Short Stories

Rightful Anger

Tao finds Aloo and Wukong outside the city

Tao had just fit the key in the door's lock, twisting it and pushing the door open, another long day of commissions ending with some shopping for dinner. Tao let his staff float off to the side of the room and he took his shoes off at the door before walking into the kitchen, he recited the plan that he had for the night in his head. "Cook dinner, eat, take a shower before Aloo and go to bed." Tao was placing the bags of ingredients on the table and going to wash his hands, preparing for dinner. "Aloo! I'm home, dinner will be ready soon" The onyx haired simian smiled as he called out to his brother in arms hoping that Aloo would join him in the kitchen soon. A few minutes passed as the clock hands ticked away and the water on the stove boiled, Tao was cutting some tofu into small cubes, he was making miso soup; one of Aloo's favorites. Something was off, Aloo would've smelled the soup broth boiling and would've come straight to the kitchen, in fact, he would've greeted Tao at the door. Something was definitely wrong. Tao had quickly cut off the stove and dashed down the hallway, Tao ran down to Aloo's door and threw it open. The circular bed was made and his desk was tidy, there was nothing out of the ordinary but the air felt cold, like it didn't have Aloo's aura to it, the room felt like a tomb. Tao thought; it wasn't a pleasant thought at all, he thought back, back to the shop he used to do treasure hunting for, he remembered the demons that would've taken his life that day, had they found him? Were they just in his home? Had they hurt Aloo? He wasn't home yet if he had ever come home at all! Tao was already outside and drawing back an invisible string on his staff and sending it off. Tao was steady on his staff, tears pricked at his eyes, it was getting late but the sun hadn't set yet; he still had time to find Aloo. "Block that Mk! Cmon I know you can do it bud!" The monkey king was sitting on his somersault cloud watching his protégé spar with an ashen haired monkey, so far, the boy was losing, barely able to stay on his toes. Mk, granted, he was quick but the silent monkey he was sparring with was quicker he barely gave Mk room to breath. The young monkey had not a drop of sweat on him, and he kept dashing after Mk while silently giggling, this was a game to him, nothing more. Aloo had Mk on the defensive, swiping at the boy with his silver and gold daggers he called 'claws', when he was able to catch Mk off guard and tackle him to the ground Aloo raised one of his daggers above Mk a slit of turquoise peeking out from his eyelids, Mk turned his head to the side with a whimper of fear. "Enough!" Wukong shouted at the two thinking it would be enough, however it was only enough to get Aloo to freeze before being tackled and rolled across the sand by a shadow of purple and black. Tao didn't make an attempt to wipe the sand off him as he held Aloo tight, arms wrapped around his neck and tail around his waist, tears coated Tao's cheeks as he sobbed into his companions shoulder. "Thank goodness, I thought you were gone" Aloo was letting Tao cling to him, his hand combed through his onyx hair and helping him calm down, Aloos voice was hushed and only audible to Tao's ears only, the monkey king and his student stood away watching the two simians, as confused as they were Sun Wukong told Mk to go home, so he did. Aloo helped Tao to his feet, wiping away some tears with a cloth before putting it in his pocket. Tao smiled at Aloo before turning to Wukong, he knew this was his fault, Tao knew he was the reason Aloo wasn't home and Tao knew he was the reason he had panicked for Aloo's safety. "You, what were you thinking!? Were you even thinking at all!?" Tao growled at the monkey king, he was livid, Tao knew Wukong was brash and had a streak of poor decisions but in Tao's eyes, this was an unredeemable offense. "Out of everything you've done today, and I have an idea, but you decide to keep my companion here to fight with your protégé!? You know Aloo could've killed him! Sun Wukong, you're more than a fool!" Tao was crying again, tears of frustration this time, he wanted to punch Wukong, make him feel the physical pain he had emotionally caused Tao to feel, but he didn't, Tao sided with his better judgment and walked away. Calling his staff back, Tao stepped on it and Aloo sat down, he gave Wukong another fiery glare, the monkey king; great sage equal to heaven, had crossed a very very thin line. Tao and Aloo had returned home and even though Tao was exhausted, he still made it top priority to make dinner for the both of them, Tao and Aloo ate and talked softly, Tao had developed a massive headache so he'd be going to bed soon. With Aloos' help Tao was able to go to bed, sure his plans for a shower were skipped but he was too exhausted to care. Before Aloo had left Tao's room they had hugged for a while, Tao was still too panicked that Aloo would be missing in the morning but Aloo had assured him he would still be there. Tao fell asleep first, after the third cry of the night he was knocked out and Aloo was curled up in the reading chair with a big blanket, a peaceful night awaiting the two.