Hayami

HAYAMI - 9

What was this everything he promised? Nothing she had to know now. She spent most of her time profusely apologizing to the bare homes in hopes one or two would hear her cries. It was clear that they were like the moon. The two of them pulled tsunamis to places that didn't deserve a moment of terror or pain.

Takameru allowed her to do so, even if she could feel his eyes staring into her from afar. Perhaps Hayami was being judged. No matter, she couldn't possibly allow herself to do less.

After all, this was the fault of foreigners. If it were up to her jurisdiction, she'd be on the other side of the country, even if that meant residing in the heart of the Fox Wakes. Anything better than striking fear in a village.

But if it were true that this Mrilla woman worked around there, she couldn't imagine staying in the Fox Wakes for long. The mere thought of knowing that frog took Tamuo, and Hayami only yelling empty words. It was disgusting to think about what Takuma would do to him.

Yet it wasn't enough to pull her into her own thoughts. She was tapped on the shoulder by Takameru instead, who's furious expression made her heart stop. "Are you going to keep apologizing to nobody, or are you going to leave?"

Hayami turned her feet back to the village. "You're rather calm, for inciting this in the first place. It's only right we atone for what we've done."

He had done more than that, but Hayami could not say it all now. There were more important things. If she allowed the same thing that happened to her village to happen here, with no apology or thought into those who resided here, then who was she to be upset about her own village's downfall?

But she was met herself being jerked away from the village. Takameru was running at an unreasonable speed, a blur of gray and peach in his other arm. Hayami knew they were going far, far from the people that she had yet to apologize to for her ignorance.

Farther from finding Tamuo.

The girl didn't know how long he ran, just enough west to where the village was unseen. What was ahead of her were roads and paths, deserted ones with no more life than themselves.

Takameru halted here, and abruptly dropped her. She harshly landed on the ground, stabs of pain coursed through her body.

Hayami managed to see that Lupo squeezed from Takameru's hold before he could do the same to him. The red cloak was just under his arms. Hayami had never seen such flattened ears and worried eyes, even when the bear was moments away from murdering him. "Takameru, what's going on to where you did all that? I mean, Hayami was being dramatic but-"

With the snap of Takameru's fingers, Lupo plunged into the earth.

"What did you just do to him?" Hayami lifted herself to her knees, even if her joints screamed at her every movement. He simply loomed over her for what felt like hours, his unwavering gaze offering no explanation. "Answer me, Takameru!"

He held his arm out to her, causing Hayami to immediately step back. The fox lowered his hands and collapsed on the ground.

What happened? Hayami couldn't tell what was occurring in the fox's mind, if he were incapable of answering. Surely, he had some reason, foxes weren't the sort to do things on their own. Rather, Takameru was one she doubted had worked without thought. He had harmed Lupo regardless!

Takameru pulled his hands to his face. She heard a chuckle, muffled beneath his fingers.

"I'm just like him."

Hayami watched Takameru, who seemed to be shaking from the mere thought of such a thing. He should be shaking at the fact that he hurt Lupo! Instead, showing likeness to someone was his only concern!