Shaman King Fan Fiction ❯ Ivy, Shaman Runaway ❯ Paradise On Earth ( Chapter 21 )

 

Paradise On Earth

Two hours later I started on Yoh's chores: sweeping and scrubbing floors. Anna didn't seem to mind me doing the work, so Yoh got some extra training in, and I sung while I scrubbed:

 

Look down, look down

Don't look 'em in the eye

Look down, look down,

You're here until you die

The sun is strong

It's hot as hell below

Look down, look down,

There's twenty years to go

I've done no wrong!

Sweet Jesus, hear my prayer!

Look down look down,

Sweet Jesus doesn't care

I know she'll wait,

I know that she'll be true!

Look down, look down,

They've all forgotten you

When I get free ya won't see me

Here for dust!

Look down, look down

Don't look 'em in the eye

How long, oh Lord

Before you let me die?

Look down, look down,

You'll always be a slave

Look down, look down,

You're standing in your grave.

 

“Well that's a depressing song.” A voice from behind me called.

 

I stopped scrubbing and looked up at Yoh hovering above me. “Well I like it. It's pretty even if it is depressing. It's from Les Miserables.”

 

He thought for a moment as if trying to recall something. “Nope. Never heard of it. Why don't you take a break and come on a walk with me? I never got to talk to you about what I wanted to this morning at breakfast.”

 

I looked him over thoughtfully for a moment. “Welllllll okay. I suppose that I could stop working for a while. But you better not try any funny business, Yoh Asakura.” I teased.

 

“Scout's honor.” Yoh swore as he made the Boy Scout sign.

 

As I got up I gently hit him on the back of his head. “Like you're a scout.”

 

“Your right, I'm not, but let's go anyway!” he didn't give me time to protest before he grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside.

 

“Yoh—ouch!—where—ahhh!—are—lo ok out!—we—ufff—GOING!” I screamed as Yoh pulled me through the crowd; the both of us narrowly dodging other people, animals, and inanimate objects.

 

“You'll—WHOA!—see!” He responded as he ducked, and a low hanging beam just barely missed his head.

 

We ran on for a while through the crowd, and soon the crowd thinned out and we slowed down to a walk. I don't think Yoh remembered that he had a hold on my wrist because he didn't let go as we walked.

 

Yoh stopped in front of an alley. “Close your eyes.” He instructed.

 

I raised my eyebrow and cocked my head to the side.

 

“Just do it. Please?” Yoh begged. I sighed as I sealed my dark brown eyes shut.

 

Yoh took me by the hand and lead me for who knows where. We walked down the alley for who knows long before Yoh's voice came at my ear, “You can open them now.”

 

I reluctantly opened my eyes. I did not like playing Yoh's little game; I prefer to play my own. But what I saw when I opened my eyes left me in awe, completely astounded. “Oh, Yoh…” I gasped as I looked over the magnificent garden courtyard.

 

“You like it? I found this place one day. No one else comes here. It's pretty much abandoned. I come here to think sometimes. I wanted to show you.” I ran back over to Yoh and gave him a huge hug.

 

“I love it! It's so gorgeous!! Could I come here sometimes by myself?” I anxiously awaited his reply.

 

He chuckled softly at me. “Of course, silly! Why do you think I showed this place to you?”

 

“Thank you, soooo much!!” I squealed in delight, and Yoh got another hug.

 

Yoh looked at his feet as he sheepishly added, “I also thought that maybe we could come here together some times and watch the sunset or the sunrise or just the stars sometime, but I totally understand if you don't want to, or—“

 

“—I'd love to Yoh.” I cut off his incessant rambling with a soft smile.

 

“Oh…well…that's great! I'll leave you to look around for awhile, but I've got to get back before Anna notices we're both gone at the same time.” Yoh turned and started to leave, but then looked back at me remembering, “Hey do you think you can find your way back home from here?”

 

I had occupied myself with inspecting the different kinds of flowers and wasn't really paying attention, “Hmmm? What did you say, Yoh?”

 

He rolled his eyes again and repeated, “Can you find your way home from here?”

 

“Of course! I'll be fine. I'll probably be out for a while before I come home, Anna wanted me to do some shopping. I'll be home by dinnertime. Don't worry about me!” I chirped like a happy little songbird.

 

He smiled at me as he left down the alleyway. He waved, but as soon as he passed behind the wall by the entranceway, I could no longer see him.

 

I took this time to survey the breath-taking landscape surrounding me. Luscious green plants and vines covered the scenery, and ivy draped the old redbrick walls. Bushes and shrubs were strategically located in all the right places, and exotic flowerbeds dotted the abandoned piece of paradise. Every now and then along the path a statue of a mythical being was placed inside of a fountain. Despite the fact that no one took care of the grounds anymore, the water in the fountains was still going, and little shoots of water danced about the ponds. Water lilies and lily pads matted some ponds, and little water flowers sprouted up next to the waters edge. Miniature waterfalls and rock formations could also be seen about the garden. A little bridge stretched over one of the ponds, and was close enough to the water that I could dangle my feet in.

 

The middle of the garden was slightly sectioned off from the rest. It had a small, stone wall around it that came up to my waist and the ground was paved over with cobblestones. In the middle was a big round fountain with a mermaid statue on a pedestal, spouting water from her mouth. The fountain had a little edge so that you could sit on it and dangle your hand into the water. The fountain wasn't very deep, so I could sit down next to the fountain and still pear into it without necessarily sitting on it. Also scattered around the inner courtyard were stone benches to sit or lay down on. Potted plants were stationed next to the benches, one pot on each side.

 

I could have staid and walked about the garden forever, but it was getting late and I still had the shopping to do. I arrived home later than I thought I would, and Anna was not happy to be kept waiting for her dinner. I cooked something simple: turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, and flan and sopapillas for dessert. Needless to say everyone loved it.

 

After everyone had gone to bed, I snuck out of the house and back to the garden. I wanted to get a good look at it in the moonlight. I thought I did a good job of checking for someone tailing me, but despite my efforts, I was still followed without my knowing it.

 

I arrived at the garden and made my way to the inner courtyard. I sat down next to the mermaid fountain, dipped my fingers in the water and swirled them around. I started daydreaming again as I started singing whatever popped into my mind first:

 

There was a time when men were kind

When their voices were soft

And their words inviting

There was a time when love was blind

And the world was a song

And the song was exciting

There was a time

Then it all went wrong

I dreamed a dream in time gone by

When hope was high

And life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die

I dreamed that God would be forgiving

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung, no wine untasted

But the tigers come at night

With their voices soft as thunder

As they tear your hope apart

And they turn your dream to shame

He slept a summer by my side

He filled my days with endless wonder

He took my childhood in his stride

But he was gone when autumn came

And still I dream he'll come to me

That we will live the years together

But there are dreams that cannot be

And there are storms we cannot weather

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I'm living

So different now from what it seemed

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed

 

Little did I know that I was being watched by a stalker sitting on an abandoned rooftop near by.