The Tale of Rai Chapter 1

The Tale of Rai
Chapter 1 – A New Friend

Rai sat on the steps of what use to be a home, sharpening his blade with a stone as he watched the sun begin to set on the horizon. He hadn't seen the cat beast in about two years since he claimed its fang. In a way, he kind of missed the creature. With a sigh, he flipped the razor's blade back inside the wooden handle. Lifting up his jacket, he placed his weapon into his torso.

He laid back on the step, deep in thought as he closed his eyes. A sense of depression had hung over him as time went on. His mind replayed his entire life over and over, particularly the day he lost Vianna. Without the beast around to occupy his thoughts, his mind kept bringing his past back to haunt him…he still felt that it was his fault…

His unwanted memories were suddenly interrupted by a loud crash not too far away. It sounded sort of like a garbage can being knocked over. Thrilled, Rai hopped off the steps and sprinted towards the source of the sound. The beast was back!

--

Pulling his weapon from his torso, Rai cautiously approached a waste container as it gently rocked back and forth; flicking the blade out as he heard rustling from within the can.

He readied himself as he neared the object.

Raising the blade over his head, he jumped in front of the opening; looking down onto a creature. The razor dropped from Rai's hands as he stood completely frozen. It wasn't the beast; it was something…something like Rai; a stitchpunk. It was made of cloth, like a pillow case or a shirt, with black and white stripes, hair made of grayish yarn and black stains covering its body. It held its arms over its head, shielding itself from Rai's unexecuted attack.

There was a moment of awkward silence as Rai stood in disbelief. The creature slowly lowered its arms as Rai came out of his shock, trying to gain the courage to speak.

"I… eh, sorry…I just…thought…" he silenced himself. He just couldn't bring himself to say a complete sentence. He was happy that he wasn't alone anymore…but he was also afraid…

The other being stood up. "…it's…a-alright…"

Rai was sort of surprised by its sheepish reply…it also seemed to be a 'he'. Once again Rai attempted to communicate with him.

"I…um…" He sighed at his failed sentence.

"…you don't speak much…do you?"  

"I…haven't had…anyone…" Rai's expression immediately turned to depression. He hated acting this way…he use to be outgoing, but something in him was making it difficult to speak.

"…you can talk to me…if you want to…" the stitchpunk smiled warmly, to which Rai smiled back.

"…what's your name…" the stitchpunk asked as he approached Rai. But before Rai could answer, the other was behind him, lifting up his jacket. He was caught completely off guard.

"…arrrrrr…."

Rai quickly pulled away from the other stitchpunk, who immediately gave an apologetic expression.

Rai forced a response. "A-actually…it's…um…Rai…"

"Rai?" the other repeated slowly. He nodded in acknowledgement "I…I'm 6…"

"What an odd name…" Rai thought. "What are you…doing out here?"

"…well…I…I ran out of ink…" 6 replied as he tapped his fingers against each other nervously.

"So you came to find some?" Rai had finally mustered the courage to speak, he felt more calm as he realized he had gotten a complete sentence out of his mouth. 6 sheepishly nodded in response.

Rai picked his weapon up off the ground and stuffed it into his torso once more. "Well…there's a stationary shop up the road…I'll show you where it is…" Rai motioned his hand as he walked away. 6 smiled happily as he followed the other stitchpunk.

--

6 stood flabbergasted, staring at a shelf with rows of ink. He'd never seen so many vials at once.

Rai began to pull a few off the bottom shelf. "So how many do you need?"

"…I wish…I could take all of them…"

Rai chuckled. "How many do you think you can carry?"

6 thought for a moment. "…two…maybe…"

"And I'll carry two…." 6 gave a sheepish smile at the fact that Rai offered to help him take his supply back to where he stayed. But the smile faded as he gazed out the window.

"What's wrong?" Rai questioned, taking notice of his quick change of expression.

"I-its dark…the beast…"

Rai tilted his head. "You…you've met the beast before?" 6 nodded in response.

"…I guess we can stay here for the night…if it'll make you feel better…" He stated as he glanced around.

"B-but…1 will be mad if I…don't get back to the Sanctuary…"

"Sanctuary?" Rai paused for a moment, then immediately shook his head as he thought over the rest of 6's words. "Wait-wait! There's more? Like us?!"

"…yes…1 is our…leader…he keeps us safe…"

Rai smiled reassuringly "Well…I'm sure he won't mind you stay here for the night. After all, it is for your safety right?"

"I…I guess…" 6 nervously replied as he watched Rai lay back on the floor. He slowly walked over to him and laid down beside Rai. They both gazed up at the roof; through the gaping holes. The stars were visible tonight.

6's mind began seeing images in the sky, each outline made of a cluster of stars. It was peaceful…

Rai suddenly broke the silence between them. "I was wondering…how many others are there? Eh, you know…like us?" 6 looked at him, then back to the night sky.

"So far…I know there's 1, 8…and 5…they're still alive…"

Rai's expression turned into remorse. Apparently others had lost their lives…if that's what 6 was getting at.

"And 1 brought some one…new…I don't know his name…but he seems nice…"

"I see…" There was a moment of silence before Rai spoke "I've got a question for you 6…"

"W…what is it?"

"A few years ago…" he sighed "Let's just say, someone saved myself from being brutally killed…they repaired my arm and left before I awoke …and I was wondering…was it you?"

6 chuckled slightly. "…oh my no…I've never seen you before today…and well…I don't know how to fix those who are broken…"

"Hm…any chance you know who it was?"

"They only ones I know…would be 2 & 5…but they would never…leave someone…"

"You didn't mention this '2' before…"

"…he got taken by the beast…1 says that…he's gone…dead…"

"How terrible…" Rai turned his gazed back to the sky, but looked back at the other as he spoke again.

"Rai…"

"Hmm?"

"…you seem sad…all the time…why?"

Rai looked the other way and sighed. "I…I don't really want to talk about it…"

"I-I'm sorry…I didn't mean…"

"I know, you're just curious…its okay…" He gave 6 a smile, who smiled back.

"…may-maybe…1 will let you live with us…in the Sanctuary…"

"Huh…that would be a nice change I guess…I haven't stayed in one place long at all…"

6 sat up and walked over to a pile of papers, dragging a vile of ink with him. "I think you'll like it there…" He stated as he grabbed a sheet of paper.

"Yeah…" Rai paused for a moment, then whispered under his breath "…maybe…"

He watched as the little stitchpunk began to draw.

Rai chuckled to himself. "Guess that explains the stains…" His gaze was once again directed to the sky. His mind was racing, thinking over the events of today; thinking of his new friend. The fear he felt earlier was coming back…he didn't understand it.

Rai sighed as he closed his eyes in an attempt to relax as 6 hummed a tune while he drew contently.