The Games Fait

- ichi -

- Ivy's POV -

With a thud, I freeze. What was that? The first time the guild has let me go hunting alone and I'm already in trouble. I close myself, giving myself a mini pep talk like Taizo taught me. He promised that if I kept to myself, bow in hand, everything would go okay.

Finding courage, I open them again, gripping the bow tighter and feeling the sweat building up in my hands. I duck down low, hiding behind trees and doing forward rolls to get lower. I peek a corner, loading an arrow, squinting one eye. As I aim, I listen out carefully for any noise. I hear a cough and turn my aim quickly, directing it directly at the body. I jump slightly, not expecting them to be a human when I switch back to concentrating. He moves his arms, bending them slightly and pushing the front of his body up. His hair is cut unevenly, hiding his eyes behind it. "Huh?" I hear him whisper and I lower my bow slightly.

"You gave up that easily, huh?" I hear someone whisper in my ear as I jump, punching over my shoulder and rolling forward before turning and aiming once more. Taizo stands there, smirking, hands in his pockets.

"Ugh, what do you want Taizo?" I whisper shout to him, walking forward.

"Just wanted to check how my favourite little hunter is doing on her first day." He whispers, coming closer to my face. "And you might want to quieten down a little more. He might hear you." He nods his face towards the other boy, still laying flat out. He turns his head and sees us, instantly shuffling backwards. Taizo crosses his arms across his chest and laughs obnoxiously at him, walking forward painfully slow.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A new player?" He crouches down, dangerously close to the boy as he can't move any further because of the trees blocking his path. "How did you get here, ay? How did you escape the apocalypse if you're scared of people?" He goes to reach out to touch him when he flinches away.

"Taizo..." I speak up, tracing where he had walked. "Don't hurt the kid." I stand behind him as he slowly regains his posture, towering over me slightly.

"You think you're in charge of me, Ivy?" He laughs, stroking the hair out of my face. "That's cute."

"No. You know I don't. But you shouldn't intimidate the little guy. He's new around here." I look down at him, flashing him a small smile. He waves back a little, looking around the same age as me. I look back to Taizo. "You know, you weren't mean on me when I first arrived?"

Taizo chuckles. "That's cause I didn't need to be. Kiko took care of that. He soon showed you that you don't mess about." He steps closer to me. "Besides, we'd probably be off on the wrong foot if I was the one to do it, wouldn't we?" He kisses behind my ear and I roll my eyes, sighing.

I look back to the boy, him now with tears in his eyes. I shoot him a warning look, stating that he shouldn't show his fear towards Taizo. He nods and looks down, composing himself, just as Taizo finishes off. "You quite done now?" He laughs and puts his arm around my waist.

"So, new boy, you going to tell me how you got here or is it easier to give me your stuff now?" Taizo states. regaining his alpha side and intimidating the poor boy. He stutters, clearly terrified. I face-palm to myself.

"Look, Taizo, go back to the town. I'll meet you there in five or ten minutes. Let me talk to him." I say, slightly quieter because I'm stepping up to the place of being in charge of Taizo. He looks at me, not sure whether I'm being serious or not. He sighs, changing his expression as he realises.

"Fine. But.." He points to his cheek, tapping it twice. I sigh and lean up to kiss him. "See you later. Don't lay a finger on her." He glares at him, walking away slowly then turning it to a light jog.