Harukanaru Toki no Naka de

catchan: I DON'T OWN THE HARUKANARU SERIES BUT THESE CHARACTERS ARE MINE!

Fatima: Last time, Takahiro and I decided to go to the capital together.

Takahiro: ...-blush-

Fatima: ?

Takahiro: ...uh...can we start?

catchan: Sure.

Fatima: …?

X X X X

Chapter 3

Early that morning, Takahiro woke Fatima up and the two walked down the main road. They past by several carts and the men driving and guarding the carts started to stare at Fatima, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. Takahiro called “Hey, are you headed to the capital?”

“Yep.” replied one of the men. Takahiro asked “Can we hitch a ride?”

“Sure!”

The carts stopped and Takahiro got in and helped Fatima on. By noon, the carts reached a large Japanese-style city. Fatima felt Takahiro tugged on her hood, pulling it more over her head, and said “Be careful, alright?”

“Yeah...” Fatima replied, confused. She only realised why he was concerned the second they stepped out; it was crowded and she noticed that there were several men walking around with swords at their waists.

The guys from yesterday might be here as well!

Takahiro told her to stay close and the two navigated the crowds. Fatima grabbed onto his arm, making him jump. She walked closer to him and found her eyes darting from person to item to person again. Takahiro said “First, we'll head to an inn and get a room. Then, we'll look for a scholar...who needs protection.”

“...why?” Fatima asked.

Takahiro explained “Cause, we'll get a better chance of getting answers. Scholars are really stupid...”

Fatima felt her sweat drop.

I take it he has a bad past with scholars...

X X X X

“My Lord, a boy matching the description of the attacker has past through the check point.” a guard bowed in front of his young captain. A boy with wavy orange hair tied in a ponytail turned to him. He wore a white and light blue edged hakama with baggy trousers and purple armour covered his forearms and up to his knees. On his feet were black socks and purple sandels.

He asked “Where was he?”

The guard replied “I do not know...but he is with a forgien girl dressed in black.”

“A diplomat?” asked the orange haired man.

“I do not know.”

“Arrest the samurai! And bring the girl into our custody.”

“Yes sir!”

X X X X

Fatima let go of Takahiro when her robe got caught on a stall. She was assisted by a man on the stall and, after thanking him, turned around to find...Takahiro was gone.

...crap...

Fatima looked around and started to walk around, looking for a high place to climb to get a better look around. She stopped in a sort of alley and looked around. She felt her heart beating hard in her chest. Now what??

“Hey, lost?”

Fatima turned around and saw a man wearing rough clothes and a cloth tied around his head. She didn't do a thing. The man took her arm and said “Well, honey? Lost?”

“...no. I'm waiting for someone right here...” Fatima lied.

“Come on. I won't hurt!” the man purred. He tried to drag her away when a hand slapped on his shoulder and a voice said “Hey, back off!”

The reaction happened so fast; the man let go and ran away. Fatima found herself face-to-face with a tall orange haired man. He was dressed similarily to Takahiro (minus the shoes) and he carried a katana at his waist. He towered her and asked “You alright?”

“Y-yes...” Fatima backed away from him. To be on the safe side, she decided to get away from him. She dived back into the crowd.

X X X X

Takahiro felt his arm lighter for some reason. He turned around and found himself alone; he looked around and started to call out “Fatima? Fatima! FATIMA!”

There was no answer. She had disappeared.

Crap!

Takahiro started to search; he asked strangers, who didn't answer. Even if they did see her, why would they give up the whereabouts to a forgeiner to a stranger? Takahiro cursed and became frantic.

“Excuse me sir.” a hand tapped his shoulder. Takahiro turned and found himself face-to-face with three guards, dressed the same as the guys from yesterday. The first one, a higher ranked guard, said “We'd like you to accompany us to our station.”

Takahiro smirked; “I'm sorry but I'm looking for my companion. Have you seen her? She's about this high.” he raised his hand level to above his elbow, “And she's wearing a black hooded-robe-thing. Seen her?”

The soldiers didn't reply.

“Heh, I knew it.” Takahiro turned around, “Guards are stupid.”

“WHAT WAS THAT??” shouted the guard. The three men drew their swords. And what did Takahiro do? He ran away like a kid caught stealing apples!

X X X X

I know I walked away but...why is he still following me?

Fatima was currently being stalked by the orange haired boy. He was trying to strike up a conversation with her as well.

“What's your name?” he asked.

“...”

“Aw, come on! Tell me!”

“...”

“I won't bite! Don't worry, honey!”

“...” Did he just call me “honey”?

Tempted to answer, she held her tongue because she knew she answered, it would be the end of her! The boy frowned; “Fine. I'll introduce myself!”

Fatima turned a corner, but he managed to cut through the crowd and catch up.

“My name's Aoi, Kagami Aoi.” Aoi smiled, “What's your name?”

Replying equals trouble. DON'T DO IT.

“STOP YOU-!”

“CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!”

That voice! Fatima looked around and saw a familiar head of dark blue hair cut through the crowd. He was being chased by several guys dressed the same as the ones from yesterday. Takahiro pushed down a box to slow them down and only one managed to trip up.

“Heh heh! Take that ass-”

“TAKAHIRO!”

Takahiro stopped and saw her. Fatima stared and she asked “WHAT HAPPENED??”

“Trouble.” Takahiro explained “Run!”

He was about to run again when Aoi said “You're not going anywhere.”

Takahiro narrowed his eyes on him. “Who are you?” he asked. Fatima ran behind him and said “He helped me out, but now he won't leave me alone!”
Aoi smirked; “Well, she does seem quite charming...even if she doesn't speak...so I couldn't resist helping her.”

Takahiro felt around for his gun.

If he orders our arrest...I'll shoot him...

“Guards.” Aoi began. Fatima buried her face into Takahiro's back. “Stand down.”

X X X X

Omake

-Curtains open-

-Chibi Fatima and catchan sit on bean bags-

Fatima: Hey, Neko, there's something I've been wondering about...

catchan: Shoot.

Fatima: Kyo is based on Kyoto, right?

catchan: Yep.

Fatima: And I'm from England.

catchan: Yep.

Fatima: How do I understand AND speak Japanese?

catchan: I wondered when you'd ask. -chart comes down of stick man with gold dot in the middle and pointy-stick appears in her hands- Basically, the bracelet from the first chapter was absorbed into Fatima and so she can know understand what's going on.

Fatima: ...that's just stupid...also, doesn't this count as a spoiler?

catchan: Uh...I don't know anymore...-cries-

-Curtains close-

X X X X

catchan: Introducing...Kagami Aoi! The kanji for his name are “mirror” (Kagami) and “blue” (Aoi).

Aoi: Yo, nice to meet you.

Fatima: H-hello...

Takahiro: -evils-

Aoi: Don't get so wound up, old man.

Takahiro: O-OLD MAN?!

catchan: Okay guys! Let's calm down!! Better finish here or else they'll go crazy! GUYS STOP!!