"Don't wander off now Misaki, we're almost there." His father called out to him.

Little Misaki pulled his eyes away from the white mountains and the sparkling lakes, the shining sky of purple, orange, and red. He had only ever seen pictures off all this, but real life looked and felt so much prettier.

He couldn't help taking it all in, even as he trailed behind his father a bit to examine even the prettiest of rocks.

"Misaki! Come now it's just up ahead." His father called out this time and Misaki ran back to his father's side with a skip in his step before taking his father's hand as he leads him through the outskirts of a forest, just as day turned to night, and the stars up above began to come out.

"Now listen carefully Misaki," His father spoke up, squeezing his son's hand as Misaki looked up to his dad, "There is a place I am going to show you today. This place, it's very different from where we are now- this place you see is where I'm from."

Misaki blinked in confusion, but was silent as he walked alongside his father, the warm comfort coming from the older man was enough to settle Misaki's curiosity as they continued on their walk.

"It is calm and quiet," His father continued, "with fields of gold as far as the eye can see. Mountains like the ones here, but the skies Misaki, the skies are so different." His father explained moving his hand with his words, almost as if he could paint the whole picture for them to see.

"The skies are bright and purple in color, but every sunrise and sunsets it turns a brilliant shade of blue, like that of this world, before the stars take their place in our sky." His father stopped walking as he looked up at the sky before closing his eyes. "The stars stretch on for miles and miles, lighting up so bright it's like a whole different world in itself." He looked down at his son now his kind smile settling on his face.

"It's a place of peace and clarity, and another world to explore and love. Just like this one Misaki."

"Another world?" Misaki asked in wonder and amazement as they stood in a clearing, glancing around to see this place his papa was talking about but saw nothing like it. The winter air fogging little Misaki's breath as he looked around, the city lights all but gone from where they stood as his father chuckled softly.

"You'll see it soon Misaki, I've wanted to show you for quite some time now.

"What about big brother? Why can't he come along?" Misaki suddenly asked, but wished he hadn't when his father's smile flickered. The comfort and joy turned into a brief feeling of sadness and for a moment something swelled inside the young boy's chest, making Misaki sniffle a bit in sadness, but it vanished in an instant as his father's smile returned once again; his joy quickly returning.

"Maybe one day Misaki, it's not impossible, but my world is hard to get to with people like your brother because of a core." His father explained as he knelt down next to Misaki.

"A core is something you need to travel, without a core like ours traveling is impossible for him." His father tapped his son's chest, "It's what sets us apart, but makes us all the same Misaki."

His father smiled as something seemed to shift around him, it almost looked like a glow, but instead of shining bright it shimmered and twinkled, but still brought such wonder to Misaki's eyes.

"It's a part of you, and me. It's what makes you so very special Misaki. It's something I hope you will grow to love."

His father patted his chest as the glow around his father spread through him.

"Now I want you to think of something happy Misaki. Something that brings a smile to your face, and makes you feel safe. Can you do that for me?"

Misaki nodded his head, and closed his eyes in concentration, thinking of his happiest thoughts.

He felt a pressure in his chest, but at the same time, he felt as if he was completely free of gravity itself as he thought of his happy thought.

"That's it Misaki. That's it exactly." His father said excitedly. "Never forget that feeling, hold it tight with both hands, and let it lead you in everything you do, Misaki. It will help you through life, and in this travel.

Misaki opened his eyes to see a bright shimmer blue light coming from his father, but it vanished again in an instant as his father smiled down at him.

"I am glad to share this walk with you Misaki." His father held his hand tighter in his grip.

Little bits of light seemed to flow up from the ground, drifting upward and around them. Misaki watched the lights circle around playfully and he laughed with it and soon his father was leading him through a place he could only describe as a place out of a storybook or a beautiful dream.

That dream had been 12 years ago, and Misaki had not thought of it once since then.