The Meeting [Page IV]
Sunday, March 31 | 0 comments
THE UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER.
The young maid opened a huge curtain from covering the sunlight of the morning. It’s been awhile to see the sunlight shines, giving warmth since the non-stopping rain for almost three days. The mansion seems like a peaceful place after Irino and Kazena went on errand to refill the food supplies. Actually, they are on critical because there’s no food left in the mansion and that’s the reason they need to go shopping. If can Tsubasa wanted to follow them but the master refuse because of her wound and also the black cat. Tsubasa already listed the needs so that both the young ones won’t forget anything. Now, she only needs to wait for their return and…
“Heh…” sounded Tsubasa when she noticed the basket is empty, leaving only some pieces of warm clothes and bandages in it. “Looks like it ran away…” she uttered before noticing there’s something staring at her inside the forest through a nearby window.
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“Hmm… I think we have already bought everything in the list.” Kazena uttered as she checked again the shopping list Tsubasa made for her and Irino. When she checked it again in the plastic bags Irino and she carried, she has confirmed that everything already been brought according the list.
“Kaze-Chan…” Irino called for the ember-brown haired female before whined, “I’m thirsty… and hungry.” He said as Irino place down the plastic bags and sat down on a nearby branch not far away from his previous position next to a small toys and games shop.
It’s kind of surprising that Wonder World have a small town like this one because all she knows, the mansion they are staying surrounded with thick forest. Using a Warp Spell, they managed to get here with breaking a sweat. The spell was casted on one of the forest’s trees by Irino a long time ago. They just need to go through the bushes beside the trees and they appeared nearby the town in no time. So, this is how Irino-Kun and Tsubasa-San got the food supplies only in a few hours.
“Kaze-Chan~” Irino whined again, making Kazena snapped from her stupor.
“Ah… Sorry. I’ll go find something to drink. Stay there.” She replied before placing the food supplies she bought next to the blond. Then, she disappeared slowly into the crowd from Irino’s sight, searching for a store which sells some drinks to obey Irino’s thirst. It’s no wonder they are feeling hungry and thirsty because they didn’t had anything before they went shopping because there’s nothing to eat except drinking some sky juice. Therefore, both of them could get tired easily especially Irino because this place is still new to her and Irino did all the searching and finding.
While that, he even talks to some lovely ladies and avoid contact with males. At first, Kazena thought he feels better talking to girls than boys but there’s something strange about it. He looked like he is flirting but something just felt odd. However, his flirty behaviour has made most of the females fall in love with him because of his… cute appearance, gentle, bright and loveable? Haha…
In anyways, there are still many questions left unanswered inside her mind about her mysterious past. She didn’t get any glance of her past since the night where Irino has his last nightmare but she knows that she had a connection with Irino because she heard his voice when she remembered it. ‘Arigatou, Kaze-Chan.’ that’s definitely Irino’s voice. She thought but she never said about it to Irino or Tsubasa because there is doubts… her heart doubting the memories she had. She already completely sure that she did said ‘I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere. I will always stay by your side.’ But to who is the main question. Is it really Irino in the past she uttered to or someone else? If only she found someone that knew her… then surely she will know the truth behind her faded and lost memories.
“Thank you! Please come again!” A saleswoman speak up at the counter after Kazena paid two bottle of mineral water and some snacks for she and Irino to eat together. Then, she bowed her head before leaving the store and returning inside her mind, repeating the same questions.
Suddenly, Kazena snapped from her stupor when she heard a loud smack sound nearby from where she is currently standing. There aren’t many peoples around so, it’s not hard to find the sources of the sound. When Kazena turned her sight behind her and at the wall, she saw two males; an older and younger looking at a smaller child which is looked younger and shorter from the younger male. Out of blue, the older male pushes the small child against the wall and yelled, “Don’t try to HIDE! WHERE IS SHIGEHITO TSUKIZOE?!”
“I… I don’t know… mister… Who is…Sukizoe?” the child with orange-brown hair trembles when answering the question. The girlish child looked around, wanting someone to help her out but nobody is dare to make an eye contact with the teary violet eyes until she spotted Kazena nearby, staring at her and begging for her to help.
“TSUKIZOE! TSUKIZOE! NOT SUKIZOE!” the man yelled again with his maximum anger as he pushes the small girl harshly again but being protested by the younger male.
“Ta-Takashi-San. We are gaining attentions…” the young male who has royal-blue hair which is covered with his cap covering his face and eyes said as he pitied the small girl. He kneeled down on his knee making his height shorter than the female child and uttered gently to the orange-brown hair. “Listen here… If you know where Tsukizoe-San is, just tell us. We meant you no harm.”
The orange-brown child wiped her tears away and replied, “But… but… ”
“SILENT! Just answer the damn QUESTION ALREADY!” yelled Takashi once more and successfully made the little girl shivered lightly.
“Takashi-San…”
Meanwhile, Kazena just stand and watch the drama. She noticed that everyone around is also watching it as if they enjoyed the unusual scene in the town but shouldn’t anyone helped the poor girl? She looked like she could cry anytime right now. Seeing the person called Takashi, Kazena could feel that if the small girl continues to refuse, blood may shed around here. Therefore, she needs to do something to stop it before it’s too late.
“Umm… Excuse me…” the ember-brown uttered as she stepped into the drama. “Sir, I think you have got the wrong person here… This little girl… seems innocent and doesn’t know what or who you are talking about.”
“What?!” Takashi said as he gives death glares to Kazena.
“Sorry, Takashi-San but I have to agree with her. Didn’t the report said Tsukizoe is with a male child?” the boy who wearing the cap agreed with Kazena. Good thing he back up for Kazena or she would end up shivering like the small child too.
