Bottled Sunshine

[Shurikane]

Bottled Sunshine


The weapons store was empty this morning. It was golden wolf season and everyone had gone at the early hours to grab their share. The meat was nice, but the fur paid hundreds.

Kodi Taschereau had retired to the forge he had set up in the backstore and had gone to work on a new artistic long saber he would give as a birthday present to the old Parker. He had chosen an outline blade inspired from the local law holder's Orva Sword. One side would be straight, and the other curved, with the inside part adorned with embellished metal strengtheners, thus forming a smiling weapon. And of course, nothing like a little personal signature on the hilt guard.

He opened the windows to give the room some circulation and turned the fire pit on. He scanned his array of tools - old-fashioned things mixing with those of the latest technology - and made his selection among those for medium to small work. Such a work of art will take a bit of finesse to look good. He also made a mental note to give it a silvery shine once it's complete, with the sharp regions outlines with bronze.

A cluster of bells rang in the shop. Taking his gloves off, he walked out to reach his counter. His whistle stopped and his lips formed a smile when he noticed his customer.

"Shrike! What's up this morning?"

The law holder placed two guns on the counter.

"I need a service on these." She said. "My bullets are starting to fly all over the place and I'm sure it's not my aiming."

Kodi took one of the guns, unloaded it, and peeked through the barrel. "Let's see that... Might be the barrel structure actually. I can't see any grooves." To make sure, he took out an instrument and opened the barrel compartment. "Just as I thought. Don't worry, it's just normal wear from using all those high-performance bullets and power modules. I have a couple of spares."

"Thank you." Shrike glanced at her watch while Kodi took the old parts away and reached inside a tiny drawer to take out the new ones. Before the installation, the man carefully examined both guns before installing the new barrel parts, after which he handed them to her.

"They should be fine. Everything else looks good."

"How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Those parts are worth pennies - I have tons of these and they rarely need replacement. Only if you use them constantly for years on end like you and other fighters do." Kodi shrugged. "There'll be some of these left when I die. I make most of my cash selling weapons and their art. Say, I've got this beautiful new one I made for myself."

"What is it?"

"Come and see this." He motioned her to follow him to the forge, and pointed at a weapon hung on the wall. "It's my version of overkill. A triple katana, three blades on a single hit. Very heavy, very advanced, masters only. It's my answer to all those crazy weapons found in role-playing games. I put one on the computer yesterday and guess what. The hero had a butter knife twenty feet long! I mean, do you know any more massive?"

Shrike smirked. "Massive isn't the answer. To me, it's all about being fluid, and knowing how to combo that sword and shield. I worked hard to learn how to use mine one-handed, and I have to say it paid off."

"I'm sure it did. But unlike you, I prefer to fight without a shield. Waddya want, I'm a samurai type of guy." He walked out of the forge and slowly went back to his counter. "I don't like that whole killing stuff type of thing. To me, a fight is more than that. It's an art. It's a thing that can look beautiful when done properly. Remember Brad Scotts in the movie The Teacher?"

"Yeah. It was beautiful."

"Indeed! Now, think about Tim Ledoux in Combat Corp. It was dirty fighting. They fought to win. They did sneaky attacks, cheap combos and used anything that fell under their hand. It was more random than anything to me. It didn't measure skill between the two opponents."

Shrike rolled her eyes. "Well, remember it's just a movie."

"I know, but I tend to take them seriously. That's our way of thinking in the States of Labrador - I'm no different from them."

"Yeah, tell me some more stories about that homeland of yours." Shrike said with an anxious smile. "Your country is so interesting to me..."

Kodi chuckled. "Looks like we're in for another morning session, huh?... Yeah, I guess so." He reached under his counter. "Here, have a beer with me."

They sat around a small table next to the front door, right in front of the window, where the golden rays of the morning sun blessed the merchandise with more prestige than a king's ceremonial attire. He noticed as he saw Shrike sit down that the sun hadn't forgotten about her, the light nicely bringing out the shiny folds of her Empire State long leather coat, and giving a little sparkle to her bright green hair. She touched glasses, took a sip of her beer, and put it down in plain light. Bottled sunshine they used to call that. The reason was obvious.

