THE GOLDEN APPLE
by Taisa
http://dungeon.taisa-labs.com/

Original story: Sunday, May 13, 2001


A metaphorical tale of the relationship between Zenki and Chiaki, 
revolving around a piece of fruit.

**********


	Zenki held the golden apple in his hand only a moment before 
sinking his large, demon lord fangs into its skin. He tore off a bite
that had easily composed one half of the fruit, and he swallowed it
whole.
	Chiaki approached from behind, and Zenki was actually 
startled by her presence. He hadn't noticed her, even though she stood
so very close to him. Too close. Where had she come from? He had spent 
over one thousand years being oblivious to everything but the apple.
	She did not smile to him because he would not smile to her.
	At first, he wanted her to run away. He wanted to finish the 
apple without unnecessary interruption. Wasn't she afraid of his 
imposing form? All others had been. Wasn't he terrifying to behold? All
others thought so.
	But this one young girl, who had dared to advance alone, would 
not leave.
	Without deigning to look at her, Zenki held the apple out to 
her. Not as a peace offering... No, the exact opposite.
	"I have fed off this golden apple for a millennium," he 
thought. "I do not care how brave this one believes herself to be. For,
certainly, no human would dare to so much as touch the apple."
	But slowly... apprehensively... she accepted it from his hand.
	She held the apple and was unafraid.
	Unafraid of it.
	Unafraid of him.
	Zenki could then feel her eyes boring a hole in the back of his
head. She wanted him to turn around and look at her. Chiaki wanted him
to see that he couldn't scare her that easily.
	Had it been /easy/ for her? What she had already accomplished 
was enough to turn most humans' skin pale, and their hair stark white.
	She watched in silent awe as the half Zenki had eaten grew 
back, making the apple whole again. Rotating the golden apple between 
her two palms -- for the apple was much too large for her to hold in a 
single hand -- she admired its sheen. After such a long time, it was 
still strong and beautiful. Certain that the inside was not rotten, 
Chiaki took a small bite.
	He didn't think she would do it -- but he found himself to be 
glad that she had. It made things so much more interesting... To 
finally have his challenges accepted.
	This young girl was definitely unlike any other human. Unlike 
even the Great Ozuno Enno, who had given him the apple.
	"Zenki..."
	The Demon Lord turned to face her. She had earned at least that
degree of respect from him.
	"I don't want any more," she told him, holding the apple out 
for him to reclaim.
	"What's the matter?" he sneered. "Couldn't squeeze enough 
juice out of it? That apple contains more flavor than any other of its
kind."
	"It's sour, Zenki, and I don't like sour things."
	"Did you expect it to be sweet?"
	"The after-taste is bad. It leaves a bad flavor in my mouth."
	"Of course it does, little girl."
	"There are better things to eat," she told him.
	"I have not yet finished this apple."
	"Must you always finish what you start?"
	Zenki lost his cool. "I did not start it!"
	"But you refuse to throw it away!" Chiaki exclaimed. "I will 
have no more! Take the apple back!"
	How long had it been since a human had this effect on him? He
was angry... because he could not win against her.
	"I suppose you are ready to give me another thousand years to
continue eating it," he growled.
	"No, Zenki... Even though I will not share your apple with you,
that doesn't mean I will just let you go. I'm willing to wait..."
	"Wait...?"
	"I'll wait for you to finish the apple. When you're done, I 
promise I'll still be here."
	"You'll wait... for me?"
	"I will, Zenki."
	His features all at once softened.
	Then...
	Perhaps...
	It wasn't about winning. Not for her. She wasn't trying to be 
his master, be better than him...
	Chiaki was waiting for him to catch up to her...
	She had no reason to fear him because she was already so much 
closer to being the master than he was. But she had decided not to 
become one until /he/ was ready... Until the golden apple was no longer
the most important thing.
	Zenki delicately plucked the apple from her outstretched 
hands...
	And he threw it.
	Using all the strength in his powerfully muscled arms, as far 
as it would go, he threw the golden apple away.
	Chiaki would not have been able to do it. She was too small, 
and the apple was too heavy for her -- but she was strong in other 
ways, he realized. In ways he wished to be strong.
	When Zenki looked at Chiaki again, she was smiling up at him.
He knew that he had made the right decision. He knew that she was 
worth it...

Ozuno be damned...
A thousand years be damned...
Masters and slaves, all of it, be damned...
For her sake, he would not allow there to be any more discord.


END.