L i v e - E v e r y - M o m e n t -

[oakdenugg]

CHAPTER TEN

----- The only reason I found my way back to where Brad was because It hadn't rained or anything, and I saw Thomas's footprints in the dust. Dakota followed behind, his mismatched eyes sparkling with something that looked like he was curious.

----- I made Dakota stay behind while I went and greeted Brad, Onico, and Thomas. Onico was the first to notice someone walking in. He started howling, and he came over and licked me. I patted his furry head, and he wagged his long tail. "Hello!" he said in his cute little voice. "Welcome back! Missed you!" His voice was steadier, and he was pronoucing words much better. Thomas waved at me, smiling from where he was sitting, and he ws drawing something in the dust. Then Brad hopped up from where he was sitting, and scooped me up in a hard hug. I pushed against his chest. "Can't... breathe!" He loosened, and I hugged him back, glad to be with him. "I was so worried about you! Where were you? What happened? Are you okay?" he asked with worry. I laughed. "I'm okay, but I have someone for you to meet. I'll explain that all later." I made him put me back down, and I raced off to go and get Dakota.

----- I raced back before Dakota could walk there, and introduced him as he walked up to them. He shyly smiled. He was 10 feet away from Brad, me, and Thomas, and Thomas got up and backed away, looking up at him in fear. His mpouth was open, and he stared at Dakota like he could not believe he was there. "Dakota?" he whispered. I was confused. "You know him?" He closed his mouth, and Dakota looked at him quizzicly. "What?" he asked, thinking Thomas didn't like him. Thomas looked at Dakota. "It can't be him.."
----- Brad looked at me, then back at Dakota like he could not belive him either.
----- I walked over to Dakota, and told him to sit down. He did, but closer to Thomas than any of us. When they were together, I saw a startling simmilarity between them! The same color hair, almost the same skin tone. Their facial features almost the same, and their eyes! Even though Dakota's eyes were two totally different colors, Thomas's left eye had a strange green tint to it like always. Thomas slowly stood up and made his way to Dakota. He walked around him, as if inspecting him, and Dakota's head followed him. "Dakota..." he said softly. He touched his hand. Dakota now realized how much they looked alike, and put two and two together. "Do I... know you?" he asked, loking down at Thomas.
----- "Yes," Thomas replied, smiling. Then he sat down. "Let me expain..." he said, sitting down, and Dakota layed on his stomach so he was closer to Thomas.

----- "Thomas!" called my mom. I got up from the sand box and dusted off myself before running into the house. There, my mom and dad were sitting together at the kitchen table, holding hands, and looking at each other, then at me. "Come here boy," said my father, and I sat down next to them, my eyes on my mom. She was smiling ear to ear, and my dad even smiled too! "We have news Tom." said my mother. I shifted nervously, and clamped my hands beneath my legs. "You're gonna have a brother or a sister!" said my mom happily. I frowned. "Why? I like being the only child! I'm too old to have a dumb sister! I'm 5!" I said, waving my hands around in the air for emphasis. My dad sighed. "Son, it'll be great! You can teach him everything!" He smiled. "Even how to climb trees!" I smiled at that, warming up to the idea of a new sibling. "Yay!" I said, jumping up. I hugged my mom, and bounded through the back door again, playing in my sandbox happily.

----- The day my new brother got home, so did I. I spent the night at my grandma's house while my mom was in labor, and she told me my mom had given birth one night! She said it was a little boy, but they were still thinking of a name. I eagerly waited seeing my new brother.

----- When I got home, I raced inside, leaving my grandma waddling along behind. My mom wa sitting on the couch, cradling him. I peeked over, and saw two little eyes! One was green, and one was blue! He had no hair, and I thought he looked silly. "What's his name?" I asked. My mom smiled. "Dakota..."

----- When Dakota was three, And I was eight, we had lots of fun. Playing with army men together, and enjoying the summer. I loved Dakota so much, and would do anything for him. He had platinum blonde hair that was kinda like mine. His little eyes so big and curious.

