Harukanaru Toki no Naka de:

Further Away

catchan: I DON'T OWN THE HARUKANARU TOKI NO NAKA DE SERIES! I have to stop coming up with these ideas...this one is different to most stories, because the main character, Fatima, is Islamic. I like other cultures and some of my friends are Muslims. I also visited the local Mosque a few years ago and I thought it was a beautiful building. Anyway (off topic), Fatima was created because I wanted to create a situation of culture shock so Fatima shows a modern Western teenager struggling to adapt to an Eastern culture. In this adaption, I wanted to give the world of Harukanaru a Wild West theme so there will be mentions of some Wild West themes.

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Chapter 1

Fatima barely managed to get out of the house. It was just a trip down to the local supermarket, not a date from the way her brothers carried on! Then again, they had some right to be worried, because she was the youngest.

“Not that I'm stupid!” Fatima had replied, pouting as her brothers argued over who would accompany their “adorable baby” sister.

She felt some of her hood slip off the back of her head but it didn't bother her that much. Fatima was average for most girls her age; right height, almost the right weight. Her once long black hair had to be reduced to shoulder length after some girl at her school accidentally set her hijab on fire during a science experiment and her strangely light brown(kinda red)eyes were framed by circle shaped glasses. Her ears were pierced by golden hoops and her skin was a pale tanned (a result of living in such a cold country).

She turned around the corner and past a group of women talking hysterically to each other about some heart throb she didn't know about. She stopped once to admire a plant in a shop window but quickly moved along when one of the shop keepers stared at her with confusion.

That was a pretty example of a rose! So pink! But it's also so white! It's amazing!

Fatima adored flowers; both her mother and grandmother kept beautiful gardens so it was natural that this girl picked up on their love of plants. Lost in her thoughts about the beautiful flower, Fatima didn't notice the woman, also not looking where she was going, coming out of another shop.

The two collided and the woman dropped everything in her arms onto the floor.

“Ah! I'm sorry!”

“It's quite alright...”

But from the way the woman scrambled to pick everything up, it made it seem like it was Fatima's entire fault. Something glittery on the floor caught Fatima's eye and she leaned down to pick it up. The woman looked up, horrified, and said “NO! DON'T!”

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“Begin the ceremony. Bring me the Hakuryu no Miko! The girl of the Other World! Bless by the Ryujin! Bring her to my side!”

A man smiled.

“Bring her...to my side!”

X X X X

“NO! DON'T!”

Fatima held the strange bracelet in her hand. It was a gold chain, which looked like a serpent swallowing its own tail. How did that fit on a person's wrist? Suddenly, she felt a strong force push her down towards the ground. The woman froze in horror; “No...not now!” the woman cursed in another language, “Not a stranger!”

She leapt forward, trying to grab Fatima. A force suddenly coiled around the young girl and shot off into the air, dragging her with it. The woman's screams out “NOOOOO!” disappeared within seconds and Fatima felt her heart stop. Something shot past her and stopped in front of her eyes. Her mouth hung open; a-a dragon! A black dragon!

An Asian black dragon roared. Whatever carried Fatima roared back and the two creatures charged towards each other. Fatima felt herself being ripped out of the creatures grip and gravity did its job.

She screamed so loud as her body hurtled towards the ground. She didn't want to die! Not like this!

“...don't struggle...”

Something slowed down Fatima's descent. She turned her head around, her body twisting with her and saw a strange man staring at her. He wore an orange Japanese style robe with darker trousery-things. On his head was a strange black hat-ornament and under it was scraped blonde hair. The most shocking part of his appearance was a white mask that covered his eyes, but had white eyes staring at her.

“Hakuryu no Miko...” the man held out his arms. Maple leaves shot past him and surrounded the girl. As she got closer, a sudden breeze forced Fatima back and she flew off in the opposite direction.

“EEEK!” Fatima held down her skirt. She looked back to the man and shouted “HELP ME!! PLEASE!!”

The man dropped his arms and said “Not yet...”

The leaves parted and revealed a white light, blinding the young girl...

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A young samurai walked down the main road; he had dark blue hair that was loosely tied up at the back with long bangs at the front and matching eyes. He wore a white hakama shirt with the sleeves tied back and his dark blue trousers puffed out as they reached his knees. On his arms were a pair of miss-matching bracers and on his left arm were white and yellow beads. On his feet were a pair of dark brown ankle boots. At his waist were two weapons; the first was a katana in a brown sheath and was much older. The other was a small hand gun in a red sheath and looked newer.

The boy had just completed a job but hadn't been paid much. He muttered “That's annoying. What a tight-wad that guy was! Saying I was alligned with that corrupt ass in the capital just so he could keep his money! Ass h-”

He stopped. He had seen something by the river. Curious, he walked closer to it and found himself standing over...wait, what was it? It looked like a giant “teru teru bozu”. He bent down and poked at it. He jumped back when it moved. He regained himself and put a hand on the handle of the old katana.

If this thing attacks me...I'll cut it down!

“Hmm...ugh...” the thing pushed itself up onto its knees. Its eyes were closed but the boy was taken back; it was a girl! A forgein girl from the look of her. She wore a black hooded robe and a black dress under it. Her shoes were black plimsoles and on her face were a curious pair of round glasses (he had seen one other person with them, so he knew what they were called). Her skin was pale and dark at the same time and her black hair was revealed from under the hood. Slowly, she opened her eyes and the most beautiful light brown-rather red eyes stared at him.

W-whoa! S-she's different!

The girl blinked, her eyesight adjusting. Then she jumped back and nearly fell back into the river. The samurai grabbed her and pulled her back towards him, her face in his chest.

