. Daiyouji nodded to his grandfather as he paused in the giant gold doors to turn to him. He nodded in reply and returned to the back of the temple with Nobuyashi.

There in Nobuyashi's private quarters they relaxed a took time to honour their freindship and of Chizuka. The priest untied the top of a sake bottle and poured some into a ceramic fish shaped carafe on the stove. He sat adjacent to Seiichi and both men were quite quiet for several moments.

?That man undid his feelings for Chizuka; I doubt he realizes he has a son. Even if he did, I doubt that demon would ever care to glance at him?. He paused and fetched the carafe and offers the man a flat wooden cup and pours some sake. He nods after doing so and pours himself some. He sighs heavily and then takes a sip of his drink looking at his old friend.

?Your grandson is a fine man and a great contributor to his town; it would be wise to leave him in the dark of his father?s existence. Chizuka would not want any trouble over this, come tomorrow we will go to Osu and clear our heads of such nonsense. We will enjoy fine drink and song, remember Chizuka.? He sipped the sake and warmed his expressions.
?Who was his father again? I recall him being an artist, he would come to you shop a few times to fetch supplies. He and I met once I believe, right??

Seiichi sipped and looked at the priest, his friend.

?Yes, he was called Cinder; a strange one was he, but a wise one. That man was a demon; he summoned creatures from another realm once and helped me escape from a band of Tengu. He isn?t much for sword but his talent with a staff is something to behold, part due to his nature I suppose. I know Chizuka captured a part of his heart at the time, perhaps there was a mutual attraction in that time but after a year he left her and this land".

He sipped the sake and then it was empty, his freind refilled and they both smiled for a moment.

"It was Chizuka?s wish for her son to know of his father. Perhaps that man would teach Daiyouji magic. He was always fascinated in those talents yet disliked the teachings here; he would need a mentor outside this country. It would be only fitting for his father to do so. If Daiyouji asked, though I doubt time would not be given to him, nor would Daiyouji accept to do so since his father abandoned his mother and him?.

?I suppose it cannot be helped?.

Daiyouji overheard this as he was to retrieve his grandfather by request of his grandmother yet turned away after overhearing them. He kept wondering why it was people still kept him in the dark about a man he didn?t even know.

?So my father is a demon?? He walked away leaving the temple to catch up to his grandmother.

?Grandmother, what was my father like, was he a real wizard like the ones in the west??

She looked up to him for a moment, her sorrow seemed to worsen. She took her gaze away and continued to walk, he aiding her.

?He was a mystery to me, a gentleman yet an animal. Chizuka said he was an artists and very beautiful like his paintings. I did not find him suitable for Chizuka despite his appearance, and no, his magic was different from the peoples of the west. He is the only soul of his kind walking this world?.

They followed the Atami Square around the red border walls across the sakura and willows. The evening was cool yet comforting under the orange yellow sky. A flock of scarlet banded cranes flew overhead from the flock a lone raven perched itself on the red border walls. Daiyouji and his grandmother decided to wait for Seiichi at a bench under the shade of a grand willow. Its branches hung gathering to the earth in great tides.
?Nobody liked this man in our family but my mother?? He bent down to pick up some of the earth and smoothed the soil to play with a smooth stone. He tossed it back once he had wiped it clean of dirt.

?Oh, your grandfather did, they were friends at one time. He was an artist?.he?. His grandmother was cut off.
?So, that is why I enjoy painting then, I wonder how much we are alike??
?Yes , I suppose that is it though I doubt you are much like him, more like Chizuka and your grandfather, patient and kind?.
He leaned back and watched the sky through the red border wall staring up at a lone raven.

?The earth rises to meet the sky it sinks down low into the sea?.

written in collaboration and with Cin-a-mun.
Poem by Cin-a-mun.