(Note: a bit weird, I know)
The boy sat on the branch of the tree. He panted and sighed, and wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. Gazing up at the crimson sunset sky, the passing white birds, he smiled and eventually laughed. He was suddenly filled with a strange feeling of joy, something he’d never felt before.
I’ve made it, he thought happily. I’ve made it to the top!
He reached out for the fruit that hung nearest to him, but before he could take it, a voice called out to him: “Faster Ahura! Sis wants some too!”
The boy called Ahura pushed away his black fringe and stared down at his elder brother, who was standing at the bottom of the tree. He was frowning, a solemn expression on his face.
Ahura merely giggled. “What’s wrong, Abel? Never climbed a tree before?”
His brother, Abel, glared at him. “Don’t do anything stupid! If you fall, I won’t be responsible!” he scolded.
He’s jealous, Ahura thought, still smiling and finding it hard to believe that his brother had never climbed a tree in his entire life. He tried to grab the fruit, but his arms were too short.
Abel guffawed. “Ha ha ha! You’re too small. You can never do it.”
Ahura snorted. “You’re just jealous, Abel.” He spotted a nearby branch below him and tried to make his way towards it. I can get the fruit, I can get it…
However, his concentration was broke off by the loud laughing of Abel. Upset at Abel’s doing, he turned towards his brother with a furious face, which unfortunately made Abel laugh louder.
“What’s wrong? Don’t dare to get it?” Abel jeered.
Ahura blew a raspberry. “If I can get it, I can get the rest!” His small fingers reached for the fruit hanging just few inches above him.
I can do it, I can do it…
“BAAAAAAAAAAA!”
Abel’s scream shook Ahura off his feet. Ahura had never been so startled in this situation, and he began to cry.
“Ha ha ha! Big baby, Ahura’s a big baby!” Abel laughed again, thumping his foot. Ahura trembled so much that he felt as if he was standing on a thread instead of a branch. Tears rolled down his face.
“How could you!” he shrieked, this time making Abel stop. “You nasty…you cruel…you evil person!”
Abel did an innocent expression. “Aw, sorry, I didn’t mean to. Ughhh!” He finished his sentence in a girlish tone, before laughing once more.
Still furious, Ahura opened his mouth to retort, but then, a shrill voice interrupted him:
“Don’t do that!”
A younger girl around the age of 6 with curly black pigtails and large blue eyes darted towards them. Her face was also angry, her lips pursed.
“Oh, Duska!” Abel gasped, as his little sister marched forwards in quick strides and kicked him on the shin, making him double up in pain.
Duska put her hands on her waist. “You can’t do that to Brother Ahura!” she snapped.
Abel bit his lip. “You don’t think Brother Ahura’s doing something dangerous?” he said.
Duska’s mouth opened in an ‘o’ of surprise, then saw Ahura sitting on the apple tree nearby.
“Ahura! Get down! You’ll fall and break your legs!” she called frantically.
Ahura shook his head, grinning. “Not until I get the last apple!” he said, extending his fingers.
“No, no, no!” Duska shouted. “You’ll end up lying in bed for the rest of your life!”
“Look, Duska,” Ahura said to his sister, “do you want an apple? It’s the last one, you know.”
Duska put a finger to her lips. “Well…yeah, but the servants can get it for us!”
“Come on.” Ahura assured her. “What can go wrong? I’ll get the apple for you. Do you want it?”
Duska looked thoughtful for a while, then said brightly: “Okay!”
Ahura reached towards the apple above him. It was just too near, he could not bear to miss it. Now, just a few more inches then everything would be all right…
Then, his fingertips touched the apple.
“I got it! I got it…!” Ahura said cheerfully, but then his fingers hit the top of the apple, breaking it off the branch. Ahura could only watch helplessly as it spiralled downwards and smashed onto the ground, sending pieces of apple and juice flying everywhere.
The last fruit.
Fiction: 03/11/09 | Posted By: Paulini | 4 comments | Original Anime and Manga