----- Then when Dakota was five, we got a new brother. Little Caleb.
----- When Dakota was 11, I was 16, and Caleb was 6, something terrible happened. Our mother got sick. Really sick.
----- Then she died, and our father didn't really take care of us, so I provided the money to keep us going. Dakota tried to help too, and we actually got along. Dakota meant so much to me, and I began to love him more than my father. Most of the time we went out to feed the dogs, and did everyting togther. Caleb helped too by cleaning. I began to hate my father, hating him because he never did anything for us. He just layed in bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling, or sitting out on the porch. Then one day, I found my dad dead, lying on his porch chair that he spent so much time in. I didn't cry, I just told Dakota, and we buried him together. Then I told him we were moving. We brought some money, our clothes, and us. And we moved to a really bad town, full of gangs and mean people.
----- We settled down in one of the old houses, and actually had some fun. Then one day, while Dakota and Caleb had went out for a walk, I had stayed home. Then some big, mean guys busted in, knocked me out, and brought me to a cell where I figured out I could turn invisible. I didn't know why, and I began to hate myself for leaving Dakota and Caleb. Then after I was in there for about four months, a new person came in, and he said his name was Jay. We talked, and became good freinds, even though never seeing each other. Then he told me what I was. Ressistant. Then a girl walked through, somehow getting down here without getting captured. She was short, with short dark brown hair, and big blue eyes.

----- He continued to the part where I freed them with the key, and escaping, and find Brad outside, and so on. Then Thomas looked up, and I felt like I understood him now. He had told his life story. I felt tears coming into my eyes, ad I ran over and hugged him, crying. He hugged me back. Then Dakota looked at him. "Thomas?" he whispered, sitting up now. I stood up, and walked over to Brad. Thomas smiled up at Dakota, and Dakota smiled warmly back. "I've missed you bro," said Dakota quietly. "Me too," said Thomas, his eyes a little watery. Then after he wiped all the "eye-sweat" out as he said, as frowned, and looked around Dakota. "Where's little Caleb?" he said, smiling again. Dakota frowned, then told him what happened.
----- Thomas blinked once, then sat down and covered his face with his hands. He sighed heavily, and uncovered his face. I patted him on the back. "It's okay Thomas."
-----I looked up, where Jay and Akino, and little Caleb must be watching us now.

-----"Everything happens for a reason..."

[tbow.]

Ah! I love it! 8D I feel so bad about little caleb more now. DX Family reunited! <3

[CookieRaider]

i want akino back D:

[oakdenugg]

CHAPTER ELEVEN

----- "Well, what'll it be then Akino?" said a voice up in the sky.
----- "Maybe she'll talk to animals?" suggested a childish voice.
----- Silence. Silence wasn't normal up in the stars. It was peaceful, quiet. No distractions.
----- "I'm not sure Akino. That doesn't seem right..."
----- "Tell me then Jay," said the child's voice. "Tell me the right one."
----- Silence.
----- "Akino... We can wait... It doesn't have to be now and-"
----- "No!" Interuppted Akino. "Can't you see, Jay? She's losing faith. She doesn't believe she's special, but she is! She looks at all her friends, already having their powers, and sighs. She looks around longinly at Thomas to have a power like him, or to be strong like Brad. She feels useless! But not if we can help! We're not finished yet! You see? We have an important role to play here. And that's helping in our own ways! So what if they think we're not there anymore Jay? We need to help... Now!" and with that, Akino got up, his paws touching the heavens. "We need to act now." Then he jumped down, and fell to Earth, lightly landing next to Lane as she sat next to Brad, sleeping peacefully. Jay jumped down too, and joined him, landing softly and noislessly. Akino padded over to Lane.
----- "We can think about it more later Jay. Lets just spend some time on Earth." He looked over at Onico. "I have some things to teach that wolf over there too..." He snuggled next to Lane, feeling her touch again made him feel alive again, all his sorrows gone.