"You know," Kodi said, "I keep telling about my country and so far I haven't heard a word about Siberia. What's it like over there?"

The woman gave a shrug. "I wouldn't know. I moved to America when I was three. I barely remember a few words of Siberian."

"You sure lost the accent if there was one."

"True..."

She glanced sideways with some uneasiness as she took another sip of her beer.

"A beer in the morning." She muttered. "You do that often?"

Kodi smiled. "Only when I'm with you... Otherwise, it's workin' the forge or attending to my customers." He paused. "Taking a beer like that in the morning sunshine makes me recall those days we used to go picnic at the North Park. Remember? It was a big, big field of wild herbs and just a few trees, and we ran in there like schoolchildren without a single care in the world."

"Yeah, it was fun..."

"You look so worried now." The man looked down. "You had such an easy smile back then."

"We were kids."

"That was the beauty of it, Shrike. Back then, you had your hair short and wild, like a green fireball circling your head and sending little flames in every direction. You had barely started your weapon arts training. You were young, healthy, full of life and ready to take over the world."

"Yeah, I was this way back then."

"What's gotten into you when you hit adulthood? Everytime I kiss you, I get an icy cold breath."

"I take mints."

Silence. Kodi sighed and passed a hand through his gray hair.

"We both evolved a lot." Shrike said with a smirk. "Back then, you were a tall kid who shaved his head daily. Now, look at you. You're strong, muscular, smart, and you're not ashamed of your hair anymore."

The blacksmith chuckled. "Anyone would feel ashamed in front of your hair. Do you realize how few people are actually gifted with such a bright hue of green? Most of the time it's forest green or olive green. But you, you're like a neon brighter than the sun. When I look down the street, I see a big green flash and right there and then, I know it's you."

"Well, I'm glad you let your hair grow. Gray isn't a bad color. You look very fitting for your attitude. Tough, hearty and warm. Like the dwarfs in fantasy novels, you know? Always ready to do the distance, and with a heart bigger than the whole galaxy."

"And you, have you looked at yourself?"

"Uh-oh!" Shrike interjected with a little laugh.

"I can recall your kid self, wearing a white swimsuit adorned with sleeves and a skirt. And now, what do I see before my eyes? A woman who acts older than she looks. Black leather longcoat, fighting boots, metal utility sleeves, professional fighting gloves, a defying stare and a mass of hair perfectly cared for. You changed so much, and so quickly too!"

"Well, that's adulthood to you."

"...Say, you still have that swimsuit?"

"Everyday." She bared her shoulder to show a white strap.

"And it still fits you?!"

"Well, it's not the original one of course. I just fetch a new one everytime I grow too big for the old one. Same color, same model, and I add the sleeves and skirt on every single one of them."

"Throwback to the good ol' days?"

"Oh, I'm not wearing this suit for that reason."

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North Park had been set up in a suburb of New Colombus circa 1950 and was supposed to be the type of park where you could lose yourself in, just like in those old-fashioned romantic movies where the man drove a gigantic chromed car and the woman had a hairdo solid like rock. Proving the intention, the spokesman who had inaugurated the park was an aging world famous crooner.

After Heaven Day, there was no one left to take care of the park. The nicely cut fields and trimmed bushes had grown to take natural proportions. The grass soon got taken over by large plants, which had cloudy balls for flowers, just like dandelions about to lay down a new generation. There were always a few of these colorful cotton-like balls hovering around.

The park wasn't that big, but in the distance, it was hard to even distinguish the post-apocalyptic modernity of New Colombus. For a reason most would call magical, North Park had stayed a nice, safe place, free of animals, demons, thieves or other scum. The ground was perfectly clean. Only the pure-hearted set foot in this field.

In the year 2018, six years after Heaven Day, Kodi Taschereau and Shrike Araseïn were twelve years old.

