Welcome to Gaia! ::

Neru sat down on a rock, sadness inside him. Why am I always alone? Can anyone in this world for once just recognize me not as him? He sighed and flopped down for a few seconds, then put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. I just want someone to understand... He sniffled, the sobbed... then cried.

Tears plopped onto the ground beneath Neru's feet. He couldn't hold back, and he continuously cried. "WHY DOESN'T ANYONE CARE ABOUT ME?!" he cried out as he looked up at the town ahead. When he was done, he continued crying and flopped down again. "Why? I don't deserve this..."

Neru is a fifteen year old boy who is average height, skinny, wears an old silver and gold short sleeve shirt, a pair of black jeans with spots of dirt, and areas that were threadbare or rigidly torn, a black crossbelt, and large feathery white wings. His hair was silver and slightly spiky in the back, and he had narrow blue eyes and small silver horns. He knew who his parents were, but he remembered nothing of them. He never even knew what they looked like. He lives in a large town near the water, and he is constantly insulted as he is not liked by the citizens. He is said to remind them of a man who failed to save the town thousands of years ago, sending it into a several hundred year long period of restoration. The citizens insult Neru constantly, and he feels as though there is no hope to stop them.

"I can't take this anymore!!!" Neru roared. He slammed his fist into the ground, making a hole where his fist hit. "Why can't they just realize I'm not him?! It was thousands of years ago!!!" He slammed his fist into the tree trunk beside him, crying more.

"Relax. You know you and I don't look alike. And I understand you," someone said as they placed their hand on Neru's shoulder. He had white layered armor lined with gold, and the top had a blue gem in the center that all of the gold lining connected to. His shoulder plates replicated wings, and each "feather" was white and lined with gold. He had white arm guards that had white feathers lined with gold. He had white and gold metal gloves, and his legs were layered with white armor lined in gold. His boots were the same and had wings in the back. He had long and spiky silver hair, narrow blue eyes, and very long silver horns. He had very large white feathery wings.

"Hikari, I know you're trying to help, but you really aren't... I just can't do anything. Nobody else can see you, so I'd sound insane if I tried to explain," Neru said.

"Well sorry if I died trying to save this place," Hikari said. "And either way, you are who you are. You can't change that."

"I know that!" Neru screamed as he slammed his fist into the tree. "I can't take this anymore!!!" He prepared to slam his fist into the tree again and just as he started, Hikari gripped his arm tightly.

"Stop it Neru! You're not helping anything!" Hikari yelled. He thrusted Neru's arm downward, sending him hurled into the ground. He placed his foot on his back between his wings. "Now are you going to stop or keep raging? If you continue to rage, then I'm taking you with me again for the night."

"No! Please... anything but that... That was heck last time......." Neru replied quietly.

"Good. Then quit raging!" Hikari lifted his foot off of Neru's back and picked him up. He stood him up and made him face him. "Go get new clothes. Those ones are filthy."

"Shut up. You're not my dad," Neru said. "You just watch me like a hawk since I can see you and I look a lot like you."

"It's not just that Neru. It's......." Hikari stopped for a moment. "Forget what I was saying. I can't say it as of right now..." He sighed and looked back over at Neru. "But I watch you and make sure you're ok, so I am basically a dad to you. So listen to me and go get changed, ok?"

"I have nothing else. Nobody will sell me anything... I'm just... nonexistent to everyone," Neru said quietly. Sadness filled him again, and he nearly began crying.

"Hey! Don't cry! You're going to be ok," Hikari said. He bent down and wrapped his arms around Neru, hugging him tightly. "It's alright." He smiled, turned Neru around to face him, and looked up at his teary eyes. "Don't worry. They're all just too hooked to the past. That is the one way that you are held down. They need to let go of it. And if anything turns out wrong, just come spend the day with me. And not as a punishment." He laughed, and Neru chuckled a bit, now smiling. Hikari wiped the tears from his eyes. "Just relax. You're nice, kind, and caring. I don't see any reason for them to dislike you at all." He brushed Neru's hair out of his face. "So calm down, alright?" Neru nodded. "Good." He stood back up and walked back.