----- When I woke up in the morning, I felt something warm against me. I tried brushing it off, then it gradually went away. I looked up at Brad, saw he was snoring peacefully and went back asleep.

----- When Lane woke up, she felt me against her, and tried brushing me off. I jumped to my feet, and almost ran into the giant hand of sleeping Dakota. I looked around, and lightly stepped on his hand, testing if he could feel me. If he could, he didn't notice it, so I slowly walked over his hand. Then I made my way to Onico, and somehow, he could see me. He growled, then started barking. I looked around, and saw everyone was now waking up, and looked groggily at Onico. "Come here boy!" shouted Brad, but Onico kept looking at me. I growled lightly back, then spoke to him in Woque, the natural wolf tounge. "Stop." I said, and he stopped, and looked at me. "I'm not here to fight. Follow me." and he did. I led him over to Lane. "Sit." He did. Lane looked confused up at Onico since she was sitting down.
----- "Onico, tell her Akino is here."
----- "Akino says 'I'm here.' " said Onico. Lane cocked her head, and looked confused.
----- "Forget it Onico!" I whispered urgently, seeing it was attracting the attention of Brad and Dakota. "Act natural!" Onico quickly left, and sat down, scratching his ear, looking around, acting innocent. Then Jay appeared beside me and patted my head. "It's okay Akino." he said quietly. "Maybe you can show her some other time." And he smiled, so I licked his hand, and sat next to him, wagging my tail.
----- Then Dakota loked at Brad. "What was that all about?" He asked. "Is he crazy." Onico growled at that. "No I'm not crazy! I was just-" he stopped, and looked at me. He looked down, and began licking his back. "Just what?" asked Dakota, looking like he was suspicous. I looked up at Jay nervously, and he too looked down at me. "Just..." Onico looked for something feasible to say. "Just... saw a... squirrel!" he said nodding. Dakota squinted suspicoucly at Onico, but didn't say anything. Then Lane looked at Onico. "What did you say to me? Did you say... Akino?" Onico tensed up, and looked at me for help, but I shook my head. "Um.. I said... I missed... a keen.. o?" he said, trying to ryhme my name. He smiled nervously, then licked his tail, and scratched his ears, his light red coat shining in the sun.

This morning, Onico came over to me and said something about Akino... I'm sure of it. He was acting all weird about it too... I'll get to the bottom of this...

As Dakota stood up, I had to take a few steps back so he wouldn't step on me! He towered way above me and Jay, and I just watched him. Then I got the urge to prank. I jumped up, and landed on his shoulder. Nothing big, since I was dead. Then I whispered in his ear, "Dakotaaaaaaa" and he looked around. Then I licked his neck, and tickled him with my tail. Jay was snickering down on the ground, and I hopped down to join him. Dakota was itching his neck, and looking all around. Jay gave me a high-five, and I did it back with my paw. I gave him a wolf-smile, and I looked longinly over at Lane, wanting to cuddle up next to her and forget everything, breathing in her warm, earthy scent. I took a deep breath, then closed my eyes, trying with all of my love to make myself visible again.. Just once more to spend time with Lane...

The ground infront of me began glowing brightly, and I looked straight at it, not afraid at all for somereason. It shimmered brighter, and brighter, blinding me. I covered my eyes, and when I opened them, my precious baby appeared infront of me. His black fluffy fur looking clean and fluffy, his bright blue eyes warm and gentle. He was slightly transparent, I could see the ground beneath him, but he was still my baby. His tail wagged, and he looked at me, his eyes sparkling with love.

