CHAPTER 29: A SPECIAL DAY

Kairi sighed as he leaned back against a long stone chair. A small lake was in front of him. At the moment, he was in the palace garden.

The moon above him illuminated the beautiful scenery in front. Far away over the lake, he could see the hills. He closed his eyes while listening to the night music. It felt so peaceful here...

Alone by himself.

Actually, he did something that would be scolded by all his friends. He had exited from his chamber on the fortieth floor, through its balcony. If it were not for Rafiz's knowledge and teachings, he wouldn't have dared to come down while clinging to any area that he could step on and hold tight to it.

But the breeze was nice up there. Especially at night. He grinned, reminiscing the dangerous action he did. All because he doesn't want anyone to follow.

And there's no way he was going to tell anyone. So, after resting here a bit, he would return to the way he came from. He hopes no difficulties occur or meeting anyone he knows.

Suddenly, someone touched his shoulder.

"Ah!"

He jumped from his seat and turned behind.

"Kairi, how did you get here?" The person glared at him.

Kairi swallowed.

"Oh, hey, Rafiz..."

He greeted, sweat covering his body. The touch on his shoulder becomes a hard grip. He twitched and held back the pain.

"I saw what you did just now, Kairi."

Rafiz elongated the call on Kairi's name, showing his dissatisfaction. Kairi's face grew paler.

"Are you crazy?! Come down from that high! What if you fell?!"

Rafiz was very angry and bewildered by his brother's crazy actions. And such action was impossible for him alone to notice. Every Bright Star there could sense it but since Kairi was alright after coming down, they didn't come close.

Aries even told him through telepathy to see what was wrong with Kairi. For him to do such a thing must have a reason. Agi and Cygnus even thought that Kairi wanted to run away. But, that would be impossible so Rafiz, the one who was closer to him was asked to check out.

Actually, it doesn't matter if they ask him or not. He would still go to scold or hit Kairi on the head for showing such extreme action.

Does he think he could fly? What if the opposite happens and everyone is unaware of it?

Rafiz shuddered at the possibility. His heart almost dropped from Kairi's action.

Kairi, who noticed the gloomy aura surrounding Rafiz's body, swallowed again. First, he needs to apologize before saying his reason.

"Sorry, Rafiz. I, I'm tired of sitting in that room. Who made the rule that the king must go to bed at eleven? I'm not the one who needs to go to bed early. In Ryam, even if we work until late at night, I still can wake up early the next morning."

Rafiz who knows the reason now, palms his face.

That's all? Why was such a schedule made for his brother? They're just like an owl, waking up half the night. The dawn was their sleeping time. Has no one noticed it before?

Virgo with Agi and Libra, look stupefied while hiding on top of a gazebo nearby. Same for Aries, Cygnus and Eridanus on a tree somewhere close.

"That's it?" Virgo's eyes twitch.

Kairi did that just so he could escape from his room because he didn't want to sleep on time? Why not just use the front door normally? Who taught him to use these extreme actions?

"Wait, which person told him to go to sleep early?" Virgo turns to Agi.

"Probably his maid."

Agi turns around and jumps away. Since nothing's wrong with Kairi and their friend was there to watch over him, he might just return to his room to sleep.

It's 2.30 am for goodness sake!

Looking at Agi, Libra shrugged.

"Imma continue my patrol around the palace. See ya!" Libra also left.

Cygnus and Eridanus follow after her. Aries, who was deserted, went near Virgo.

"Leave them alone. Rafiz can handle him."

Aries telepathy Virgo. The latter nodded and then, both were gone from the area.

As for Rafiz, his hands had been placed on his waist. His cold expression looks the same as Rafael's.

"Kairi, you have to go to bed early because I'm sure they want you to be energetic tomorrow. You have many places you need to see and learn from your advisor. Now, let's go back to your room! It's dangerous to be here without your bodyguard!" Rafiz pulled Kairi's arm.

"Can you let me take a breath for a moment?"

Kairi was sad. Rafiz has changed, although it was for his own good but...

"Wait a minute! Rafiz, aren't you also my bodyguard.? With you here, I'm safe, aren't I? So..."

He deliberately made a cute and sad face at the same time because he knew Rafiz would not refuse his request. Rafiz was startled and went silent for a long time.

"Damn! Why am I always become so soft-hearted with him? What happened to Dark Lordany's emotionlessness these twelve years?" He thought but after a long time, he finally relented.

