Next chapter. Finally, it feels like it's actually getting decent! I don't think I've ever written with someone who's already in existance... Bandits are fun. I'm fighting the temptation of confining Kyrie to the threshold if/when the times comes. heart Anyhow, moving on. ..It still needs a name..
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It's warm... mom must have turned on the heat this morning. ...What was that noise?
The teenager shifted, her eyebrows furrowing as a bright light tried to penetrate her sensitive, still asleep eyelids. She was only vaguely aware that the rough platform under her didn't feel like her bed. She idly focused on the abnormal sounds emitting around her. Kyrie groaned. She had a headache. What happened last night? She carefully pushed herself up into a sitting position, rubbing her eyes from under her crooked glasses before opening them to see where she was exactly.
She must have blinked a dozen times before she noticed her breath was being held.
She was outside! But... there was no snow. It was the middle of February, so how..? Wait! Last night. The book - The book and that damned ink spill... and... light? Ugh. Images floated throughout her hazy mind, giving Kyrielle an even worse headache. In her confusion, she saw that her bag was beside her, contents spilling onto the ground. Her head fell to her hands as she groaned in frustration and confusion. Dropping her hands to her lap in defeat, Kyrie tried to calm herself. Try to figure it out later, first... where was she?
Her eyes drifted, taking the scenery in. It was fairly bright. Around mid-morning she guessed. The sky was a dull grayish blue, but the sun's rays still warmed her face. She was surrounded by trees, in clusters that littered the area. The ground she sat on was of rocks and dirt, still somewhat spongy from the morning dew. The sounds that roused her were of the wildlife. Birds and insects were up to greet the day and they weren't being discrete about it. The trees rustled in the slight breeze, albeit the leaves looked freshly sprouted. As if it's spring.. She mused. How long was I asleep? It was a silly thought, but she looked frantically for any signs on her being there an impossible amount of time. Nothing. Nothing to signify that she'd been there more than a few hours at most. Thank whatever god, it's not a Rip Van Winkle complex.
Kyrie twisted as to grab her bag, shoveling the contents inside. As far as she could tell everything was back where it should be. Well, aside from her manga of course. One moment. The manga! Surely she wasn't in it? Kyrie's head whipped around in bewilderment. She quickly heaved the over stuffed pack onto her shoulder and stood.
Maybe I'm near a town. As soon as I see some kind of civilization, Maybe I can figure out what's going on. She started to walk foreword, but quickly realized she was still barefoot! Hmm.. She quickly knelt down back to the ground, swinging her pack to the front.
After a quick dig she was relieved to find her sandals. Even if there was snow on the ground, she wouldn't dare leave home on a long trip without them. Returning the pack to her shoulder, she stood once again, fully ready to get moving. Any remaining drowsiness was washed away as Kyrie briskly walked up a hill, following the dirt path to the top.
The hill was a little steeper and road a bit longer than she thought. Her body had just woken up and wasn't quite ready for such a strenuous hike, but she reached the top with little difficulty. Her breath caught in her chest as her eyes drifted to what laid below.
"Whoa... It's a town, but not quite what I was hoping for."
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"Boring..." Two young men strolled leisurely down the cart filled streets, bustling with the days activities of the towns people. The older and taller of the two, with handsome, spiky blue hair and a scar on his left cheek looked toward his whining partner.
His red headband did nothing to keep the boys unruly bangs from his face as he exuded the look of pure uninterest, doing nothing to conceal his jaded attitude toward the whole outing. His hands were behind his head and he walked with a lackluster posture. Kouji growled with slight irritation.
"You've been waitin' for a promotion haven'tcha? Quit yer complainin'. I'd rather not be doin' collectin' duty either, but the regular guys are too busy complainin' of stomach aches. Been here for almos' two years, haven't ya? Been 'round long 'nough to break yeh in." He smiled. He was ecstatic when he got promoted from chumps work. He slung his arm around the kids shoulders, "Yep. Pretty soon 'Aku, you'll be a righ' asset ta th'gang and have your own subordinate to run 'round. Where'as you'd be sitting with the rest of us downing sake like a real bandit."
"Ugh, get off me boss-! I ain't like that!" 'Aku' grinned, shoving his boss's arm from the collar of his forest green jacket. Kouji shot him a look of amusement mixed with curiousity before leaving the boy's shoulders with a chuckle. "Don't believe for a second I'm like that, 'Akugi. I'm a firm believer in w'imen. Although I'm not sure all th'guys go by that.. "
He remembered with amusement when he first met his best friend. His ranting and proclamation of his hatred for women.. But the only other option was men, right? Not for Genrou. He just hated the idea of women. Didn't make 'im queer though, he made sure Kouji understood that.