"But why do you watch me if it's not just because of those few reasons?" Neru asked.

"I can't say them. I swore to keep them a secret to myself a long time ago, and I will continue to keep my secret for eternity," Hikari said.

"Come on... can't you tell me?"

"No."

Neru sighed. "Fine..." He lay down on the ground and looked up at the sky. "I remember when you were teaching me how to fly. I still regret annoying you that much when you tried to." He looked over at Hikari who was sitting on his knees. "And when you tried to get me to fly around bit with you... oh crud was that annoying..." He laughed. Hikari did too.

"Yeah. You were always stubborn. But as soon as you flew for your first time, I had to drag you out of the air to get you to stop!" Hikari said with a laugh. Neru laughed too.

"Well I don't see who wouldn't love the feeling of the wind beating on them and soaring through the sky. Everyone dreams of doing that," Neru said. He looked back up at the sky. "I just wish I knew why I had wings."

"Well your parents must have had wings and silver hair," Hikari said. "I wish you knew who they were."

"Well I never did and I never will. I might as well just let it go," Neru commented. A sad look appeared on Hikari's face. "But how did you find out about me?"

"I listen in on the townspeople. How can't I if all of them are descendants of the few people that survived my failure?" Hikari asked, sounding quiet.

"Oh... Sorry." Neru turned away.

"Don't mind. It's been five thousand years. I had to get over it if I wanted to move on..." Hikar commented. He sighed. "But it's just sad to know that you and I may be connected. I'd rather that not be because it's not fair that you too have to deal with the pain I felt..."

"It's fine. I've been dealing with them for years now. Well..... it's not easy... but..." Neru got cut off.

"It's not ok. The pain I felt back when I was alive was a terrible pain. And for yet another to feel it the same way, to feel it the same amount... It just shouldn't be," Hikari interrupted.

Neru sighed. "Stop worrying about it. It's alright."

"I think if you went up the the tree and continuously slammed your fists into it and broke down crying because of insults, you are not ok. This needs to end soon before what happened to me happens to you." Hikari stopped and thought for a moment. "I'm going back. Meet me here tomorrow, ok?" Neru nodded. "Ok. See you tomorrow." He opened up a swirling blue portal with particles of energy around it and walked through. The moment he did, the portal closed.

"I wonder what he even does when he's there. Last time I went there was heck, but that's just because it was a punishment. I wish I hadn't set him off that day... But like he says, there's no time for regrets. I have to let it go," Neru said. He sighed and looked up at the sky. "I think I need to get back home." He stood up, jumped off the cliff, and began flying toward his house in the town.

When Neru arrived at his house, he opened up the door and walked inside, smiling. "I should eat something before I get too hungry." He brushed some dirt off of his clothes and walked to his pantry. He pulled out some bread and butter and lathered butter on the bread. He sat down and ate.

Back in Hikari's dimension, Hikari landed down, and everyone there greeted him happily. "Thanks," Hikari said with a smile. He walked down the hallway that had a white tile floor with gold designs, gold and white pillars holding up the ceiling, many gold and white staircases, and pictures of everyone who was there lining the white walls. Hikari was well known there even though he barely spoke with anyone and barely spent time there.

Hikari walked down the long hallway up to a staircase. He sighed ans began his way up it. "I am rather glad to say that everything is fine here Neru. But I'm just glad to say that you don't know what life is like here..." He walked up to his room and walked inside. It was large, and it had a beautiful floor with many designs, and there was a large bed covered by a curtain, and there was a door leading to a balcony. Hikari walked out onto it.

The sun was setting, and the air was warm as always. The ocean down below hit up against the side of the building. Kids swam in the water, throwing around a beach ball to each other, laughing and smiling happily. "I only wish you could experience the same joy Neru..." He walked back inside.

