Floating Petals

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Hanami flipped out. She fell off the couch for a first, then she threw Chiyo’s crossbow out the window and finally she tackled Chiyo. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN KILL YOU?!”

            “They know I was lying when I said I was trying to piss Dusk off so they are going to kill me.”

            “Why?”

            “Betrayal. I used to be former hunter but then I quit and fled. Now they only bother me when I’ve killed too many deer or something.”

            “Well flee with me! We can both be safe!”

            “No, then they’ll know it was me who let you go.”

            Hanami had tears dripping down her cheeks and onto the floor. She ran into Chiyo’s arms and soaked her blouse. Chiyo petted her hair softly and kept her tears held, but her inside were being torn out. This had happened before. Except she was Hanami and her mom was her. She could still remember the words.

            “Chiyo! If you don’t leave you will die too! Comprende??!!”

            It was happening over again. Chiyo reached behind her and snatched the sack. She draped it over Hanami as she pulled herself away from Chiyo.

            “I will miss you.” Chiyo kissed Hanami’s forehead.

            “I know. Now hurry, before they come back!” Hanami gave Chiyo one last look of thanks and bolted out of the door. Chiyo chuckled to try to lighten the mood; it didn’t work.

            There was a knock on the door and Chiyo walked there like a snail. When she finally touched the doorknob, a hunter burst it down. His hood was up and you couldn’t see his face. He aimed his gun in her face and she raised both her arms to the side of her head. The hunter grunted. He took some metal rope and tied Chiyo to the metal piping along the wall. She didn’t struggle. If she didn’t, they wouldn’t suspect anything. He nodded. “Thank you for your co-operation Chiyo. I am very sorry about this.” Chiyo’s jaw dropped. She recognized that voice.

            “Dusk?” The hunter dropped his hood and Dusk’s face appeared. His features were chiseled and his hair as blonde as the sun. Despite his scary battle armor instead of the hunter armor, Dusk was only as old as Chiyo and they had known each other for a long time.

            “Yes Chiyo.” He pulled off his glove and stroked Chiyo’s cheek gently. She tried to twist and struggle away to no avail. Dusk jerked his hand back and looked genuinely hurt. “Please, I’m so sorry for what I turned into after that mission to the heart of Wykina.” He bent his knees until his hands touched the floor and his shaggy blonde hair was inches above the floorboards. Chiyo still struggled to get free from the metal cabling. “Will you ever forgive me?” He lifted his head so only Chiyo could see the blue glint from his pupils through his hair. She sighed but then breathed in heavily again.

            “No way.” Dusk raised his head all of the way this time. “You made me join those evil hunters to try to come and find you and when I did you tried to KILL ME! You said you loved me and then you go off and put a gun to my head...” Dusk’s eyes closed momentarily but then opened again, with full passion.

            “Go back a bit and repeat.” Chiyo’s face filled with surprise again. Tears were dripping down her cheek but she did it anyway.

            “Then you go of...”

            “A little bit farther...”