Chapter 16: Life Is A Play, Don't Pause It....

Mello was furious when he found all the wipers and Lilo among them. Even Lilo's superior rank didn't save him in this situation.

The sauna was a steamy hot mess.

'For fuck sake... I just wanted some good food, can a man eat in peace?'

Lilo was forced to clean it up, and also took upon himself the penalty of having to work as a wiper for two weeks.

Those weeks were humiliating but went by pretty fast… it helped him digest the setting of the new world around him.

After all that, he would be off to the herders academy, where the apprentices of shepherds were trained.

Before that however, he was locked up in solitary confinement for a few days.

'Damn a little harsh for just wanting to cook right? Why didn't any of the wipers stop me anyways? Doesn't everyone know that it's banned but me?'

"Yes, I'm sure they were aware... it's just, nobody has ever cooked before. The basic concept must have slipped their mind because it is a rule that nobody has ever challenged simply based on the fact that it is futile." Soda explained through tears of laughter.

Revenge was sweet, but the alone time they would have to share the next few days were bitter.

The cell was surprisingly comfortable. Everything in the small confined space was a comforting sky blue color and all of his needs were met.

Most of the day was spent observing the gatekeepers as well as digesting the large information dump he had gathered on the new world he was forcefully placed in.

Soda still remained distant, not satisfied with the puke as revenge for what Lilo did.

His resentment towards Chalant ran deep and although Lilo was currently in his body, he was still relatively a stranger to him.

Soda's reluctance to converse annoyed the fuck out of Lilo. He was stuck in solitary and Soda was his only company.

The day was long and boring. The only thing to look forward to were the small interactions he shared with the gate keepers when they gave him his meal.

The food they gave was still raw, but raw fruits were still appetizing.

The sun slowly made progress towards the horizon line as Lilo stared out of his window patiently...Eventually night fell and Lilo choose to rest his restless mind.

He didn't remember the last time he got to relax.

His career in fighting was full of chaos and the momentary respite he did receive was spent partying and living life to the fullest... or whatever he thought was the fullest at the time: women, drugs, vanity.

As soon as he died, the world he was sent to felt just as relentless. Having to survive a night a forest full of gluttons and then having a bloody duel with an arrogant man child was not a welcoming experience to say the least.

Lilo took a deep breath and sank into his sky blue sheets, feeling his petite frame ease into comfort.

Yes, his mind had been racing all day about all the different things that he wanted. He wanted to leave here. He wanted to fight his way into the heart of this society, the tree, and find a way back to old life.

He didn't miss his money, glory, or power... I mean sure he missed being in a grown man's body, not having to take orders from others, and the pleasures of life... but most of all, he missed his ex wife...

She had a melodious laugh that would heal his soul and eyes that reflected his false confidence into a real one; like a prism that took in the rays of his mind and bent them into a cornerstone for his self belief.

He missed her embrace that would make his cuts and bruises melt away. He missed her brilliance that solved his inner turmoil.

'Candy, what would you have done if you were here?'

Ironically, that was her name. She had been the love of his life, and even after they separated, not a day went by without him reminiscing about what the life they shared.

He missed his best friend, Eros. They grew up together in the slums. Both of their fathers training them to be the best fighters in the world.

They were like thunder and lightening. Amidst any storm in their life, they would rattle and roar; supporting each of their triumphs and tribulations.

'You wouldn't believe what I've been through in just two days in this cursed world Eros...'

An image of his parents flashed in his mind, causing a tear to trickle down his face. He wiped it away quickly, afraid that Soda would notice.

Unbeknownst to Lilo, Soda could witness everything that went on in Lilo's mind. All the emotions, the memories that were brought to he forefront of his mind; they were all open for Soda to interpret and analyze.

It made his heart stir and soul to crack when he witnessed grown man tears rolling off a child's cheek. That child, was himself.

Soda was still getting used to witnessing himself outside of his body, but seeing him act differently helped him distinguish who Lilo was. Lilo was... a lot of things.

But Soda deduced that he wasn't evil. At times he was definitely a pain in the ass, but in these moments, where Soda could look into the window of Lilo's soul; he was able to know Lilo very intimately and very quickly.

Lilo's relationship to his parents were odd. There were fond memories and devastatingly harsh ones; but when the image of them entered his mind, all he could think about were the moments they thought the world of him.

His first steps, his first kick, his first knockout, his first meddle... the first time he bought them a house, the time that they blessed his wedding... the countless times they asked for grandson soon after being married.

A solemn chuckle escaped Lilo's lips as he sunk deeper into his comfy bed within the solitary confinement cell.

'I'm going back home soon. Nothing is going to change that fact. And when I do... I'll make things right.'

With that last thought, Lilo fell deeply asleep... into a slumber that felt like a lifetime of rest.

***

Lilo dreamt an odd dream.

It wasn't a nightmare... although perhaps some would argue it might be.

I was not a happy dream either... although perhaps there were moments that were somewhat joyful.

It was unlike any dream Lilo had ever dreamt.

Not because it was so bizarre and indescribably absurd; but because of quite the opposite.

This dream... felt real.

It was too real. Every breath, every ray of light, every sound that entered his ear, felt crystal clear.

It was if it were a memory... a picture perfect one.

Lilo was observing himself... no, not quite himself. His new self. Soda.

He was watching Soda's body.

Soda was much younger than even his already young self.

He seemed to be around the age of five, and he was riding on the shoulders of his brother, Chalant. They were frolicking in a garden within a castle.

Both wearing pure white robes and a small golden crown on their heads. Their laughter echoed pure joy and the atmosphere was serene with pure bliss.

This was a memory of Soda's past. Lilo was certain of it when he saw Soda floating nearby, analyzing the dream just as Lilo was.

Their eyes locked and a deep sense of fear flickered in Soda's eyes.

"No! Wait. You can't see this. You are invading my privacy!" He stood in the way of Lilo's vision, blocking the perception of young Soda and young Chalant.

"And you aren't invading mine when you can literally read my mind?" Lilo smirked.

Soda lowered his head in contemplation and after a moment of thought, he backed away; revealing the dream for Lilo to witness.

In entered two adults, wearing the same robe and crowns, scooping up the two boys in their arms.

It was Soda's parents. His mother's features were fierce, fiery, and bold; much like that of Soda's himself.

His fathers features were gentle but stern, board and solid like that of Chalant's.

"My little Snoh... You are our family's jewl." His mother told him.

'Wait, Snoh? Oh that's right. That was his name before he drank Soda.'

Craver's, and those who wielded cursed candy, always adopted the names of what they consumed; hence the name: Soda.

Chalant's eyes narrowed with a hint of jealousy in the presence of his mother's favoring words.

Suddenly a gate keeper entered the garden in haste, abruptly ruining the jovial mood.

"Sir! S-sir, it's bad..." The gatekeeper had to catch his breath after stopping before the king. "Our walls... they've been breached. Gluttons have already overrun half of the spire!"

The desperation and fear in the gatekeeper's voice was palpable in the air of the indoor garden.

The king calmly set his anxious son, Chalant, down and put a reassuring hand on the gatekeeper's shoulder to calm him down.

"That's impossible, our spire is the strongest among all the kingdom. Our kite riders have warded off all the powerful GT4's with ease." The king said in disbelief.

"S-sir... this one is different." The gatekeeper swallowed a comical gulp and began to tremble as he described the horror that was rampaging below the castle. "There is a glutton capable of commanding and controlling an army of gluttons; and it is coming after us with the wrath of a demon."