He wore nothing but a pair of old pants and boots. His skin was moist, fresh out of the river boarding the east side of the park. Shrike followed close behind, dry but wearing her trademark swimsuit, with the sleeves and the skirt held by strings, which were tied along a series of almost invisible white buttons. Her hair, though short, was waving along with her movements, like the smooth oscillations of a squirrel's tail when it ran.

Kodi hadn't brought a kite along, or a toy or any game, or even a picnic basket. Neither had she. They simply ran and chased each other. It was like a football version of the game It, where they tackled each other to the ground in turn, the soft soil preventing any damage to their features. It was fun because Shrike just loved to run - it gave her a sense of freedom. As for Kodi, with his budding pervertness characteristic to the average teenager, he had the opportunity to bump into any part of her and get away with it.

They were at the top of a small hill crowned by a tree when he got her. They slipped and tumbled over each other down to the foot of the slope, Kodi ending up on top of her. They laughed.

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Shrike gave a weird look to Kodi. It was a look empty of signification, as if she didn't know what to convey. For a moment, the planet could have exploded and she wouldn't have moved a single inch.

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He was behind her, leaned against a tree and her against his chest. He ran his hands through her hair. She stared at the distance, trying to get a glimpse of New Colombus. After a while, she took one of those dandelion-like plants and began to run her hands through the fuzzy ball.

"Your hair's soft." The boy commented.

She arched back to look at him. "I wish I could run my hands through your hair too." Kodi's face hardened.

"It's not happening anytime soon. I gotta shave it."

"Why?"

"Because the color is so ugly and boring! It's not green like you. Your hair's cool."

"But Kodi, have you ever seen yourself shaved like you are?"

"I don't care."

"Yes you do! I know it. Your mouth says something but your eyes say something else. Come on, Kodi. I want to feel your hair."

A grunt. "Never."

Shrike gave him a disappointed look, immediately followed by puppy eyes. "Listen... Let's make a promise, okay? Promise you'll grow your hair. If you do, I promise I'll marry you, and we'll have lots of kids together!"

"Have kids? Man, no way!"

"Come on, Kodi. I felt you twice today, it's not like you can hide it. I'm growing up too. In a few years, we'll be adults. I've already started my weapon arts and my Alpha-Power training. I'm starting to take big responsibilities, and you too, right? You're learning the Alpha-Power Discipline of..."

"...Enhancement."

"Bingo! See? Just by doing this, you're growing up! Don't you wanna be an adult someday?"

Kodi threw a rock down the hill, trying to figure out a way to counter the question. He changed his mind while the rock was halfway down. "No. Adults look so tense and nervous. I don't wanna be like them. That's why kids rock. They can play games and do anything they want!"

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Kodi drank some more of his beer. Both glasses were down to just one quarter.

"It's weird to think that but... I finally succeeded in living a carefree life."

"Yeah..."

"Are you recalling the same scene as I am."

Shrike looked down. "Yeah..."

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"I tell you!" Kodi exclaimed. "From this day on, I'm growing my hair. It's gonna be long and huge! And we'll marry, and we'll live together, happily ever after like in fairy tales! We'll hunt monsters and demons and we'll be rich! And powerful! We'll find out why no babies were born after Heaven Day! We'll be the best teammates ever! We'll save the earth!"

Shrike giggled and applauded.

"Bravo, Kodi, bravo!"

"My pleasure, ma'am." Kodi responded with an exaggerated bow.

A pause.

"Hey Kodi..." Shrike said. "Has your father ever told you how a kiss feels when the tongue's used?"

"Not really. Mom and dad weren't that personal. It's a national mindset in Labrador. Business before love and stuff."

"Why don't we find out?"

"No! It's, like, gross and forbidden!"

"Not if we're both kids! Nothing stops us from sharing a kiss like they do in the movies!"

"Yes, something does. Everytime they do that, they both grow up and run off and marry somebody else and end up hating each other!"

"Not true!"

"Yes it's true!"

"And what about our promise?"

"Well..."

"Nothing can stop us if we promised. It's not a little experimental kiss that'll kill a marriage planned years ahead." Shrike smiled. "Besides, how am I supposed to kiss you on our wedding day if we haven't had any practice?"

