• I landed into a tree. I sat on the branch for a bit, resting (and removing leaves from my mouth). At this moment in time Asuka was probably charging his way down the stairs to see if I lived. So now, before I was found, my only option was to run. I scanned the area around me, and saw that that I could not only run, but jump as well, from tree to tree.
    So that’s what I did. Luckily the branches were sturdy enough and near enough, and like a monkey or squirrel, I leaped here and there. My home isn’t far from here, just along the coastline. Really, it’s not far.
    I jumped down from the tree nearest to the street, and turned for home. I nearly crashed into Raito on the way.
    “Oh, hey Rai…”
    “Rai? Where’d you get that from?” he grinned.
    “I dunno… I’m out of breath.”
    “Um, thanks for the teleporting me back there. Want me to help you bring those home?” he gestured to the to the food I was carrying. I was shocked that they had survived the fall, and all the jumping.
    “Yes, thanks.”
    “So, did you really jump off that roof?” he asked as I handed some over.
    “Yup,” I nodded.
    “Whoa, I would have never have done that!” he was in awe.
    “I did it the first time I stole too, but Asuka wasn’t there then, and I got lost as well.”
    “So you’ve got used to it in time, huh… So what else can you do with those powers? You didn’t really explain them earlier.”
    “Well, the spirits like us, because we can communicate to them, and we’re all, like, friends! So we answer all their questions about out world, and they help out when we’re in a pinch. Of course, we could get them to steal for us, but it’s not nice to take advantage of people like that.”
    “That’s nice. So are they all invisible?”
    “Most of the time, yes. They choose when they appear or disappear, and become solid or untouchable. But mainly they respond to us when we ask them to.”
    “Is it just your family by the coast?”
    “I think so. My cousins live together nearby, but yup, we’re all related…”

    I had stopped in front of my house, which was actually pretty impressive for poor people: a wooden one, a lot like the traditional Japanese ones, but they are for the poor, and the Rich have modern metal and glass.
    Nevertheless, it’s home. And we can cope.
    I took off my shoes and left them on the shoe rack, and so did Raito.
    “MOM, DAD, I’M HOME!!” …And I was glad to be.
    As my voice rang through the house –and Raito rubbed his ears for fear of becoming deaf- I found that the house was generally quiet. Then I heard footsteps.
    “Tally, honey, don’t be so loud!!” She came wearing an apron, wiping her hands on a tea towel. I know, my life sounded pretty middle class, but if that’s what we are, then imagine how rich the Rich are.
    “Hi, Mom.” I let myself be kissed on the cheek.
    “Oh!” she exclaimed, turning to look at Raito for the first time. “Who’s this?”
    “Mom, this is Raito, I saw him on the way, we helped each other out.”
    “Aww. That was nice of you two, helping each other like that,” said Mom as we followed her into the kitchen. “But, honey, don’t over-exert your powers.”
    “See, mom’s side of the family has that link to spirits,” I explained to Raito. “I inherited that.”
    “I see,” He nods. “That’s quite obvious.”
    “Haha!” I giggled. “Well, my arms are aching. Let’s go put these things away.”
    I saw a head peek around the paper doors as we passed by.
    “Welcome back, Tally.”
    “Hey, Dad.”
    My Dad is frequently ill. None of us have jobs, we are all inexperienced, and had no education. However Mom did her best to teach me as much as she could. I know how to read and write, and a bit of Maths too. That’s all though. The Rich never bother employing us anyway, so I could never earn the money to get Dad medicine myself.
    It was silent as Raito helped me to sort everything out into the fridge and the shelves. I guess we were both thinking. Then as I placed the last tin on the shelves, he stood. So did I.
    “Thanks again for helping me there, Tallulah.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. Then he turned and left, leaving me dazed with his sudden mysteriousness. I could feel myself turning red, and I was glad he wasn’t here to see it. Somehow I felt that I didn’t strike him as the blushy type.

    I didn’t know if we would meet again. But he knew where I was if he ever needed my help. Maybe I wouldn’t see him for a long time.
    I was very mistaken.

    The next week, we were running together again. We split up to take different things, but Asuka didn’t bother chasing Raito. It was always me, and he found me taking milk.
    “Gotcha,” he said. “You’re not getting away now.”
    “Really?”
    He nodded. “Really.” On the other end of the aisle, a few guards gathered. Some gathered by him.
    I gave Asuka a glare. “Isn’t this supposed to be a one-on-one kind of battle?”
    “These are my upgrades.”
    My glare held against his sly smirk. “Then I guess they are as stupid as you then?”
    The remark hit him square, and he gave the order to charge. I braced myself as they all came running. Then, with everything in my hands, I jumped, upwards, as high as I could, hoping to get over the heads of the guards.
    They all crashed into each other under me, and I lightly stepped on their heads to control my jump away. But Asuka was waiting.
    Waiting to catch me.
    Where the hell was Raito when I needed him, and not the other way round?
    I landed safely, but Asuka was right alongside me, and his fingers curled around my cape, which Mom made me wear that day because it was getting cold. He gave it a pull, and I fell.
    “Gotcha,” he grinned. “I told you so, didn’t I?”
    I stayed silent. He leaned forward.
    “Not so cheeky now, are you?” he whispered in my ear.
    I glanced up, and saw Raito, peeking out from the shelves.
    Go. Tell my mom, I mouthed.
    “Right. I’m dragging you to my dad,” Asuka sounded so proud, like a chuffed little kid. It actually sounded reasonable, because he has been chasing me since I was six.
    “Dragging, huh…” I sighed as he pulled me away, by my collar.

    My eyes were shut. I was tied to a chair. Voices were coming from everywhere.
    “It took you four years, Asuka. We have lost a lot since then. But now she will pay for all of them.”
    I tried to open my eyes, but it was still dark. I was blindfolded. Damn.
    “She’s cute. Nobody would recognize her if she was Rich.”
    “Shut up, Asuka,” slipped out of my mouth.
    “You shut up!!”
    “Asuka!!” His father exclaimed. “Don’t be so rude!!”
    “But really, Dad, look at her!!”
    There was silence for a bit. Then…
    “Maybe… how would we cover up her entrance into our world though…?”
    “Adopt her?”
    “NO!!” I yelled. I could not bear being Asuka’s sister. I didn’t ever want to be away from Mom and Dad.
    “You stole over £10000’s worth of food from us, so do you have a better idea of how you are going to pay back?”
    “I won’t. You Rich people are heartless. Why would I pay such heartless people?”
    “Because we have absolute control over your situation,” whispered Asuka’s father. He stepped back. I could hear what they were doing. Every word. They had already agreed with Asuka’s idea, and I couldn’t stop them.

    Next chapter comes next week! Thanks for reading this, and taking an interest!
    Please comment if you can, because opinions are alwasy greatly valued. biggrin