----- As I wished with all my existence I could let Lane see me, a strange thing happened. My body felt warm, and I felt alive. A power of love coursed through my veins, and Lane looked at me with confusion, then love. I wagged my tail, so happy I couldn't even move. I looked up at Jay, and he smiled at me, then waved, and dissapeared. I bounded towards Lane, but before I could reach her, a giant hand picked me up by my scruff. I whimpered, and kicked my legs around, but it was too strong. I growled, and tried to bite the hand, but my neck couldn't reach. The ground rushed away from me, and I found myself looking into a big blue eye. I whimpered softly, scared. The wind buffeted my fur, and I could hear Lane crying from below, "Dakota! Let him down! NOW!" And right then, I began to hate Dakota. He was keeping me from my master. I growled, and barked, and tried to scratch, but nothing worked. I could see he didn't like me either, and I knew he could hurt me worse than I could hurt him. Or maybe not... I was still a spirit, just visible to humans. And my ability to speak to humans gone also. Maybe he couldn't hurt me, but I didn't really want to find out. "Now!!!" I heard Lane yell, and he squinted at me like you'd-better-watch-out, and set me down roughly, but I didn't care, I was with Lane! I bounded over to her, licked her face, my paws on her chest, and her arms wrapped around me. I could no longer speak, true, but I spoke with my eyes. She smiled ear to ear, and kissed me on the top of my head like she always used to.
----- But deep down inside, I knew this wasn't how it will be. It was how it used to be. My time on this planet was almost up, and from then on, all I could do was watch. And never see or talked to my living friends ever again. Then Lane hugging me tightly brought me back to reality, and I kissed her back on her nose, and barked.

----- Fate sure had weird ways of coming true...

----- And messing your life up so bad all you wanted to do was die.

[CookieRaider]

D: i wish akino would stay D:

[tbow.]

Friendly Bump! c:

[CookieRaider]

please write more

[oakdenugg]

Sorry guys! I haven't even had time to start the next chapter! Hopefully it'll be out today, or tomorrow. c: Thanks for being patient!

[oakdenugg]

CHAPTER TWELVE

----- As I spread out on the ground, my head propped up agianst Akino, I looked up at the stars. They twinkled, and I smiled, my life happy as ever. Dakota was lying on his back, like me, looking up. His giant hand near me. Thomas was sitting near his head, and Brad was leaning against a tree, looking at Dakota. I could tell Brad did not like Dakota. I guess he didn't like the fact that Dakota was bigger and stronger than him. And Dakota didn't really like Brad. Or Akino. But I guess that was his opinion. And he seemed to like me, but he usually hung out with Thomas.
----- Akino moved around, then got comforatble again. Then I got a headache, and I took a deep breath, trying to clear it. It didn't go away, so I sat up, breathing deep. That didn't help either, so I got up, and Akino got up with me. His transparent figure a little wispy. He seemed to glide over to me, his long black tail floating gracefully out behind him. His eyes looked up at me, and I knew I could never understand how much he loved me, but I loved him just as much. "I'm going to get some fresh air," I said to Brad, and he nodded his head. I walked off, towards an alley, Akino trailing behind.

----- I reached a big rock, and I sat on it, then I felt my headache start to float away. Then my body started convulsing, and I was twitching. I couldn't move, and I couldn't stop. Akino started growling, but all of this became black, and I became unconsoiuss.

----- When I woke up, it was morning, I didn't see Akino, but I heard a soft, whispery voice. "Hope you feel okay." I groaned, then looked up, to see a tall, thin girl standing over at me. She had black hair, and it was pulled into a side braid that was falling over her shoulder. She looked like she had no fat or meat on her bones, and her fingers were long, and looked nimble. Her face was very pretty, and she a a few freckles dotting her nose. She had long, curly eyelashes, and thin, brown eyebrows. Then what shocked me most, was her eyes! they were bright yellow, and the pupils were like a cat. She put her hand down, and lifted me up. The world spun, then I regained balance, and my head cleared. Her thin lips spread into a small smile, and she shook my hand. "I'm Tessa. But call me Tess." Akino was lying down by her feet, and nodded at me, like he understood. Which he probably did. He came back from the dead. How many of you guys can do that?
----- Tess's cat eyes kinda unnerved me, but I tried not to stare. "That's a cute doggie," she said, pointing at Akino. "Is he yours?" I nodded. Then Tess bit her bottom lip, and looked down at the ground. "What?" I asked. She looked at me. "Do you think I..." and the rest got quieter so I couldn't hear her. "What?" I asked gently. "Do you think I could... stay with you?" and she looked close to crying. "I know you don't know me, but I've been so scared here, and... and..." Her bottom lip began trembling, and her cat eyes welled up with tears. One escaped down her cheek, and rolled to her chin. I gently wiped it off, and hugged her. "It's okay Tessa. You're safe with me." and she smiled, her eye sparkling.