Looking away, Takashi began to think back what was he doing, thrashing around like that and once his mind is calm, he let out a sigh. “Fine, both of you wins. I gave up.” He said as both of his hands placed in the air before apologizing to the little girl. “Sorry but you have to stay away from that dirty and disgusting house so that there’s no misunderstanding again…” he said as he walked away from Kazena and the orange-brown child while the younger boy bowed his head, smiling and ruffling the orange-brown hair lightly before following the older male.
When both of the males are no longer in her sight, Kazena couldn’t help but to smile at her works. She glad, she was able to help the little girl from the misunderstanding just now. Then, Kazena turned to the small child who is still staring at the place where the two males disappeared. There’s something on her mind but when Kazena reminded herself what she was doing here, she speak up, “Are you alright?” she asked before continued, “Why are you here alone? Where are your mommy and daddy?”
The orange-brown suddenly smiled before turning to Kazena. “Arigatou for what NeeChan did… I really appreciate it!” a girlish voice uttered and as a reply, the ember-brown just smile and nodded lightly before the child continued to shows her gratitude. “NeeChan~ As a gift, I wanna tell NeeChan something that could help NeeChan!” the child said happily as she pulled Kazena’s dress so that Kazena kneeled down on her knees.
“What is it?” Kazena asked softly as she lends her ear to listen to what the child going to say.
Giggling, the orange-brown hair began to whisper something that will completely change Kazena’s current life. “NeeChan~ there’s someone who connected with NeeChan’s lost memories will appear soon! Don’t let him escape because he will help to protect NeeChan and NeeChan’s friends in the future!” she uttered innocently while Kazena is in state of shock right now.
“Huh?” sounded Kazena as she couldn’t understand what is the child trying to say.
“NeeChan had memories loss, nee? NeeChan has to meet up with this guy named Kurogane Akai and do not let him escape! Or NeeChan will never see him again and the future will be hard for NeeChan to archive!” smiled the child before taking a few back steps away from Kazena.
Trying to register what is the orange-brown just said, Kazena reached her hand so that she won’t escape and asked, “W-what are you saying? Who are you?”
When Kazena touched the child’s hand, she suddenly blinked before her expression changed as if changing into a different person. “And whose memories are you keeping? Why there are two same yet different memories inside you?” she asked which Kazena still doesn’t understand a single thing at all. Is she meant that there’s something that shouldn’t be hers? There are two memories inside her? What does she meant by that?
“Wha—”
“Aki! Aki! Where are you?” a female voice suddenly called out for a person. The orange-brown blinked and snapped from her different person behaviour as she turned to the voice owner. When she saw a young lady wearing a yukata, she released Kazena’s hands and hugged the young lady’s leg.
“Mommy~” he called the person cutely.
The young lady who doesn’t have a mother appearance looked relieved when saw the chid. Then, she lifted the orange-brown right away, hugging her tightly. “Aki-Kun, where have you been?” the lady uttered in a worry tone before turning to Kazena. “Thanks for looking after my son, miss.”
“Son?” blurted Kazena as she suddenly recalled about the encounter with the two guys. “By any chance… Are you Tsukizoe?” asked Kazena just to make sure of something. However, even if it’s true… She doesn’t feel regret of helping the child. She did it willingly so, she will never regret about it.
When the yukata lady heard Kazena’s question, she stared at her for a few seconds before she nodded slowly. “Shigehito Tsukizoe. That’s my full name. Do you have some business with me or something?”
Seeing Tsukizoe is on her guard, Kazena quickly place her hand on the air. “Nothing… It’s just out of curiosity.”
“Mommy, there’s Takashi-San and Ryou-Kun asked where mommy is but Aki didn’t tell them!” Aki smiled as he feeling proud of his action.
Tsukizoe brushed her dark-blue hair and smiled warmly, “That’s good but Aki should tell them where mommy is or Aki-Kun might got hurt. Takashi is a hot-headed person.” the yukata lady advised her son before looking at Kazena. “I’m guessing you helped my son… I will thank you for that but sorry that I have to leave right away. Sorry I can’t give a gratitude for saving my beloved child.” She bowed down and takes her leave after thanking Kazena once again.
As Tsukizoe turns away, Kazena’s sky-blue eyes meet up with the violet eyes. The owner of the violet orbs smiled at her making Kazena remembered about the child who somewhat knew something about her past. Kazena wanted to ask more about her from the child but sh— HE is going away right now… Should she stop him from going away? However, before Kazena could say anything, the child named Aki smiled again at her whispering something before both of Aki and Tsukizoe leave their previous positions and Kazena alone in her thought.
That child names Aki… He knows who she really is… Heh, living at the mansion and coming here aren’t a waste of time at all… Kazena thought as she giggled but only for a few seconds until she began to confuse again. ‘Whose memories are you keeping?’ is the question that sticks inside her head. If that’s true, then why is she remembering it? On what purpose does she remembering it? Putting that aside, Kurogane Akai… will she really meet up with this person? More importantly, should she believe what the child talked? Aki is just a small child and a stranger added to that but he doesn’t seem to be lying to her… Sighing loudly, Kazena scratched her ember-brown hair as she thinks that there are a lot of things to be thinking about aren’t it?
However, once again Kazena is distracted by a loud ‘bang’ sound. She quickly ran to the sources of the sound because she knows the sound is somewhat nearby to her destination. She only could hope the things in her mind are wrong but it isn’t. The drama has just kept on going after another as in front of Kazena and in her sight, there’s Irino standing with a gun pointed directly at his head.
“What is going on here?” she murmured the question to herself.
-Page IV Ends-
Ahh... well you know... my Aki(if you still remember about 'him') has always been a part of this story. Hope you all enjoyed :D
Labels: ArDreamCiel ~Meeting~