"All right, all right. You're not a kid so stop acting like one," he grumbled.

"But only for five minutes!" He continued.

"Ten!" Kairi yelled.

"Five!"

"Fifteen!"

"Five!"

"Twenty!"

"Why do you increase the period every time I say that, huh?!" Rafiz barked.

"Half an hour and it's final! I won't move from here even if you force me!"

Kairi folded his arms as he looked stubbornly at Rafiz. The two stared at each other.

"Sigh... Fine! Only for half an hour!" Rafiz snorted and sat down next to Kairi.

Kairi made a 'Yeah!' with a happy smile. They were both silent for a moment as they looked at the scene in front of them.

"Hey, Rafiz."

"Hm?"

"Do you remember our special day celebration last year? You know... A week after we left Ryam."

"I won't forget it, Kairi. That day was very important to us. It was the day of our meeting."

"Yes. This time, we celebrate it with some extra people. Virgo, Aries and Pegasus."

Kairi chuckled while recalling those memories of their special day. At that time, they were already on their way to Antonia...

"Pst! Virgo!"

Kairi called softly to Virgo while they were in the kitchen of their resthouse. They can use the kitchen to cook their meals as long as the cooking items were bought by themselves.

Virgo turned around and looked at Kairi behind the wall, the path to the sidewalk of their resthouse.

"What's up, Kairi?"

"Let's go out for a moment. I want to catch some air. Can you keep me accompanied?"

Virgo looked at Aries and Rafiz who were cutting and washing.

"Okay. Hey, Rafiz, Aries, Kairi and I are going out for a while!"

"Alright, be careful! If anything happens, call us quickly," Aries told them seriously.

"Oh, one more. Make sure you come home a little later okay?" Aries continued her sentences in his mind.

"All right." Virgo left with Kairi after that.

Aries looked at Rafiz next to her. She tried to read Rafiz's mind because Kairi didn't invite his brother to go out together. She knew today was a very special day for them.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Rafiz asked when he realized Aries was staring at him.

"Are you okay with Kairi going out with Virgo?" Rafiz felt strange about the question.

"I'm okay. They're both friends. What's wrong with them going out together? After all, Virgo can help look after Kairi while we cook for today."

Aries nodded with a smile. She thought Rafiz would be jealous of seeing Kairi and Virgo get closer because she knew Rafiz was a bit possessive and may not want Kairi to have friends. Apparently, Rafiz no longer cares about that.

As for Rafiz, he didn't understand why Aries said that to him. He began to wonder but soon forgot about it. He was sure he would never get the answer from Aries.

He and Aries resume their cooking while Kairi and Virgo look around the small town they have arrived at after a week's move from Ryam Town. Virgo saw Kairi was engrossed in looking at every store that sells accessories or games.

"Let's go there." Kairi pointed to an accessory store.

"Okay."

Inside, there were so many varieties of accessories such as brooches, rings, bracelets, toys, and straps. Kairi stared at the accessories that interested him while Virgo looked at the straps section.

"There's so many to choose from. All look so cool. But, which one would Rafiz prefer...?" Kairi was confused. He could not make up his mind.

At the same time, Ziphoteninx and Kironinx were also in the store as sellers. Ziphoteninx walks to Kairi when Kairi seems unable to decide.

"Do you have a problem choosing an accessory?"

"Oh, I actually want to give a gift to someone special," Kairi replied shyly.

Then, he realized his sentences looked like he was trying to give a gift to a girl.

"Not for a girl but my brother!" He quickly told him.

Ziphoteninx chuckled.

"I understand. If it's okay, I have an accessory that might catch your like."

He walked over to the counter and removed a gift box from the counter cabinet.

Inside, there was an obsidian bracelet with a small carve in the shape of a black wolf head. It can be seen with light reflection. He shows it to Kairi.

"Wow! This is really cool! The wolf head looks so noble and wild." Kairi was excited.

"Huh? There's another one!" He exclaimed.

Under the obsidian bracelet, there was another bracelet of pure diamond. The same wolf shape carve was on it.

Ziphoteninx brought his face closer to Kairi's. He looks mysterious while speaking to him.

"These bracelets are magical and if someone wears them, they will record and keep the memories of their loved one. For example, if you wear it, the bracelet will have the memories of the one wearing the other bracelet."

"Seriously?! That's too unbelievable! How much?! I want to buy them!" Kairi wanted it.