Hikari sat down on his bed and sighed. "Maybe someday... In around another hundred years or so......." He shook his head to force the tears not to come. I'll be seeing him tomorrow. I shouldn't be upset. I see him every day... He sighed and walked out of his room, down the steps, and out of the building which was basically a gigantic castle for thousands of people.

Hikari walked down the pathway and into a town. There, he walked down to where there were multiple merchants. He scouted around for one that sold clothes. Eventually, he found them and walked up to them.

"Oh well if it isn't Hikari!" the merchant said happily. She gave him a bright smile.

"Good day to you Misses Kami," Hikari said with a bow. He looked around in the shop area.

"I think I know what you are looking for," Misses Kami said. She pulled out a silver shirt with a nice gold jacket, black jeans, and nice black sneakers. Hikari nodded.

"How did you know?"

"I've heard things." She smiled.

Hikari payed Misses Kami and picked up the clothes, then walked back to the building. He got to his room and placed the clothes down on the floor next to his bed.

"I hope he's ok..." Hikari said. He sighed, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

In Neru's world, Neru was sitting down on a green couch. He was reading a book out loud.

"Sarah let out a sigh. 'Alright. Just call me. I'll be at the restaurant tomorrow at five.' She hung up her phone and flopped onto the couch. 'Yes!!! I finally have a chance to meet him tomorrow!!!' She hugged her arms across her body tightly, smiling as bright as the sun. 'No more mysterious letters. Just a chance to finally talk with him and meet him face to face.'" Neru sighed. "She's probably just going to find out that he's not who she thinks he is and get herself into major trouble. That always happens in these love stories. Why did I even find this one?" He placed a bookmark in the book and placed the book on the table. "I might go for a nighttime flight." He stood up and walked to the door.

Neru flew around in the sky, way above the clouds. The stars were out, and he smiled at the thought that he was relaxing. As he flew, the late night summer air pushed up against him. He smiled even more. "I love flying around in the night. It's so peaceful."

The moon shined down on the ocean outside of Neru's town. He smiled as it broke through the clouds. He flew down, holding his hand out, and he skimmed it across the water as he got close to it. He smiled. "Sweet! I love this!!" He flew upward again, now over the mountains. "I love this!!!" He went right above the trees, letting his hand brush up against the soft leaves on them. He smiled.

Neru's flight lasted for quite a while. It was well past midnight by the time he was done. He flew down to his house, now happier than ever. When he landed, he was smiling. "I'm glad I went flying. It's so relaxing."

"You shouldn't be up past midnight Neru," someone said as the pushed his shoulder, knocking him down. Neru stood up and looked at a man who was walking past. Neru glared at him, and the man turned around. "Don't look at me like that!" He stomped away.

"Well!" Neru said with a huff. He turned around and walked inside his house.

When Neru finally got to his bed, her sighed as he lay down. He pulled the covers over himself. "It's my decision to make how long I stay up for... Unless Hikari sees me out past midnight. But besides that, nobody has the rights to go and tell me what to do..." He brushed the hair out of his face. "I enjoy flying. One of the few things I enjoy in my life shouldn't be disturbed..." He curled up on his side and sighed. "Tomorrow will be better. I'm still curious to see what Hikari has to say..." He closed his eyes and began falling asleep.

The next morning, Neru woke up to the beams of sunlight breaking through his window. He groaned as the washed over his face. "Alright. I'll get up..." He sat up, half awake.

Neru eventually began making his way down the stairs and to the kitchen. "What am I able to have that'll wake me up right away?" He opened the pantry and scavenged around for something sugary, but he found nothing. He let out a sigh and decided to just eat a bowl of cereal. "I doubt this'll fill me for the day, but oh well." He began eating.

When Neru was done, he placed his bowl in the sink and walked upstairs to his closet. He pulled out a towel and washcloth, then made his way to the bath.

"Hikari... What is it you have to say to me?" Neru asked.

