The Jian

Chapter 1: A Change of Story

The Jian, also know as "the bird that shares wings,"

Only posses one wing.

Unless a male and female pair lean on each other and act as one,

they're are incapable of flight.

They're imperfect, incomplete creatures.

But for some reason,

their way of life,

struck me as profoundly beautiful.

It was beautiful,

I felt

≈

The Jian, also known as "the bird that shares wings."

The book I read about it a long time ago

said it can't fly unless a male and female pair support each other.

They're pitiful creatures.

Until it finds a partner,

it must hide among tree leaves,

wait with baited breath,

and dream of the day it can take flight into the skies above.

If so, where does a bird that ends up never flying go?

I know the answer all too well.

The answer is...

≈

'Hiro. HIRO!' said Goro, his usual calm and laidback expression replaced with smugness. 'You're gonna be late for class.' he added, nudging Hiro awake.

He yawned and glanced over at his alarm clock

'7:49 am'

'WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME EARLIER!' exclaimed Hiro, his brain firing up his stress.

'Because when we agreed to not deprive each other of our beauty sleeps, I thought I would be able to hold my end of the deal. But seeing how school starts in one hour I thought, ya know...' replied Goro.

'You still could have gotten me up earlier!' said Hiro.

'I know but, that's your alarm clock's job.' Goro added with a chuckle.

'Ughhh!' Hiro groaned.

'Well, see you at breakfast.' said Goro.

'...'

≈

'Where the hell is Hiro...' Ichigo thought.

Her thoughts were drawn elsewhere by Goro sitting down across from her at the breakfast table.

'Any luck?' she asked.

'Just got him to end his yearly beauty sleep.' Goro responded.

'That... idiot...' she whispered. But no matter how much she said that, she could never hide my feelings from herself.