For an unknown reason, these bracelets outshine everything in the store. It was like these things were the only ones with a hidden aura. Probably because he believes the seller told him the truth. These things should be very valuable.

Ziphoteninx puts the bracelets back into the box and gives them to Kairi at a cheap price. After Kairi bought it, he and Virgo left.

"Kairi, Rafiz, this is a gift from both of us for you..."

Ziphoteninx watched Kairi and Virgo until they were gone. Then, he and Kironinx disappear afterwards. They let the real seller who was mesmerized by Kironinx freed from his power.

"Time to sleep," Kironinx told Ziphoteninx before turning into a small black light.

Ziphoteninx also does the same and turns into small white light. They move towards Kairi and without him realizing it, they enter the bracelets. Ziphoteninx chose the diamond bracelet and Kironinx chose the obsidian bracelet.

"Kairi, let's go to the convenience store. I want to buy something." Virgo said.

He deliberately wanted to delay their return to the resthouse.

"Sure!"

Almost late afternoon, they were finally back, carrying some necessities for their travelling.

"Hm? Why is it dark? No one here?" Kairi asked Virgo.

Virgo shrugged a sign of ignorance and let Kairi enter the house first. Kairi, who could not see the state of the living room, slowly walked looking for the light switch. He was startled when the lights opened suddenly with the shouts of his friends.

Moreover, the perimeter of the living room has been renovated and there was a banner in the centre of the living room that says 'Celebrating Our Meeting Day!'. To the side of the room, a variety of dishes was available on a long table.

"Everyone...?" Kairi inhaled and was moved by the setting.

"Happy anniversary of our meeting, Kairi." Rafiz moves closer to Kairi.

"Rafiz..." Kairi's tears welled up but he didn't let them fall.

"Happy anniversary of our meeting too..."

"Kairi, don't cry." Aries teased.

"I'm not crying!"

Everyone laughed before they celebrated.

"Wait for a second... Rafiz, did you cook these?" Kairi asked as he touched the dish on his plate.

"Of course!"

"Err... Nice...?" Kairi turns toward their friends.

"As far as I know, Rafiz is not good at cooking." He told them the truth.

"Hey! I can cook too, you know!" Rafiz snorted.

"Don't worry, Kairi. I've sampled everything and I promise, no poison will kill us. If there is, maybe Rafiz put a mixture of anything after I tasted it."

Aries tried to convince them but instead, they laughed out loud again.

"Aries! You're not helping! Now shut up before you add anything I didn't do!"

Aries gave him a playful grin.

"Okay, okay! Let's eat. My stomach was already so hurt by the laughter." Virgo then tasted the cuisine in front of him.

They felt that Rafiz's meal was delicious and praised him even though there was a mixture of jokes and ridicule. They caused Rafiz's cheeks and ears to turn red.

After enjoying the meal, they played various games. Among them were matching cards, dropping coins into an empty beverage can, and acting out on a picture that's being pulled out from a box.

Kairi cackled when he saw Pegasus trying to meow like a cat. With his heartless face and loud voice, it made them all laugh so hard. They felt their stomach would burst if this continued so they stopped for the moment.

Kairi took this chance to give Rafiz his present.

"Rafiz, here!"

"Hm? What's this?" Rafiz looked at him.

"Kairi, you bought a present for me?! Is this true?!" He was astonished by the gift.

"There's no need to look so surprised! I know I always forget our anniversary. But this time I remember it."

Kairi fattened his cheeks before blowing the wind out of his mouth.

Rafiz opened the box and was amazed by the obsidian bracelet. Kairi smiled and showed him the white bracelet around his right wrist.

"I have one too."

Rafiz felt very happy to get a gift.

"Thank you, Kairi. I will carry this bracelet with me at all times." He promises.

"Same."

Back to them in Antonia...

"Rafiz, are you still keeping it?" Kairi asked as he walked by the pool.

Rafiz followed him from behind.

"Of course." Point him to his left wrist.

"Good! Rafiz, I promise I will remember June 15 every year after this. That day is the most meaningful day for us. And I will never forget I met you on that day. I hope that day will bring good luck and joy to us throughout the years we live."

"Me too." Rafiz nodded his head.

Soon, Kairi returned to his room, in a normal way with Rafiz following him. Rafiz waited for Kairi to sleep before he left and returned to his room at the knight headquarters.