Daffodils and Hyacinths (Book 3 of the Forgotten Truths Series)

Chapter 09: Kawasumi

~Mus~

  At the moment of her appearance, the market went silent. All eyes were, for some reason, on her. She scanned the crowd for a while, muttering some words under her breath. Then, she broke the silence.

  "Is anyone here aware of the whereabouts of the two fugitives, named Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi?" She asked, in a simple, commanding tone of which sounded like it was for interrogation. Before allowing anyone to speak, she added, "I suggest that if you do, you inform me immediately. If I find out you are lying, or hiding something from me, then I will be forced to punish you, through execution." 

  Hebe clutches my hand. I squeeze hers back, and give a smile. I wonder who this person is. She seems like a very protective friend of Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi.

  "Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi?" I ask. I can feel Hebe glare at me as I talk.

  From a window up on a very tall, important-looking building, which I distinctly remember as the Queen's home, I see a girl. She waves at me, and points at Ken'ichi and Myeong's protective friend, before shaking her head rapidly. I find her endearing, in a way. I smile back at her, and wave.

  'I hope I would be able to get the chance to meet her, one of these days,' I think.

  I turn back to the woman, "Yeah, they're real nice company. We let them crash at our house for a while," I answer, and grin.

  "Shut up," I hear Hebe hiss to me quietly, "These are not good people."

  The girl in the window bangs at the glass. I can hear her saying something, but I cannot make out what. Another person, who looks to be of higher ranking, pulls her away.

  "...Oh," is all I can muster to say.

  "Oh?" The 'protective friend' of Ken'ichi and Myeong-Jun responded, lifting an eyebrow. She slowly began to move forward towards me. Some of the guards behind her followed, while the others searched the area. Bystanders turned to look, then turned away. They began to back up, with fear lingering in their eyes.

  "Well then, where is your house, little boy?" She smiles in a 'friendly' way. Then, she further asks, "Or, are Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi here, in the market? I recommend that you don't lie to me, little boy. I don't care if you are still a kid, I will still punish you if lie or conceal the truth. Look around, you have no where to go."

  I take a step back, and gulp. Yikes. What did I do?

  Shakily, Hebe covers for me. I have noticed that since we have been out of that wretched society, she has become more brave. If only I could get a little more brave.

  "I'm so sorry, our house is in a wreck, and the two got away," Hebe says. I understand that she is keeping us from getting hurt, but she is throwing two peoples' lives under the buggy.

  "Oh, is that so?" The woman says, with skepticism in her tone. She turns her gaze to Hebe. 

  "You must be so intelligent. How can a wrecked house surpass the surveillance of guards? The guards would surely see something. Do you dare lie in front of my face?" The woman asks. Her gaze turned deadly, as though she was ready to slaughter someone. "Are Myeong-Jun and Ken'ichi hidden among the people here? Are you lying about your 'wrecked house?' I either will be forced to kill you two, or capture you two if you continue to refuse to reveal their locations."

  "I—" She looks at me, before squeezing my hand. "No!"

  We really only have each other now. We need each other so badly, it would kill us to be separated. At this point, Hebe is shaking. I step forward.

  "I'm so sorry, we did not know they were criminals. I think I saw them going that way," I point to a direction that I don't believe they went.

  I really don't like blaming others. However, there comes a time where you have to choose between people. Do you choose someone dear to you, or someone you have only known for a few days?

  "You shouldn't be so harsh, Kawasumi." The guard behind her on the right says, "How would a little kid know of anything?" 

  The woman apparently named 'Kawasumi' appears hesitant. For a moment, she appeared to have lost her threatening character. She turned away from Hebe and Mus, and her character returns. She orders the some guards to search in the direction of which was pointed to, while leaving some guards in the market. Kawasumi also leaves along with the guards who left. 

  "Let's get out of here," Hebe whispers to me, and I nod quickly. 

  I feel bad for getting us into this mess. We start to leave in a quick rush. Hebe trips over her tattered skirt. I frantically try to help pull her up before they can notice us trying to leave.

  "Dammit." She hisses.

  "Stupid idiots," I grumble as I watch them run after the random direction I pointed to.

  "Come on," Hebe brushes off the dust off of herself. "Let's go home. Maybe your buddies might still be there."