Kodi sighed. "All right. You win!"

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"What had I done again to convince you so easily to promise to me back then?..." Shrike muttered.

"I can't recall."

"Weird, huh?"

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They kissed once. It lasted forever. At first, they weren't too sure of how to go about it. But at the end, it seemed as if they had done it for years.

When they were done, they looked at each other briefly, and they did it again...

And again...

And again...

For the rest of the afternoon, they practiced kissing, one boy in rough pants and an angel in a white swimsuit.

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Shrike took her arms out of her coat's sleeves but left it on her shoulders. She then took off her sleeveless long neck shirt and revealed the white fabric hidden underneath.

"This is my soft side," she said with nostalgia. "To me, wearing only this is like being naked. Right now, I feel I'm topless in front of you."

"I recall the feeling too."

"What do you...?"

"I remember the first time I tackled you down. I had touched the softest fabric in the whole world. It was divine, almost unreal."

"Well, you must remember I always came with my coat on, and left it hanging on a tree branch before entering North Park."

"Yes."

Shrike leaned against him. "I am showing my soft side to no one but you."

He put his hand around her back and squeezed her beside him. The two glasses of beer sat, almost warm now, only a sip left in each.

The shop was completely silent. Everything had stopped. A look through the window would have revealed a completely empty street save for the rising ten o' clock sun.

"Those days were great." He said, so quietly she had only heard a mix of odd sounds.

"You wish you could travel back to that time, huh?"

"Yeah, just once..."

She arched back, presenting the side of her face to him. She slowly turned it towards him, and there he saw a genuine smile.

"Feel it." She said. "Just like back then, when you felt it each time you bumped into me."

Carefully, almost as if afraid to break her into a million pieces, he set his hand on the shoulder strap, slowly going down the pure white fabric. He brushed his hand down her shoulder, over her breast, stopping at the navel and staying there. Then, with just the same amount of care, he retreated, and gave a sigh.

"Man, when will I ever get to play doctor with you?"

Shrike giggled as she put her shirt back on. "Sorry... I'm just not at peace with myself right now. There's something troubling my mind and I have to go and find what it is. I can't love anyone until I settle down that tension I'm feeling. As long as I'm nervous, my lips will be sealed... literally."

"When did it start?"

"I was already tense when I was young. I felt that there was something foreign assaulting my mind and feeling its own emotions. Anger, disappointment, jealousy, all those negative things and yet I feel as if I should be legitimately feeling them. As if, I don't know, as if those emotions were like a ghost coming back to haunt me with something that's happened to me before and I can't remember it."

"I see..."

She stood up. So did he.

"Listen," she said, "How about one before I leave?"

"Not if you're cold..."

She smiled. "I had a beer. It was at room temperature. It can't be all bad."

"You're right. After all, my breath must taste like beer too."

And thus, they kissed.

She put her coat back on.

"I have a promise to make to you." She said. "I promise to go find the reason for my tension, right this moment. I will pack my things and go settle the score with that haunting of mine."

"And what should I do in return?"

"Promise you'll have a beer for me when I come back... Cheers."

They touched glasses, finished their beer, and put the glasses back on the table. They looked each other in the eyes, exchanged a light kiss, eyes open, and then she turned around and out of the shop.

Kodi looked at the glasses. He decided not to pick them up. Smiling, he also decided not to brush his teeth today.

With a newfound energy, he went back to his forge.

[BWS-1]

Nostalgic story, good use of a few cliche, original idea. Do you have any plans of expanding this story?

[Shurikane]

It's supposed to be part of novel #5 in the series.

[BWS-1]

Ha, good.

*goes back reading Soul Terminal

[reaper]

pardon my asking, but whats the premis of the story?
it seems to be in this world, but guns and swords are both in use, but they talk about rpgs lol. . . .im just a little confused

[Shurikane]

Post-apocalyptic modern world. Imagine something like FFX.

[starlitdancer]

I haven't read all of your story yet, but I definitely will when I have more time. The title is great, by the way.