“Whoa, whoa, be careful now!” he said. The girl struggled more. He pulled her back and said “Look, I'm not going to hurt you. Alright?”

The girl tilted her head to the side and said in an unsure voice “Y-you won't?”

“Nope.” he smiled. She looked at his waist and became uncomfortable. He quickly explained “I'm a travelling samurai! I'm going to the capital in search of work! The sword defend me, alright? Don't look so worried. I won't cut you down!”

He laughed, trying to show that he was harmless but the girl didn't seem to believe him. There was an awkward silence. The boy coughed, looking away and said “Uh...let's start over. My name's Ito Takahiro. What's yours?”

He turned around and found himself alone; he looked around quickly and saw the girl walking down the road.

“HEY!” Takahiro shouted. He stood up and ran after her. Seeing this, the girl began to run. “OI! STOP!” The faster he ran, the faster she ran. “WHY ARE YOU RUNNING??”

The girl shouted “BECAUSE! YOU'RE A STRANGER WITH MAJORLY SCARY EYES!”

“I JUST INTRODUCED MYSELF! DAMMIT!”

She turned at the next corner and out of his sight. Suddenly, there came a cry of shock and a soft thud. Takahiro caught up and saw four royal looking guards, one of which had staggered back. The girl was on the floor and the horse that drew the carriage behind the men reared. One of the guards said “Oi, what's your problem?”

“I-I'm sorry!” the girl stammered.

This isn't good!

Takahiro ran up to her and got onto his knees. He said “I apologise. My client was too excited and ran ahead...I apologise.”

“But-” the girl stopped when he looked up. The guard growled “I've never seen anyone dressed like that before...” he scanned her up and down “What's under those robes?”

Blushing, the girl replied “M-my body.”

“Huh...” the guard looked at the other three men with him and looked back, “Is that so?”

He grinned and drew out his sword.

“Oi! Oi!” Takahiro raised his hands “There's no need for violence! I will just take my client and we'll go-”

“SHUT UP!” one of the guards kicked Takahiro in the face.

“ARGH!”

Takahiro held his head.

“AH!”

The girl scrambled over to him and was pulled back by two of the men. The man with the sword stood over her and said “Keep her still. She looks nice...”

Takahiro realised what they planned to do; they wanted to...he couldn't finish what he was thinking. It was too horrible! The man placed the sword by her stomach. He cut up, revealing what was under the cloth.

“Eh, you barely pass.” the guard groaned as he studied her, “If only you were an adult...your body would be nicer!”

I have to do something!

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Fatima felt her skin crawl as this strange man poked her stomach. She head him groan “Eh, you barely pass. If only you were an adult...your body would be nicer!”

The boy, Takahiro, lay on the ground with his head in his hands. She felt her whole body shaking. What could she do?? They had swords (SHARP REAL SWORDS!)and there were four of them!! Without control over her body, she called out “TAKAHIRO! SAVE ME!!”

“Heh! Calling out for your bodyguard won't do anything!” laughed one of the men.

Someone! Save me!

Fatima closed her eyes. Suddenly, there came a clang and a thud. Her eyes flung open to see the furthest man on the floor, blood leaking out of his side. Standing over him was Takahiro. He held a sword in his hand and his eyes were manic.

“W-WHAT THE HELL??”

“GET HIM!”

Takahiro charged, slicing past the first man that came at him and moving faster to cut past the second. The third man let go of Fatima and charged; “WHY YOU-”

Takahiro just slapped this man with the flat part of his sword, sending the man onto the floor. There was silence. Fatima swallowed. The final man shook, he then held his sword to Fatima's throat and said “I-I'LL KILL HER! D-DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!!”

Takahiro's eyes just widened, as if he had lost the last of his marbles, and said in an equally terrifying voice “I'd like to see you try.”

There was a pause. The man shook and was about to move the blade across Fatima's neck when Takahiro pulled out the gun and shot the man in the shoulder. The enemy squealed, let go of Fatima and ran away shouting “I WON'T FORGET THIS!”

Fatima fell onto her knees and she stared at the man in front of her; he had let the enemy try to kill her...but he also saved her...

W-what a...weird guy!

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Omake

-Curtains open-

-Chibi Fatima and Takahiro walk in-

Fatima: Hello and welcome to the omake!

Takahiro: This is the author's attempt at being funny! Enjoy!

-Both pause-

Fatima: H-how about we talk about ourselves first? Since she hasn't got a script or anything yet!

Takahiro: Okay. My name is Ito Takahiro; the kanji of my name is “Thread” (Ito) and “Valuable” (Takahiro). I have three sisters and six brothers, me being the third son. My family is a poor samurai family so I decided to go to the city to raise money for them. Your turn.

Fatima: Alright. My name is Fatima Kamran. I have two older brothers and they're really protective of me. I turned sixteen this year and I want to own a flower shop when I'm older. I love flowers-

Takahiro: Wait a second, you're SIXTEEN.

Fatima: Yeah, why?

Takahiro: Wow, I thought you were fourteen!

Fatima: ...I guess I am short...how old are you?

Takahiro: Uh...uh...I'm -voice gets quieter-

Fatima: ?

Takahiro: -blush-

Fatima: ?

Takahiro: I'm twenty...three...

Fatima: Seriously? You look like you're seventeen!

Takahiro: Well, apparently, I'm supposed to be voiced by Shinchiro Miki and catchan claims that some of his characters look younger than they sound.

Fatima: ...right...

Takahiro: ...yeah...

-Curtains closed-

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catchan: FINISHED!! ALSO! Updates come as they come so any fans...NO WHINING!! Please! WRITERS HAVE LIVES TOO YA KNOW!! -cries-