----- Once we got back to the camp, Brad was yelling, and Dakota was looking all around too. Akino trotted infront of us, and began sniffing around. I held Tessa's hand, and lead her over to Brad. When Brad finally looked at me after searching under a large rock, he cocked his head at Tessa. She shrunk back, her cat eyes wide in fright. "It's okay," I said soothinly. "This is Brad." Brad didn't say anything, just nodded. I was glad she hadn't seen Dakota yet, based on her reaction to Brad. Then he began searching for the unknown item again. "What are you doing?" I asked, and Brad looked up, his eyes full of worry. "Thomas isn't here!"

----- What would you think if you were all alone, and then by pure luck, finally found someone nice in your life? They accepted you into their family, and as soon as you met them, and went back to their camp, one of them had gone missing? Much like crap would be the answer.

----- After we had searched for an hour or more, we stopped for a rest. Then Tess found something caught in the branch of a tree. I don't know how she even saw it, but she did. It said: Dear Friends, I'm gone looking. I'm not sure what for, but I can feel I'm needed for something. Other than here. Do not worry, I'll be safe. I'll miss you all very much. Love, Thomas.

----- Tess still hasn't met Dakota yet, and it's probably better that she doesn't meet him after he's lost his brother that he's just met again after a long time.

----- Brad was nice to Tess, but I felt like he didn't really like her. Whenever she is around, Brad kinda scoots away, or goes somewhere else, and he barely ever talks to her. I don't know what's up, but Tess is really sensitive and she's told me how it feels like Brad doesn't like her, so I told her I'd ask him.
----- So, here I am, just asked Brad why he didn't like her, and I found this out. Brad is freaked out by cats. I tried to hard not to laugh, but I burst out laughing, and he stormed away. I tried saying I was sorry, but I kept laughing. I went and told Tess, and she smiled a little. Then she settled into a tree branch, easily leaping up, and laying on her back, all her limbs dangling off, and her head propped against the trunk. She looked beautiful, the moonlight bouncing off her face. She looked peaceful. I sat against the same trunk of the tree she was on, and fell asleep.

----- In the morning, Tess was still asleep above me, and I thought her first night had gone pretty well. I got up, and headed over to Brad, then turned around and realized I was still mad at him for being mad at me. I went and sat by Dakota. He was awake, lying on his back, looking at the rising sun. When he heard me comeing, he turned his head and smiled weakly. I could tell he missed Thomas a bunch. I came over to his shoulder, and he smiled again. I hugged his shoulder. "It's okay Dakota. Thomas will be fine." He sighed, then sat up. He was careful not to touch me, and then he held down his hand, and wiggled his fingers. I hopped into his hand, and he brought his hand near his face, rested it on his chin, rested his elbow against his leg, and I peeked down over the side of his hand. We were farther up than Brad was when he was standing, and I scrambled back to the side of his hand against his chin. "Lane, you're my friend, right?" he said. I smiled. "Of course Dakota. We're like brother and sister. Friends forever." and I blew his a kiss. He took a deep breath and blinked, then cupped his hands together so it was like I was in a bowl. I climbed to the rim of it, and sat, my legs dangling over the side above the ground. I smiled at Dakota, and he stood up. I gripped onto his hand, and held on. I looked down, an saw everything from far away. "Dakota?" I asked. he looked at me. "How old are you?"
----- He looked at me. "Twelve."
----- I looked at this boy, trapped inside a giant's body, and felt a pang of sympathy. "Oh." was all I could manage to say. "Just wanted to know." I didn't think he was that young! Then he started walking, and I could see over all the buildings, even the taller ones. Then he set me down on the tallest building around, and he got on his knees, and I was level with his face. I sat down, and we talked. I shared my life, and he shared his. We talked for a long time, and then when the sun started to go down, he scooped me into his warm hands, and tucked me into the pocket of his jacket. I snuggled in, and fell asleep, feeling happy.