Back in Hikari's dimension, Hikari sighed. "You will know soon enough Neru."

Neru continued filling the tub until it was full of hot water, then undressed and went in it. He submerged himself completely except for his head, and steam came up off the water, making him unable to see a thing. His window was open though, so some got outside. He smiled. "I like baths like this." He sat there for a long time, relaxing.

Lots of time passed, and Neru decided to finally wash himself. "I guess laying down in boiling hot water for two hours is good enough to get me up," he said. He washed his body off, and dirt filled the bathtub. When he washed his hair, it was like an avalanche of dirt falling down off of "Mount I am the Dirtiest Person to Ever Exist". He laughed, and got out of the tub. He got back into the clothes from before.

Neru looked into the mirror. His hair was actually shiny instead of dirty and musty like it was before. And his body was finally clean, but his clothes were not. He sighed at that and walked downstairs.

When Neru looked up at the clock, he sighed. "I spent three hours in the shower... Now it's three....... UUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!! I'm going to have no free time now! I have to go meet Hikari in two hours, and I've got to clean up still..." He groaned. "I might as well get started."

Neru rushed around as quickly as he could, rushing from cleaning one thing to the next within seconds it seemed like. He dusted his cabinets, vacuumed, cleaned his room, etc. By the time he was done, he flopped onto his couch, letting out a loud and very long sigh. "Good. Thirty minutes to rest." He threw his arms behind him and lay limp. "Now I know I need to get up earlier..." He sighed and looked up at the ceiling, doing nothing but that for the next half hour.

Before he knew it, the half hour passed. Neru smiled, no longer tired. As he sat up, he continuously wondered what Hikari had to say. He never said for Neru to meet him at a specific time unless there was something important for him to say. He began flying toward the cliff.

By the time Neru arrived, Hikari was there, holding new clothes for him.

"Go put these on quickly. You can't wear the same clothes for a month straight!" Hikari said. Neru smiled.

"Thank you!" Neru said. He hugged him, then ran into the woods.

"I'm... hoping he will understand....." Hikari said. He looked over into the woods, waiting for Neru to return. You are... so much more to me Neru. A sad look appeared on his face.

"I love these Hikari! Thank you!!" Neru called out as he ran down to him. Hikari smiled only a little. Sadness took over him. "Hikari? Are you alright?" Neru was confused.

"Kind of. I.... I have something inside that I just am not ready to tell you yet," Hikari said quietly.

"Then why'd you bring me out here?" Neru asked.

Hikari was silent for a few seconds as he attempted to speak. "I..... I thought I would be able to tell you today," Hikari replied, still quiet. "I'm sorry. I.... I just can't say it right now!" He suddenly broke down onto his hands and knees crying.

"Hikari!" Neru rushed down onto his knees beside Hikari and placed his hand on his back. "Hikari! Are you alright?!"

"Forgive me Neru... I... I am more sorry than ever that I could not tell you this today..." Hikari's tears hit the ground below him, and he sobbed. "I'm so sorry Neru."

"Don't worry about it Hikari! Just... are you ok?"

Hikari shook his head. "Just let me go. I.... I wanted to tell you tonight, and I feel so ashamed that I can't even bring myself to do it..." He was silent after those words.

"Don't feel so bad. I can wait. You can tell me any day you want. I'll wait," Neru said with a smile.

Hikari sobbed, then wiped the tears from his eyes. "Alright. Thank you Neru. You..... I can't believe you'd wait. For once, and I think only this once, you're waiting for something." He laughed a bit. Neru laughed a lot.

"Sorry if I'm impatient," Neru said while rolling his eyes. He sighed, then smiled. "You ok now?" Hikari nodded and stood up.

"Alright. But one thing," Hikari said. "When I tell you what I wanted to tomorrow, then you probably won't be able to forgive me... And if you don't I won't mind it... at all...... I should have told you a long time ago, so please don't hesitate to be angry at me when I tell you tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Neru asked. Now I really want to know. But I'm going to wait.

