Into The Forest

Chapter 3 | Drizzling rain

Yume took a deep breath an released it. She opened her eyes and looked around. Morning. The birds were chirping, echoing throughout the forest. She heard the sound of the flowing river nearby. She forced herself to sit from her lying position and looked at the river. She saw a grey cloth and black coat which were wet, hanging on a branch.

'It must be Haruo's.' She thought and got up on her feet. She patted her blue sweater and trousers. She walked to the side of the river and knelt down. She scooped the water with her hands. Yume gently washed her face and looked at her reflection. "Am I dead?"

"Nope." She froze when she heard a short reply from her left side. Yume turned to the left and was Haruo sitting on the large rock beside the river. He was shirtless at that time, causing Yume to immediately look away and covered her face. 'GOD GOD GOD GOD WHAT DID I JUST LOOK?!' She screamed internally and shivered at her spot.

"W-WHY DIDN'T U WEAR--"

"I washed it due to the blood stain yesterday. I thought you won't wake up yet so.." He looked at the hanging clothes which fluttered when the wind past them. He hugged his body and shivered. "This is a bad idea." he added in shaky tone. Yume sighed and took off her sweater. "Here. I like oversize sweater so I guess this will fit you." She walked towards him and held up the sweater in front of his face while looking away.

"Thank you." Haruo took it then immediately wore it. He zipped it to the top and sigh in relief. Yume facepalmed, did not expected him to completely zip the sweater up. She expected that Haruo would just leave the sweater unzip. 'That would be cool.' she thought and sighed. Haruo blinked a few times while looking at her.

"What's wrong?" Haruo asked, but Yume ignored the question and looked at her reflection. "Are you sure I'm not dead?" She asked in soft tone. She could not believe she can keep up on walking in this forest anymore. How much further do they really need to walk? What will happen when they arrived at the place that Haruo leads them? Her thoughts kept on popping up but she could not make up to say it to him.

"If you want to die, I gladly to end up your life." Haruo said and smirk evilly. Yume flinched and looked at him. "I'LL WHACK YOU IN THE FACE WITH MY HOLY BAT IF YOU DARE TO DO THAT! I DON'T WANT TO DIE, YET!" Yume looked around to find her bat but ended up seeing Haruo raised up her bat with his left hand.

"Chill, Fukutaka san. I said IF." Haruo flinched when she launched herself towards him. "You don't have to be so formal in the forest, HAHA~" She giggled madly then leaned towards him. Haruo's eyes widen when she did that. 'T-too close..' He thought, as he raised the bat higher. She tried to reach the bat which he held it up high. "GIVE.ME.BACK.MY.BAT!!" She demanded, she growled as she reached out her hand.

"Y-yume." Haruo said in shaky tone. Her eyes locked in his, making Haruo's body weaken. 'T-that stare..' Haruo flinched when she gripped his left shoulder, to weaken his left arm which was holding the bat high above them. His arm became weak when Yume gripped his shoulder tightly. "MINE!!" She took it by force, leaving Haruo lying on the rock weakly.

'Those eyes.' Haruo thought and shivered. Yume laughed and pointed her bat at him. "Now I've proven that I'll survive! You're too weak to kill me!" She laughed again and grinned. "That's not making any sense. You just want to take the bat, but why is it related for you to survive?" Haruo asked while swinging his hands in the air.

"Well, errr.." Yume looked at the other side and shrugged. "Never mind." Haruo looked at the river. He took his red scarf which was folded neatly beside him. He wrapped it around his neck and stayed silent. "Yume." He paused then closed his eyes.

"You are special, just the way you are." Haruo said slowly, making Yume startled at his words. "Eh? Why the flip you say it he--" She paused, she could felt her heart beats skipped. 'His words, Why now?' She thought, as she gazed at him, Haruo was sitting on the rock while staring at the river, silently.

"Why?" Yume asked softly. She demanded for answer. She could not stand of him being such a secretive person. Along the way into the forest, she could feel that he was hiding something. Whether it was a good news or bad news, she deserve to know it, although it would cost her life.

"Can't you just tell me? I-I want to know. WHY? At a FLIPPING time you say that?" She said loudly, while gripping her cloth. Haruo turned his head and looked at her with his lifeless, grey eyes. "I hope you are the last human that I'll watch over and guide you throughout the forest." The wind suddenly blew strongly, causing his red scarf fluttered.

"Why?" Yume lowered her gaze, the negative thoughts crossed her mind. 'Is he going to die? Am I going to be eaten by him? Why did He exist in the first place?' She thought. Yume took a deep breath and released it. "I-I'll be right beside you along the way!" She uttered and looked up at him with high hope.

"I feel grateful that I'm in your care. Please, guide me to the end of this forest!" She said, then bowed at the end of her sentence. Haruo looked at her silently and held his scarf. "I'm looking forward to it." Haruo whispered and looked at the sky. "It will rain soon. Let's go." he added and hopped down the rock. He went to the tree and took his clothes.

Yume immediately looked away when he changed his clothes. When he was done with it, he stared for awhile at her sweater, which he just wore. "I'm sorry." Haruo sighed and held it in front of her. "Why are you apologizing, Haruo? I-It's no biggie." Yume stammered, while taking back her sweater. She looked at her sweater and felt the sudden chill down her back.

'Why? The scent is different. This coldness.' she thought, as she moved backwards when she gazed at him. A man beyond him could be a kidnapper, a monster or a demon. Anything that she could describe, everything were the bad things. She held her head and gritted her teeth. "Fuku-- Are you alright, Yume?" Haruo asked softly. As his hand reach out to her, Yume slapped his hand away.

"Leave m e." she said in shaky tone. "Yu--"

"I SAID. LEAVE!" She yelled and swung her bat in front of them. She locked her eyes at him, as if going to whack the bat at him at any time. Haruo stayed silent and patted the back of his neck. "L E A V E. ." She demanded, as her voice changed. "Yume. There's no ti--" Haruo flinched when Yume hit his left cheek with her bat.

With a strong hit, Haruo almost fell to the ground. He rubbed his left cheek and stood still in front of her, waiting for the next attack. Yume swung again from her right direction, but Haruo caught the bat. "L-let go!" She said loudly and grunted. Haruo's grip became tighter and quickly, he pulled the bat towards him, causing Yume to lose grip of it.

"Yume, There's no time. You don't trust me, do you?" Haruo moved closer towards her and stared into her blue eyes. Yume gasped and moved a few step backwards. "Please, D-don't kill me." she said in shaky tone as her whole body shivered at her spot. Haruo sighed and patted her head lightly. "I won't. I'll protect you. For I have a few strength left." he whispered while patting his chest.

Yume stared at him for awhile, the coldness disappeared, but she felt suffocate when hearing what he just utter. 'Is he going to leave this world?' She thought as her hand moved to grab his arm, but stopped halfway. Haruo looked at the sky then he felt a few droplets of water. It was drizzling rain.