Chapter 33
The fire roars… the air feels as if it is wrapped on his skin, cold and distant
All eyes meet him, yet none greet it
Sukiro looks over at sapphire, his heart is still hoping
But sapphire lowers her head..
Sukiro smiles… a smile that is worn to cover the broken soul inside
Elijah looks over at him to see his reaction, his face tensed, worried for him
"I am back!" sukiro yells as he fakes a laugh
Elijah lowers his head, his eyes reflecting regret..
Klaus, sirius, sebastian everyone is just doing their own thing
Sukiro sighs "i am pretty hungry, would love it if i could get something to eat"
Sapphire quietly nods with a small smile
The dinner is ready…
Everyone sits down, Elijah makes sure to sit beside sukiro..
Yet no one talks, the table which was always filled with some lame jokes and laughter.. Turned quiet..
Everyone eats in silence.. Just looking at their food..
But as soon as sukiro sees the food a smile comes over him.. A soft smile
The night grows darker and quieter..
"I will be on guard duty today!" sukiro announced
Elijah looks at him one last time… a feeling washed over him one would call it..
He quietly enters his tent
The rest of the party enters their tent
Sukiro sits down on the log beside the bonfire
He breaths quietly as he looks up to the stars
A small smile cracks through his face..
But it's not filled with laughter or happiness, just pain
Sukiro sighs as he looks at the bonfire, the crickets flop around in the distance
The wind is quiet, just cold and the cracking sounds from the fire
CREAK!!!!
Sukiro turns around in a flash
His face transforms from shocked to confusion
"Sebastian?" he muttered under his breath
Sebastian shushed him "voice down, you might wake someone up" he whispered
"What are you doing here?" sukiro questioned in shock
"Sit down.. I just came to… have a breath" sebastian mumbled
Sukiro sat down and Sebastian quietly on the log in front of him
Both just stared at the fire for a while..
Until Sebastian broke the peace "suk-kiro" he stuttered
Sukiro looked up at him slowly
"I wanted you to know what happened today… it won't change what i, what we feel towards you.." his voice had turned small as if he wished to disappear
"All of us… we were taken by surprise by that colour.."
"I think Elijah told you already what that colour means"
Sukiro nodded
"It's just all of us didn't know what to think of.."
"I… I am…Sebastian looked up.. His face mirrored regret and guilt
His voice broke as he tried to speak up "I am sorry sukiro.."
Sukiro's eyes softened.. A genuine smile crossed his lips
"It happens sebastian… fights are bound to happen in families aren't they?" he smiled
Sebastian gave a small smile but the guilt was still visible
"i .. i reacted instinctively when you approached sapphire… i know i shouldn't have done that"
"It's fine… I know how protective you are when it comes to her" sukiro chuckled
"Yeah.. but that doesn't justify what i did.. You are her family and she is yours.. I had no right to interrupt"
"You are my family too" sukiro spoke quietly as he stared at the stars
Sebastian looked up in shock, his eyes widened and he gasped..
He smiled as his eyes softened..
"You are her family as well, in fact you are closer to her than me.." sukiro muttered
Sapphire, elijah, klaus even sirius listened quietly from their tents
Each of them bowed their heads in regret, guilt, shame
"Living with you guys showed me it made me feel what a family is.." sukiro's voice broke as he smiled
"Klaus and Sirius are like my uncles the nerdy and drunken ones" he smiled
"Both of them are big softies. They show that they are smart and tough but their hearts are.. Genuine"
Klaus and Sirius stood quietly.. Holding back all their emotions
"You and sapphire.. You are like the dad and mom I never had…"
"The way you taught me the small things, the way she sapphire waited for me to arrive at dinner.."
He giggles lightly "I remember once she scolded me for training too much and also saved me from Elijah and his pranks.."
Sapphire couldn't hold it in anymore.. She broke down quietly covering her mouth so no one hears her
Her tears followed uncontrollably
"She was the first to accept me with you.. She gave me my name.." sukiro took a deep breath
"And i always looked up to you, i always wanted to be like you to be a fierce leader to lead with bravery"
"And Elijah.."
Elijah stood still, holding his breath in anticipation
"He… his elijah" sukiro exclaimed
"mean, rude, grumpy, moody… but he isn't that bad.. At all"
Elijah raised his eyebrows "yeah sure kid whatever you say" he thought to himself
"I used to see kids playing around with their families smiling happily and I quietly used to think what if i had a family but now…. I have realised I have always had one.. Right in front me all this time" his eyes softened as he looked out at the skies
Sebastian lowered his head trying to quietly contain his grief..
His eyes slowly filled up with tears as he covered his face…
The camp was filled with silence yet underneath it was regret, guilt, sorrow…
Tears flowed down from his face striking across his face..
The night swallowed the camp whole and for the first time the silence felt heavier than the fire
The tents rattled.. Slowly one by one everyone walked out…
Their breaths staggering heavy, eyes teary
Sapphire lunged towards sukiro
Sukiro jumped back in surprise as sapphire hugged him tightly as she sobbed uncontrollably
He asked, confused, "did something happen?..."
Klaus swallowed hard sirius couldn't even look at him
Sebastian tightened his jaw as he looked away trying his best to not break.. But he couldn't hold it much longer
Sapphire sobbed loudly uncontrollably "suk-.. Sukiro… i.. I am …i am sorry" she whispered while tears fell down
Sukiro stood still confused..
He let out a small smile as he warped his hands around her "it's ok… it's ok" he whispered
He looked out at the others, each one silently breaking..
"What are you guys doing there?!" he screamed
"Are you just going to stand there?!, come on, bring it in!" he yelled smiling
Klaus walked in first slowly…
Then Sirius..
And sebastian
Elijah leaned against the tent as he smiled..
Not amused.. Just relieved..
Just a she turned around to walk inside a voice called out
"Hey mr grumpy!? What are you doing over there?!" sukiro called him out
"This ain't my kind thing so i am ju-" his words stopped in half as sirius dragged him away forcibly
"Argh seriously" he groned..