Okay, so I've recently joined the Itsuwaribito fandom and I have to say that Neya's crush on Utsuho is just way too cute (even if it lowers her coolness rating). There's really nothing much I could find in the way of fanfiction for them (wow, this fandom is tiny), so I wrote a little something to please myself.

Anyhow, this is set in the two month time-frame as they are heading to Ouna (issue 9). Enjoy :)

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It was a cloudy day as Utsuho and his friends made their way to Ouna. It had only been three days into their journey from Utsuho's home village, and already the travelers were already growing bored without something to occupy themselves.

"Hikae-san," Pochi looked at the previous guardian, "Can you tell us a story?"

Hikae's eyes brightened up, "Why of course, Pochi. Do you see that tree way over there? Long ago, when I first became a guardian, that tree was a person named Nadehiko. Nadehiko was a charming man who gave money to others and protected the weak, but it was all a facade to-"

Neya soon lost interest in the obviously fake story. She appreciated the effort Hikae was putting into entertaining them (mainly Pochi, she knew), but her mind was still haunted by the dreadful feeling of losing her precious hair combs. True, she didn't regret grabbing the sandal whatsoever, but that didn't stop her from missing the feeling of the special treasure in her hair.

It was just her luck that she would be clumsy enough to lose the one item that represented Utsuho's feelings for her, even if it was something clouded as the weather they were walking in. It was her only sign of hope, the thing that gave her the strength to continue liking him, to believe that she just might actually have a chance with him.

"Really?!" Pochi's amazed voice drew her attention away from her thoughts.

"Yeah!" Hikae smiled broadly, "But the princess was so furious that she summoned the rock creatures of the west, and-"

Neya sighed as she looked at the grey sky. It was going to rain soon. With any luck, they would find a village to take cover in before the worst came. The last thing they all needed was a bad cold. Perhaps she could find a new pair of hair combs there. Even if they weren't from Utsuho, she felt the need to have something in her hair if for nothing more than a habit.

"Then what?!"

"Then-" Hikae started before he was rudely interrupted by Utsuho.

"Then the giant water creatures beat the stone creatures, leaving behind a residue that turned Nadehiko and the princess into trees. The end."

"Wow!" Pochi squealed, "Great ending, Utsuho-san. Pochi didn't expect that."

"B-But Pochi," Hikae muttered sadly at the revelation that Pochi still liked Utsuho more than him, "It was my story."

Neya giggled softly at the group before speaking up, "Will we be near a village soon? It looks like it's going to rain."

Yakuma looked at her, "I believe there is one about-"

"Here!" Utsuho pointed at a village in the forest clearing, "You two really aren't that smart, are you?"

"Hey, who are you calling dumb?! I am a respected doctor, and don't interrupt me when I'm speaking to someone! You have the manners of a baboon, do you know that?! I-"

Yakuma was silenced by the thunder, followed by a light drizzle of rain.

"Whatever, let's just hurry up and find a place to take cover." Neya quickly ran ahead of the group into the village, ignoring the 'wow, she's fast's and 'hey, wait up's. It didn't take long for her to make it through the gate of the village, quietly scanning it to be sure it was a safe village unlike a few they had visited before.

With a sigh of relief, she found a villager to ask directions from, a young man about her age with short blonde locks of hair hidden by a hat.

"Excuse me," She walked up to him, "Do you know where my friends and I can take shelter from the rain and possibly stay the night?"

The boy smiled brightly, "My parents own the Shinuki Inn. I can take you and your friends there if you'd like?"

"Thank you," Neya returned his grin, "We've been traveling for days in this weather. I fear this storm might be a big one."

"Oh? Are you and your friends going somewhere special?" The boy said, making small talk with the girl.

"That's right!" Utsuho's voice came from behind her, "We're on our way to Ouna!"

"Ah, you caught up." Neya smiled as the group entered the village, "We've been invited to take shelter in the Shinuki Inn by Mr…."

"Danri." The blonde filled in for her, "Shinuki Danri, my friends call me Dan."

Neya nodded, "Danri-san offered us a place to sleep too, if we need it."

"Dan is fine, Miss…"

"Neya, Muito Neya." The girl smiled up at the boy.

"Can we just go? Pochi's getting cold." Utsuho grumbled as he hid the tanuki under the cloth of his jacket.

"Ah, yes." Danri smiled as he led them through the village, "How long will you be here?"

"Only until the storm stops." Yakuma adjusted his medicine chest, "We have to make it to Ouna as soon as possible."

Danri nodded, "The inn is just around the corner."

Neya smiled as she looked into the shops, now filling with people to take shelter from the rain. Her attention was especially drawn to a particular hair comb displayed in a window. It was beautiful at the least. It looked as if it was made specifically for her with a pinkish color that would complement her hair nicely, and an amazing floral design that must have taken days to make.

She would make sure to come to the shop later, she decided, once the storm was gone. Hopefully, it would still be there when she returned.