"Hey Boss, whatta 'bout that one?" Kouji was pulled out of his reverie when 'Akugi pointed to a merchantless cart on a corner entrance to an alleyway.
"Hunh...dun' remember that one.. C'mon." He gestured, making his way toward it. Kouji knew of all the merchants doing business in that town. Was there one he missed? Nah, they must be fairly new. Well, what better time to introduce them to the bandit's toll, than on collecting day?
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Kyrie sprinted down the dirt road, careful not to trip over the jutted rocks that threatened to deter her. So she must be in the book... but which one? The manga itself, or the actual Universe of the Four Gods?
I guess once you get down to it, it's really all the same, She thought.
Once she reached the crumbling stone wall that surrounded the village, she slowed down some. Now she didn't quit know what to do with herself. Should she risk walking into the town, probably drawing unwanted attention? She couldn't think of anything else to do. Standing there wouldn't get anything accomplished.
Tentatively, she walked toward the thresh of people. Crowds made her nervous on a regular basis. Being in a crowd of people not even from one's world was a bit stranger. As she walked, she was fully aware of the growing number of looks passed her way, some of curiosity, suspicion... she shivered, catching some looks she'd have rather gone without seeing. Of course she knew she stuck out like a sore thumb, if just by her clothing. Her oversized red, heavy silk night shirt and teddy bear print, blue pajama bottoms. She returned her sweatshirt to her bag, seeing as the sun was out, enough to keep her warm.
Kyrie took in her surroundings. Carts carrying various things littered the sides of the street, ranging from fresh food to clothing and other merchandise. A small spark of amusement ran through her, realizing that some of these things reminded her of some festivals she would attend.
On a normal day, she'd have browsed and probably bought loads of things. But today was not a normal day. Rather obviously not one of her ordinary, mundane sort of days. If people were dropped into her world from other dimensions every day, she'd assume the world would be a more diverse place.. or not. Mhm. There’s some food for thought later. Speaking of food... her stomach grumbled in protest, over-hearing her musings. Unfortunately, she repressed the urge to look for food.
The first thing on her mind was figuring out where she was, and how to get to a place she'd rather be which was definitely not here. She spotted an old woman, minding her own cart. It looked innocent enough. Perhaps she could be of some assistance.
"Um, excuse me..." She looked sheepishly at he woman, who in turn gave her a looked of defined curiosity. "Could you, well, I don't know where I am. What's this town called?" Kyrie hoped she didn't sound like a complete idiot, but at least she didn't ask if this was still planet Earth. She wondered now if it would still be called Earth, with Taiitsukun being the ruler of the small world.
"This is Chouko village dear," The old woman smiled politely, about to continue when Kyrie interrupted with an outburst. "Chouko? You mean, as in Konan?" Her eyes were wide in and bewildered amazement, tone obviously of excitement. Konan! At least she was in a more familiar country, than if she were in Sairo or somewhere. Chouko.. Hey, wasn't that where-
"You didn't know you wer in Konan? How far have you traveled? Choko village is almost near the capital!" The woman interrupted her thought with a concerned tone. "Are you lost?"
Kyrie blinked obliviously at her, wondering how she could answer that question. Not meaning to be a difficult one, the best she could offer was an uncertain "Um..."
"Do you know where you're going?" The old woman inquired.
"I'm not sure... Wait, that mountain just past the forest next to here. What's it called?" The old woman gazed around her cart past the stone wall to the mountain in question, before answering. "That's Mt. Reikaku. Best not go up that way. Bandits live on that mountain. They're not much to worry about for one with not much belongings, but those other bandits... The ones who invade on Reikaku territory are worth something to worry about. It's be wise to choose another road, if you're planning on going that direction."
"Alright. Well, thank you ma'am, I think that's all you can help me with." She turned to continue heading the direction she was originally on, but the woman called her back. Curious, she returned to the cart. "Would you like something for the trip?" The woman asked, "You looked hungry."
Kyrie blushed. She had been staring at the woman's food cart. All those fresh fruits and vegetables... She was hungry but had no way of paying for them. She highly doubted the woman would accept what little allowance she had saved up from home. "That's really kind.. but I have no money to pay for it. I'll be okay. Thanks."
"It's no matter dear, here." She took a fresh apple from her cart and handed it to Kyrie, who gratefully accepted. "May Suzaku bless you with a safe journey." She said with a warm smile. Kyrie thanked her profusely and continued down the street, happily munching on her newly acquired breakfast.
She was nearly to the end of the main street, where it started to part throughout the village leaving less carts and more dispersed crowds. She continued on her way, even though she had no idea of where she was going, and going up the mountain didn't seem all that appealing to her either. She was just into half her apple when something jerked her backwards, hard, sending her apple flying out and falling toward the ground. She cried out as she was swept into a dark, back alley.
(End Chapter two)
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