Random Book of Jaric Fluff & Stuff

Scene #16

This one is something new, a little private moment of Japeth's after he learns of Aric's death. Enjoy this look into his feelings!

Japeth slowly came out from under the lush green canopy of trees provided by the Endless Woods. A small field lay stretched before him, bright green grass peppered with flowers in bloom-each a varying shade of purple.

The copper-haired boy paced into the field slowly, dragging his feet with each step. Once he neared the center of the large clearing, his eyes snagged on a flower the exact shade of Aric's eyes standing proudly amongst it's lilac and amethyst brethren.

A soft smile curved Japeth's mouth, and he dropped to his knees beside the flower, reaching out a hand to stroke the velvety petals. He took a long closer as his eyes snagged on something. The edges of the petals were pointed knife-sharp, with a dip of white at the very end.

Just like Aric, alluring at first, but deadly on second thought.

His eyes softened, recalling Aric's knife and the way he would spin it on the nearest flat surface when contemplating or threatening. Every so often, he would try to jerk the knife away, only to be foiled. And the one time he had managed to grab it....

Japeth sighed. That "accident" had led to Aric's no-kissing rule. Stupid damn rule, holding him back out of value. If only the idea to create a rule against kissing had not crossed Aric's mind, they could have....

The twin crushed his opposite hand into a tight fist. No. He couldn't think about that. After all they'd been through, Aric had to go and get himself killed by a pathetic fairy godmother. He just couldn't survive long enough to flee the School and find Japeth. 

Japeth bowed his head regretfully. Aric's letters had begged Japeth to come find him, but Japeth knew full well that he couldn't. His father was at the School, and he had to remain with his brother. And Aric had gotten himself kicked out when Japeth needed him the most. Those were the lies he sold himself every night as he lay awake in his bed, turning the idea of running away over his ins mind for the hundredth time.

Now, seeing as Aric was dead, he should not have been so selfish and ridiculously loyal to Rhian. Staying with his annoying brother certainly never paid off-in fact, it only seemed to create more unwanted problems for him.

He could recall with perfect clarity the moment his pen wrote those words and sealed his doom, brushing across the pages in annoyingly cheerful and vivid colors as if it were any other scene to be thrown aside.

Japeth heaved a sigh, eyes fluttering shut agreeably to his liking, lashes brushing his pale cheeks. He held his breath and picked the flower, the thorns cutting little incisions in his fingers that only achingly reminded him of his lost. The loss pierced him inside and out, yes, and it even made him consider an alternative option to end all the pain.

In the end, however, his brother convinced him to stay. The old legend they had been told as children of becoming the One True King and controlling life and death, well Japeth was sure he could help Rhian enough to get his brother to at least work out a deal of bringing Aric back. At least, he could live just outside the castle with Japeth. He was prepared, though, to kill his brother and become the One True King himself.

Anything to get Aric back.

Surprisingly, he opened his ice-blue eyes the second he felt something roll down his face.

He shouldn't have to to think about bringing Aric back because Aric shouldn't have even died in the first place. His fingers clenched around the stem of the flower, another tear falling out of his eyes. Aric hated any show of emotion; it was only ironically fitting that Japeth did what the sadist hated most when he was gone.

Gone. The thought choked on itself, causing more tears to fall out. He hadn't allowed himself to cry, per Aric's wishes, but now that he was alone, surrounded by so many things that reminded him of Aric, he was going to cry.

With a resigned sigh, Japeth clenched and unclenched his fists, taking deep breaths. If there was one thing he could do, he could focus on getting Aric back alive and well.  In the meantime, he would live like everything was fine and carry on as Aric had begged him to in his last letter.

Speaking of the letter, he reached into his pocket with his free hand, and unfolded a piece of parchment, the edges worn from tight gripping. Heart stuttering, he read the lines over and over again, pouring over Aric's last words to him.

Dear Japeth, 

This may be my last words to you. War's coming, and it's coming fast. I know I'll be on the front lines with the School Master and his little Queen. School Master's kept a tight watch on the School, especially after the events of last week.

Maybe someone will remember me, after I'm gone. It doesn't matter. My story's at a close, and I've accepted it. That witch Dean's probably celebrating. I'll end my mother-keep our promise. Keep our routine running. Past is present and present is past.

I'm finishing up the last training sessions currently. With the old villains. They're not too shabby, compared to the pipsqueaks parading around as Evil.

I miss you and our times together.

I miss all of our jokes. Our mocking sessions. Our rooftop nighttimes. Our moments.

Our friendship.

Thank you for respecting my wishes. Things couldn't have been different-it wouldn't be allowed. I have nothing to lose, but you do. I don't want to see you hurt. Thank you, Japeth.

I'll remember you.

I promise.

I care for you.

Promise.

Aric

Every time he reread the words, a fresh knife stabbed into his heart. No matter how many times Japeth read the words, they all spelled out the same thing: Aric intended to die. He had purposefully written this letter knowing that his demise had come-and he had come to terms with it. Accepted it, maybe even welcomed it.

Japeth couldn't be furious with Aric no matter how hard he tried. Even if he forced the thought of Aric purposefully abandoning him, he could understand the circumstances. 

Japeth knew he should move on, but he couldn't. Everything he had was anchored onto Aric. Aric was the only one who understood him, the only person he ever truly felt he belonged with. The only person he ever knew wanted him alive purely for living.

They were two peas in a pod, or, as Aric would say, two beasts in a field of lambs.

Pushing the following thought out of his head, he forced himself to his feet and tucked the parchment away in his pocket. He walked back out of the field, back towards Foxwood in no particular hurry. His attention remained solely fixated on the violet flower in his hand.

Even though Aric never directly told Japeth he wanted more out of their relationship, so much could be inferred from his last letter. A way to soften the blow, of sorts. A measly comfort, Aric being classic, cryptic, supposedly apathetic Aric and refusing to admit his emotion to anyone, especially emotion so delicate as love.

He slowly traced his thumb over the vibrant petals, his mind fleeing back to every chaste moment he shared with Aric, every touch that was a ghost of what he could never have. Every flicker of a emotion a promise that he wasn't alone.

A small smile grew on his face. Promise. Aric's last word to him. Not only was it a vow, it was an order. Japeth lifted his chin and strode purposefully onto Stropshire Road.

I promise to bring you back, Aric. No matter what it takes.