Into The Forest

Chapter 7 | Arrival

When she passes through the so-called night market, she ended up at the place where she and Haruo encountered the woman. She saw a puddle of blood in the middle of the pathway. But Haruo was nowhere to be found.

"H-haruo. Did she ate him?" Yume whispered and gasped when saw a trail of blood which was headed to the right path. She followed trail of blood. Her heart beats rapidly, as she felt uneasy at the trailing blood. "It can be a trap." she muttered but stopped abruptly when saw a figure lying on the ground.

"Haruo!" She ran towards the body and knelt down beside it. Yume touched his cloth which was completely covered with blood. She slowly shook him, but no respond. She pulled his arm and checked his pulse. "It's very slow.." she uttered and shook him again.

"Haruo, can you hear me? Wake up!" She paused when heard a howling nearby. Yume quickly stood and pulled him up to stand. "He still unconscious." she called out for him again and heard a slight grunt from him. Haruo's eyes were partially open.

"Hey, can you walk, Haruo?" Yume asked when felt a bit of movement from him, but no reply. She startled when a wolf leapt out of the bushes and growled at them. She stood in front of Haruo and held her bat tightly. "Go away." Yume said strictly but the wolf dashed towards them.

It opened its mouth to bite her and in a blink of an eye, Haruo stepped in front of her. It bite Haruo's arm tightly, causing more blood to come out from the cut. He opened his mask and his eyes turned into gold color. He immediately bite its neck until a cracking sound as if the bone was breaking could be heard. Its jaw loosen from his arm and the wolf fell to the ground.

Red blood oozed out of the wolf's neck, causing Yume shivered at her spot. Haruo turned his head around and looked at his arm silently. "H-haru--" Yume quickly held him when he almost lost his balance. "Let me help you." She added and helped him to walk on the path.

It was silence. Haruo did not say a word. Yume felt the awkwardness grew gradually that night. Haruo's vision became blurry and Yume felt that he became heavier. He slipped from her grip and knelt on the ground. "Haruo." She sat in front of him and touched his shoulder. "We are almost.. there." Haruo said slowly and closed his eyes.

She forced herself to pull him up and helped him again to walk. She stopped when she saw the path became wider. She gasped when saw a cozy cottage in front of her. There as a lantern hanging on a vertical wood. The blue flame was in it. She accidentally lost his grip, causing him to fell to the ground.

"HOLY SH--" The eyes of the blue flame open wide when head a loud thud nearby. It looked left and right and finally saw Yume and Haruo nearby. "MY LORD, WHAT THE CRAP HAVE HAPPEN TO BOTH OF YOU? M-MASTER HARUO?! OHH GOD!" It flew out of the lantern and in a blink of an eye, it turned into a young man wearing a nice butler uniform.

Yume blinked her eyes a couple of time, could not believe what she saw before her eyes. The man walked towards them and lifted Haruo up slowly. "A Thorny Lady did this to him." Yume hesitated and stood. "Crap. That devil. I didn't know." The flaming, blue haired man grunted and added, "Come, follow me." He walked towards the door and automatically it swung open.

It was wider inside. Yume followed them and looked around. She saw a white pigeon inside of a cage. "OI, COME AND HELP US HERE!" The man said to the bird and the bird looked away. "Help yourself, Flamy." She let its tongue out, making his blood boiled.

"Fine. Stay in there forever if you like. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE USEFUL TO MASTER HARUO, ANYWAYS!" He growled, causing the bird flew out of the cage and turned into a white dressing maid. "Dear, lord. What do you want?" She walked towards them and gasped. The commotion could be seen in front of Yume's eyes. She felt that she was out of place.

Yume jolted when the woman held her shoulder. "Can you help us?" She asked softly and smiled at Yume. Yume gasped and moved a few steps back. "W-why me?!" Yume hesitated. The woman pouted when Yume react like that.

"Help him out. I only want to treat his wounds." she whispered and twirled her hair. "S-so, W-what did I need to do?" Yume asked. The flaming, blue haired man sighed and said, "follow me." slowly. Yume followed him as he entered the bathroom. She moved a few steps backwards and lean against the wall.

He put Haruo down near the wall. "Don't be scared." he chuckled and slowly took off Haruo's shirt. Yume covered her eyes, she could not believe why she had to be there. He took off his master's mask and bennie. Yume opened her eyes and gasped when she finally saw Haruo's grey hair, which was manly bun hairstyle. The man lifted Haruo up and gently put him in a tub filled with warm, herb water.

The man flinched and his flamy hair as if became dimmer. "I-I hate water." he pulled his hand out and shivered at his spot. Yume walked towards him and patted his shoulder. "W-what did I need to do?" She said slowly and slightly blush when heard a slight grunt from Haruo.

"Take those wooden stool and place it here." the man said and she followed his orders. She ended up sitting on the stool and stared at the sleeping man in the tub. "I'm heading out. I want to bring his clean cloth." he said softly and smiled at her. Yume gasped and screamed internally. 'WHY?' She thought and stay there.

The man turned his head and walked out of the bathroom. She stayed silently and stared at him. She could see the water became slightly red due to his blood. She gasped when his eyes suddenly open. Yume turned around and covered her face. "It's alright." Haruo said slowly and smiled.

"IT'S ALRIGHT? YOU ALMOST DIED IN THE FOREST! AND I'M GLAD THAT I STILL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PRESS ON, CARRYING YOU TO YOUR PLAC--" She paused when he said, "Thank you for saving me." softly. Yume slightly blushed and covered her face. 'Why did he acting so calm?! Didn't he knew that he would die there?' She thought when she lifted her head to look at Haruo.

"This isn't enough." he whispered and looked at her. Strange thought crossed her mind. "W-wh-what are you thinking, Haruo?!" She said shakily as she hugged her body. Haruo patted the back of his neck and looked away. "Nothing." He said slowly and scooped the water then washed his face.

Yume's hand suddenly moved as she took a pail filled with half full of water and poured it on top of Haruo's head. She chuckled when saw the man in front of him soaking wet. He looked up at her and said, "Wanna join?" Yume moved back quickly and lean against the wall. He laughed and ruffled his wet hair.

"Don't worry. It won't happen." he said softly and got out from the tub. The man popped his head into the bathroom and gave Yume the cloth. "Give it to him." He said but Yume looked at the man with her eyes wide open. "Why? WHY DID I HAVE TO DO THIS?" She said quickly, causing Haruo to chuckle. He took the towel and the clean cloth from her and smiled.

"Thank you. You can use the bathroom after I change." he said softly and sighed. Yume blushed and quickly walked out of the bathroom. 'I-It's different. HE acts differently. Why?' She thought and covered her face. Haruo walked out while wearing the clean cloth that had been given by Yume.

"I-I'll treat your wounds, Master Haruo." The woman said softly and bowed. "NO. GO CHANGE THE WATER FOR THAT GIRL. SHE NEEDS TO TAKE A BATH TOO." The blue haired man said strictly and held his hip. The woman pouted and looked up at Haruo. "Please? For her." Haruo said softly and caressed her white hair.

Yume flinched when saw his action. The woman then prepared a bath for her and also provide towel and clean clothes. Yume took a bath and she walked out of the bathroom while wearing a clean cloth. Her eyes wide opened when saw her treating Haruo's wounds.