"You will see," Hikari said. He stood up, his back facing Neru. "I'm going to go now. Meet me here tomorrow morning at six. Then, nobody will be up, and it won't be so strange."

"Ok," Neru said. He watched as Hikari walked through the portal back to his dimension.

Neru smiled. I hope he'll be ok. I'd better get home. I need to get up early, so more sleep is needed. He jumped off of the cliff and flew back home, worry still on his mind.

When Neru got home, he walked to his kitchen and quickly pulled out a piece of bread. "I'd better eat quickly," he said. He bit into the piece and sighed. "I want to go to sleep right now for some reason..." He continued eating. "I'm just hoping everything is alright. Why would I not forgive Hikari for something?" Neru sighed and finished up his bread. He made his way up the stairs.

Neru arrived at his room. He sighed and flopped down onto his bed. As he looked up at the ceiling, he thought of all the things it could possibly be that Hikari had to say. He sighed, shook his head to get the thoughts away from it, and closed his eyes. "I need sleep." He pulled the covers over himself, then slowly fell asleep.

Back in Hikari's dimension, Hikari walked up to the building. When he opened the doors to walk inside, everyone greeted him once again, but this time, Hikari had a sad look on his face.

"Is everything alright Hikari?" someone asked. Hikari shook his head, silent. He walked down the long hallway toward his room.

When Hikari got up to the staircase that lead to his room, he let out a large sigh. He walked up the steps slowly. Right as he got to his room, he looked to his left at the picture on the wall. A small baby boy with spiky silver hair, white feathery wings, small silver horns, and bright blue eyes was there. "Neru..." Hikari said quietly as he placed his hand softly on the picture. He ran his hand across it, then fell to his knees below it. "Forgive me for never telling you..." He began crying again, his hand placed on the picture of Baby Neru.

That night, Hikari didn't get much sleep. And when he did finally go to sleep, he cried.

The next morning, Neru woke up to his alarm. He looked at his clock, and it read five thirty. "Good. I've got time to wake up and get ready..." He made his way down the stairs and to the kitchen.

Neru walked up to the pantry, pulling out some cereal. He put it in a bowl and decided to be lazy and leave the box of cereal out. He picked up a spoon and it in the bowl, and still half asleep, walked over to the living room and turned on the TV.

"Nothing's on at this time in the morning..." Neru said. He flipped through the channels while shoving a spoon full of cereal into his mouth halfheartedly. When he found something he liked, he leaned back and slouched. "Dangit... I don't think I can get awake in thirty minutes." He ate more, still feeling lazy.

Once Neru was done, he picked up his bowl and placed it in the sink which was filled with piles of unclean dishes. They hadn't been cleaned in forever, and some even smelled terrible. He sighed, now awake, and walked to the door.

"So what do you finally have to say to me Hikari?" Neru jumped up and began flying up toward the cliff.

The morning air was warm, and the wind blew lightly, making the clouds move out of the way just enough for the rising sun's beams to shine down upon the town, giving it a golden glow. Neru landed on the cliff, Hikari already there. He turned around to see him.

"Neru," Hikari said.

"Yeah. Hey. So what's up?" Neru asked.

Hikari took in a deep breath, then let it out. "I...... I am hoping that after I say this, you can forgive me for hiding it for so many years. But I honestly doubt you will be able to..." His face showed pure sadness.

"I bet you I will," Neru said.

"No... I know you won't..." Hikari said. "Just be prepared, ok?"

"Alright. So what is it?"

"You've always wondered where your parents went, right?" Hikari asked. Neru nodded. "Well... I finally have an answer to your question." Neru gasped within the first moment the sentence was finished. "Yes, I know. You are probably wondering how I know this... but there is one easy answer to that." He closed his eyes, took in a large breath, and tensed up as he was so nervous. "Neru, you've always been the close observer, and your predictions are right. You and I are directly related since..... your father is me." He opened his eyes, and Neru's was frozen, his eyes as wide as the open sky and his moth dropped as much as the ocean is deep.

