The Entity of Hapiness

Chapter 1- The Request

It all started with that innocent sentence that came out of Zero's mouth a few days ago.

'I want to go somewhere.'

The chairman and I stared at Zero as if he'd just claimed that he wanted to commit suicide. That was the thing though, Zero seldom spoke and even when he did he had never asked for anything for as long as he'd been here, living with the chairman and me. Since the chairmans mouth was full with his unswallowed food and my spoon of rice dwelled in my open mouth when Zero had spoken, I found it befitting for me to inquire into his sudden urge.

'Where do you-'

I started, when suddenly the chairman started choking and I had to get up and hit his back with my palm. Zero didn't even look up. The chairman stopped coughing, he didn't pause even to regain his breathing when he turned to Zero with excited eyes and beamed at him.

'I've always wanted to go to the zoo. There's a new one that opened near here. I saw a flyer for it and I fell in love with all the small and cute and adorable little animals. I just wanted to cuddle all of them.'

There was silence. I sat down on my chair. Oh boy. The chairman gave a light cough, smiling he turns to me as I pick up my spoon.

'And where would Yuki like to go?'

'Huh?' I say, the spoon halfway to my mouth. I put my hand up to my chin, thinking, 'Well, there's Hawaii. I love the beaches there. They seem so beautiful.'

The chairman's eyes blaze, 'As your father, I will one day take you to Hawaii, since it is my duty to fulfill all your desires.'

As the chairman talks, I look at Zero. He's pushing his food around his plate, he rests his head on his left hand, with his elbow on the table. I look at his plate, he has hardly eaten anything.

'Where do you want to go Zero?'

He looks up for the first time as if the last conversation we had had not existed. His eyes are glazed, as if we'd pulled him out of whatever debates were going on in his head. He hesitates before answering.

'I was thinking about going home.'

Both the chairman and me stare at him. My stomach drops as I take in his words, the word 'home' seems to stand out more then anything. Even after all this time, Zero didn't consider this place his home. My throat is suddenly dry and I don't know what to say. Luckily, the chairman rests his hand on Zeros back gently and tells him.

'Lets go to the lake this weekend. The one in Outtake. Your parents had a small villa there didn't they?'

Zero looks at him. Silent. 'Yeah,' he finally says.

So now here we were, in Outtake. It's a beautiful place. It took a three hour train ride from the Academy to get here and it was worth it. I had said I wanted to go to the beaches in Hawaii, but the beaches here were good enough. When I told the chairman that, he lunged at me to give me one of his fatherly hugs. I dodge him easily.

We had arrived at the house about half an hour ago. Zero seemed in a good mood, he actually looked a little excited as he gave us a tour of the villa. It was a nice big house on the top of a hill over-looking the town below. It consisted of two master bedrooms- each with its own bathroom- upstairs, a kitchen overlooking the forest, the library was particularly big, and there was a living room, with a sliding window door that overlooked the town underneath. The chairman told us to share a room since he would most likely be up all night doing some work. Zero rejected the idea and suggested he sleep on the couch in the living room. I was about to argue, but he said it flipped into a bed, so I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want Zero to be uncomfortable.

We had arrived near midnight and, after the tour, had cleaned the place up before taking a shower and going to bed.

The next morning, before I had woken, the chairman and Zero had gone fishing. I imagine them on a small boat, with Zero just laying down on his back trying to sleep and the chairman quiet for once as to not scare the fish away. I go out for a walk through the forest surrounding the villa. I hear leaves rustle as a soft wind blows through my hair. I close my eyes. I feel nostalgic. At least Zero has something left to remember his parents by. I don't even remember my parents faces. But is that better? To never have known someone, so you know no pain. Or to remember them everyday of your life and feel the pain along with the pleasure of ever experiencing that kind of love?

My thoughts turn to Zero. I smile to myself, he seems happy to be here, though nobody other then the chairman and me-who have known the longest- would detect the slight raise of his voice and the brightness in his eyes as he talked about the house. I can understand why he would be happy, this was the house of his family, he must feel comfortable here, even though it might hurt him somewhat. I sigh, I wanted Zero to be happy, more then anyone, he had gone through too much to not deserve the best of happiness.

Before I can delve too deep into the woods, I hear sounds coming from the house, I turn and start walking back from the direction I came. Zero and the chairman are back, the chairman's face tells me they didn't catch any fishes. I groan internally, the chairman's going to try another of his recipes. I trudge back into the house to get it over with.

A little while after breakfast we go into town to get some groceries. We meet an old women in a grocery store who recognizes Zero there.

'Oh, its been so long Zero, look how much you've grown, what a big boy you've become. Why I remember the first time you came here, you were no more then 2 years old, you pooped all over the floor and then started running around the street with the diaper in your hands, flinging poop everywhere.'

My stomach hurt so much from laughing, I had to kneel on the floor. As a side note, the women added, 'Oh no, I believe that was Ichiru, yes it was him actually. You were always the quiet one.'

We walk home after we get everything we needed. As soon as we get home, the phone rings. The chairman goes to answer it, while Zero and I start taking out things for supper in the kitchen.

We decide on simple tuna sandwiches. We start taking out what we need to make it when the chairman comes in. His head bowed.

'What's the matter?' I ask, cautious.

He looks up, bursting into tears, 'The council wants me to come back, there a problem that can't be resolved unless I'm there. I'm to leave in a while.'

'Do we have to go today?' I ask him, regret heavy in my voice. I enjoyed this place so much. It was so beautiful, and the first place we came in which Zero actually seemed to be enjoying himself.

The chairman looks up, tears rolling down his eyes, 'Oh no, my darling daughter, I would never in my life ruin this trip for you, and you too Zero.'

Zero is too busy cutting lettuce so all he does is roll his eyes.

'So I've booked my ticket for today, you both have until Monday to come back since that was the original plan.'

'Is that really okay with you chairman?'

'Of course Yuki, my darling. This trip was originally for both of you.' he smiles at me.

I look at Zero. 'Is that okay with you Zero?'

Zero doesn't pause from his cutting and reaches for the cucumbers, 'Whatever.'

The chairman leaves after an hour, he doesn't let us drive him to the station because he doesn't want to cry.

'Chairman we'll see you on Monday,' I tell him as the taxi arrives.

He's balling his eyes out, 'But Monday seems too far my sweety. I won't see you, my lovely daughter and my beautiful son for-'

Before he finishes, Zero grabs his coat from behind and drags him to the taxi. He throws him in and tells the taxi driver where to go. As he drives away we hear the chairman's voice echo Zeros name.

Zero turns away to go inside. I go and stand erect in front of him. He raises his eyebrows.

'What?' he asks.

'Can we go to the beach?'

'Why do you want to go to the beach?'

I look at him, using my puppy dog eyes.

'Please. I saw it when we went to town. Can we please?'

Zero sighs, he looks up and then looks at me again, I start to frown.

'Fine,' he says, 'Only for a little while though.'

This is my first time actually putting my work up for others to see, and i'd be lying if i said i'm not nervous :S