Making A Wish Under The Sun

EPISODE 25: Hippopotamus

The group had travelled for quite some time. They were nearing the eastern coast. They stopped in a coastal town, Sasuke stating that they'd stay there for the time being. No one had been very cruel to her on this trip which made her think it was odd. She'd kept busy making small talk with Jūgo, Sasuke butting in the majority of the time. Karin was still quite suspicious of her.

"Karin, go grave us something to eat," Sasuke demanded as they'd settled down in a room at an inn. Karin did not like being errand girl.

"I can come with you if you want," Emi offered. She didn't mind.

"How about you just go on your own," Karin said, handing her the money.

"Okay then," Emi shrugged her shoulders and headed out of the inn.

There was quite a different selection of foods along the coast. More fish and seaweed based foods. She found quite a discount on some sweet tatty and grabbed a few selections of vegetables and sushi. On her way back she was confronted by a small dog. It was quite tiny, but looked to be more of a chubby pug. It was quite dark in coloration. It looked up at her and barked. She knelt down and the dog backed up a bit.

"Here," she held out a piece of salmon from one of the sushi packages. The dog sniffed at the meat and took it, quickly eating it. She reached out to pet the pooch but it dashed away. She sighed, it's been so cute. She wish she could have pet it. She headed back to the inn. When she arrived Karin too the bag of food from her and handed it to Sasuke. Sasuke divied it up and Emi accepted her sushi package. Ever since she'd run out of provisions, she began allowing them to treat her to meals.

"What took you so long?" Sasuke asked, suspicion in his voice.

There was a knick at the door. Emi open it and it was the in keeper. He scolded her for leaving her dog outside and allowing it to howl and cause a ruckus. He suddenly thrust the little black pug into her arms and shut the door. She could feel three pairs of eyes burning into her back.

"You got a dog?" Karin exclaimed angrily.

"Listen I didn't do anything. I fed him one little piece of fish. I didn't think he'd follow me here," Emi stated, the chubby pip slipping from her arm. She used her other arm to support it.

"Well you can't keep it," Sasuke stated, beginning to eat his sushi.

Jūgo gave him a look and Sasuke returned it she wondered what type of psychic powers the possessed to have such effects on one another.

"At least for tonight so the inn keeper doesn't kick us out for animal abuse," Emi stated.

"No," Sasuke retorted.

"I'll help look after it," Jūgo suddenly stated.

Sasuke sighed in irritation and Karin huffed in annoyance. Emi went over, sitting next to Jūgo. She set the pup down in her lap and returned to eating her food. The pup would place his paws on the box and beg for food. While no one looked she'd slip the pup aome food. She'd also noticed Jūgo doing the same.

"Well, that was a nice meal," Emi stated, placing her empty box to her left. She stroked the now pleased pup. He'd curled up in a ball between her legs, sleeping.

"For the dog you mean. Don't think I didn't see you two feeding that thing," Sasuke muttered.

Emi picked up the dog and held it in her arms. It was so wrinkly when it was curled up. She smiled and gently stroked it's head.

"I'm going to name him Bento," she said.

"Don't name it. You're getting rid of it tomorrow, remember?" Sasuke stated.

"Whatever. You're such a stick in the mud," Emi said, smiling down at the puppy.

"And you're a hippopotamus. Now that that's out of the way, how about we all head to bed?" Sasuke suggested.

Emi glared at him. She went and settled down under her blanket. This time the bed was beneath the window, so on her side of the room, there wasn't much light. She was close to the wall while Jūgo slept closer to the bed. She settled the pup next to her and smiled.