----- When I woke up, I was still in Dakota's pocket. I peeked over the rim, and felt that he was breathing deeply, and he was asleep. He was sitting up, leaning against a wobbly looking building, and asleep. I yawned, and tucked myslef back into the warm pocket for the night.

----- When I woke up again, Dakota was still asleep, but it was morning. I carefully climbed out of his pocket, and slid down his chest, landing on his leg. He didn't move, so I jumped off, and went to see Tess.
----- When I reached her tree, she was awake, sitting in the same branch she fell asleep in, humming a sweet song, and re-braiding her hair. She combed her fingers through it, and I watched, wishing my hair was long and pretty like hers. She saw me, and smiled. She finsihed her hair, and it fell over her shoulder, and her long black bangs covered on of her cat eyes. She nimbly leaped off, and landed silently on her feet. "Follow me." I said to her, and took her to meet Onico.

----- Turns out, Onico doesn't like Tess. He wouldn't let her pet him, and he backed away whenever she got near. She frowned, and blinked sadly. I told her I had someone else for her to meet.
----- "I haven't met everyone yet?" she asked, her eyes wide.
----- I nodded. "Not yet..." And led her to Dakota.

----- She stalked behind me, like she usually does. It's just how she walks when she's curious. Her big eyes looking around, taking everything in. Then, when I reached the building Dakota had been, he wasn't there anymore. Then I heard a scream, and I wheeled around, and ran towards it.

----- It wasn't very far away, I just turned around, and ran a few seconds, and I reached Tess. And Dakota. He was holding her in the palm of his hand, and she was sitting down, as far away from his face as possible. He wasn't hurting her, but just inspecting her. "Dakota?" I called to him, and he smiled, and showed me Tess. Tess looked at me with wide eyes scared. I sighed.
----- "Dakota. Put her down." I said, and Tess looked back up at Dakota, wondering if he really was a threat. Tess looked at me, back to Dakota. "Is he your friend?" she asked, her voice shaky. I nodded, and she let out her breath as if she'd been holding it the entire time. Dakota smiled at her. "Your hair is really pretty." he said, and she blushed and looked dowwn at her legs, and twirled her shiny black braid through her thin fingers. I rolled my eyes. At least Tess was like 11 or 12 also. Tess purred lightly, and her big yellow eyes sparkled.

-----I was really beginning to question her sanity.

----- Dakota had insisted that Tess ride on his shoulder, so she sat, looking around at everything, purring loudly. And when we arrived "home", I noticed something terrible.

----- Akino was gone.

----- No, I didn't cry. I sniffed, and bit my lip. I knew that he wouldn't be permanent here, he was dead. But he could have stayed longer... right?

----- Onico hugged me, and I breathed in his earthy scent, and hugged him tightly back. Brad also hugged me, and in that instant, I felt like we were friends again. I hugged his leg, and his picked me up, and I hugged his chest tightly, my breath coming out in short gasps.

----- That night, when I looked around, I felt that this place reminded me too much of Akino. I told them that we should move. They all aggreed without hesitation. Except Dakota. I'm guessing he was thinking about Thomas, and how he might not ever see him again. Tess was walking near his leg, and he smiled up at him, oblivoius to the face that Thomas was his brother. He picked her up with his hand, and set her on his shoulder. She sat down, and I walked next to Brad. We all walked away from this dirty, scrungy town, not even looking back.

[tbow.]

Awesme chapter! Worth the wait, oh what happened to my Thomas! D: I hope he's okay, and gah too many things I can say but it'll take too long to type. xD