"H..... Hikari?!" Neru asked quietly. A tear ran down his face, and he shook his head. "No! No! No! No! No! How can that be?! You're dead!"

"Please listen Neru," Hikari said, placing his hand on Neru's back. "Your mother and I both are. But in this world, even if people are dead and have a child, that child is automatically alive no matter what. But since my world is the dead world, you couldn't stay. We both begged and pleaded as much as we could, but the king wouldn't let us. Please forgive us Neru..."

"Why?! How?! This can't be!" Neru screamed.

"I am sorry to say that it is the absolute truth. Mother and I tried out hardest, but we had to let you go. When I came back, she wasn't there. I couldn't find her, but I heard her voice saying, 'Watch our son. He is everything to the both of us. Tell him I love him, and that I am sorry I will not see him.' It crushed me, and it still crushes me to say anything about Mother, but please listen. She loves you even though she didn't get to see you grow up. I've always watched you because... I love you son. I love you more than ever." Hikari leaned downward and wrapped his arms tightly around Neru. "You are the greatest son to ever exist." He smiled, now crying as well.

"Hi......... Dad....." Neru began. "Why? Why can't you take me with you? I want to be with you again..."

"I'm sorry son. It's forbidden. The king won't allow it."

"Then the king is stupid!" Neru screamed while kicking a rock.

"Relax Neru. It's alright. I know you and I will be together again someday. Someday in about a hundred years from now..." Hikari said softly. He rubbed Neru's back.

"No... It's not ok. How do I even know if this is true?"

"I can show you," Hikari said. "Come with me." He grabbed Neru's small hand and held it in his, and they walked into the portal, both of them together.

Neru and Hikari arrived right outside Hikari's room. They both faced the picture of Neru as a child, all wrapped up and smiling.

"See? This was you as a baby. That hand is my hand holding you, and that one is Mother's," Hikari said, his hand on Neru's back.

Neru sniffled. He wiped the tears from his face and looked. "But why won't he let me stay? I was born here..." He was silent for a long time, and so was Hikari. "Dad?"

"Yes?"

Neru flopped into Hikari's arms, hugging him tightly. Hikari was confused at first, but then he hugged him back, smiling. "I love you," Neru said.

"And I love you too," Hikari said. "I'll always be watching you. When you come onto the cliff in the mornings, we can talk like always, and I'll be right there for you... just like I always wanted to be." He brushed Neru's hair out of his face, then kissed him on the cheek.

Down at the bottom of the steps, the king gasped. He hid behind the wall nearly crying himself! Hikari, I'm so sorry that I never realized how important he was to you. If I had only known that you left here every day for him, then I would have let you keep him here without a problem. He peeked around the corner, looking at them still hugging, crying, and smiling. He quietly walked up the steps. Hikari looked up and gasped, then rushed Neru behind him.

"What are you doing here?" Hikari asked defensively, holding his arm out in front of Neru and using his body to protect him.

"Hikari, I never realized how important your son was to you. If I had only known that that was the reason you left this world every day, I would have let him stay," the king said. "I'm so sorry. Let him stay if he truly means that much to you..."

Hikari and Neru both gasped, looks of shock now on their faces.

"Yes. I never had children of my own, even when I was alive. I never knew how much one could care for one of their own. Forgive me both of you. Especially you Neru. You are welcome to stay here with your father," the king said. He walked down the stairs with no further comments, and soon disappeared as he walked down the corner hallway.

Hikari turned to see Neru. He was smiling, and placed his hands on Neru's shoulders. "Did you hear that? He's letting you stay! You and I can live together now!"

Neru was smiling. He wiped the tears from his eyes once more, then hugged his dad. "I'm so happy dad. I'll have to thank him later..."

"Welcome home Neru," Hikari said with a smile.