~Okay so this chapter is basically chapter 1, but it is from Hinako's point of view. Sorry it took so long for me to update. Enjoy~
Disclaimer: I do not own Man.
"Hey, Allen?" the girl with short black hair asked.
The kid with white hair replied, "What is it?" he said as he stared intensely at a map.
"We aren't lost, are we?" she asked again. What lost? Oh no, they might get attacked.
He stopped walking and shrugged. "I don't know," he replied.
A tall red haired boy looked at him puzzled, "How can you not know if we're lost?"
"Well, I don't know," he said, as he intently stared at the map and brought it up to his face. "because I don't know where we are on the map."
"I think that is qualified as lost Allen," The red-headed boy grabbed the map from his hand, "Here let me see…..Allen?"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"This map is upside-down." They all silently stood there.
"So," the girl broke the silence, "We have been walking around for seven hours following an upside-down map read by Allen?" Again the silence came.
"I told you that I shouldn't have the map!" The white haired boy's voice was panicked.
"Well, I didn't think you could be this directionally challenged!" The red haired boy yelled back. He calmed down and sighed, "We'll never find the innocence at this rate." His shoulders hunched over and his head hung in a depressed manner.
"Now don't say that Lavi, I'm sure we'll find it eventually," The girl patted him on the back, "For now, lets just set up a camp. It's getting dark."
I was up in the trees as I watched them set up their camp. They were an odd trio. There was the boy with white hair and when I first saw him I thought he was an old man but after I looked closer he looked around 16 or 17. He had a star over his eye and a line coming from it that ran down to his cheek. Is that some sort of new trend with young people? I looked over at the girl. She was pretty and even though her black hair was short it looked beautiful. I looked at my long wavy hair. It looked like a mess. My body slumped as my face turned into a deep frown. I looked over at the last one. He had fiery red hair. A bandana went around his forehead and an eye patch was covering his right eye. Not only did they look strange by themselves, they all wore matching black uniforms with a cross on their chest. What a strange looking cross. Are they a religious group? My curiosity grew. They lit a fire and I retreated back further into the shadows to avoid being seen. They didn't say a word and then the white-haired one whispered something and my body tensed.
"They're coming," I whispered silently to myself and I jumped silently down from the tree branches and I picked up my scythe that was on the ground. I looked past the clearing and into the woods on the other side and braced myself for what would come next. There was an explosion on the other side of the clearing that sent trees flying and the three of them jumped back and turned to face it. In an instant something about all three of them changed. Suddenly the girl had these tall black boots. The red haired boy had a rather large hammer, but the one with white hair was the strangest of all. His left arm had disappeared and in his right hand was a large sword with a cross on it. The dust cleared and I saw the forms of three monsters. "Oh no," I was about to step into the clearing when I heard the middle one come forward.
"Hey exorcists, lets play." Exorcists?
"Hey, Allen, think we can handle all of them?" The red haired boy's voice sounded nervous.
"Well, we won't know until we try, will we?" The white haired one said and they all attacked the monsters. They exchanged a couple of blows, but all three of them were thrown back into the forest and I had to dodge them. They quickly stood up and ran away from the clearing. The monsters gave chase and that's when I realized they were running toward the cliff. I stood up and ran after them and when I got to the cliff, the three of them were surrounded and breathing heavily. I was very hesitant, but I didn't have time to be indecisive, the monsters were ready to attack. In an instant, I threw my scythe and impaled all three of them before sticking into a tree. The bodies crumbled away and I had already regretted my decision.
"A scythe?" The boy with red hair walked up to it and the others followed behind. I panicked. How am I supposed to get it back now! "You don't think it's that god-" Then another monster came up from behind and as they turned to see what it was, it knocked them all out. I jumped out of the woods and grabbed my scythe from the tree and sliced it clean in half. It too crumbled and all that was left of it was a pile of sand. I quickly bowed to it and then turned my attention back to the three who were on the floor.
"Ummm," I kneeled down next to them, "Are you okay?" I didn't get a reply, "You….you aren't dead, right?" I poked the white haired ones face with the hilt of my scythe, "Ummm…Hello?" He moaned and rolled over. I was so surprised that I had jumped back behind one of the trees and for a couple of minutes I just stayed there, crouched behind the tree. "What should I do? I can't just leave them here," I looked nervously over at them. I stood up and walked over to them, "hell chain," The chains came out from the blade of my scythe and picked the three of them up gently and I walked back through the forest and back to my cave. I laid all three of them down and I covered them up with blankets. Then I started a fire to keep them warm. I curled up in a ball with my back on the large stone facing the back of the cave. I continually fed the fire through out the night and in the morning I was about to fall asleep when I heard someone walk in. I quickly hid behind the stone to avoid being seen. I peeked over the side of the rock and I could see that someone else with a matching suit had walked in. He had long black hair tied up in a pony tail. I quickly ducked back behind the rock. His face….why is he so mad? I heard his foot steps come further into the cave and I peeked my head out the side this time, just enough so that I could see. He was next to the one with red hair and with a violent kick to his side, he tried to wake him up.
"Lavi, get up!" The red haired boy rolled over on the floor, moaning. He turned his head towards the man standing over him and rubbed sleepily at his eyes.
"Kanda? What are you doing here?" he sat up and looked around the room.
"That's what I should be asking you," he replied, "What are you doing, napping here in the middle of your mission?" his voice was so menacing that I retreated back behind the rock.
"I'm not sure," I heard him stand up, "Where are we?"
"You're in a cave not far from the village out side of the forest," his voice still sounded angry.
"Lenalee," I'm sure it was the red-haired one who said it because the tone was very gentle, "its time to get up," I heard someone stir. It was a female's voice this time.
"Lavi?" I heard her move again, "Kanda?"
"Tim went and got the finders outside of the forest after you three collapsed and I got sent to find you but you weren't where he left you,"
"Some one must have carried us here then," there was a moment of silence but she began again, "Allen, Allen,"
"Lenalee," I heard some stirring again, "What happened?" Oh no, now they're all awake.
"I don't know, something came and knocked us out," the girl was talking, "Oh, Tim went to the finders outside of the forest and Kanda came as backup."
"You really are useless aren't you bean sprout," he said it with such a condescending voice. I tried to keep listening, but I was exhausted so I fell asleep. My foot must have slipped or something because I woke up to an angry voice.
"Who's there?" I was still half asleep so I thought of the dumbest idea.
"Meow," wow, that didn't sound like a cat at all.
"If you are going to try and pass off as a cat," it was the guy with the red hair, "You should at least try to sound like one." I could hear footsteps coming closer, "Come on out," What should I do? I got up quickly and before he could see my face, I kicked as hard as I could, barely missing him, and it sent a gust of air that carried him out of the cave and into the lake outside, I kicked off of the ground and in one leap I grabbed my scythe and headed out towards the entrance. The grumpy looking guy stuck his arm out in an attempt to grab me and it just barely dodged. I scurried into the forest and once I was out of sight, I climbed up one of the trees and I sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness," I said to myself, "I don't think they saw me," I reached down to pull my scarf over my face, but I grabbed air, "Huh?" I looked down to see my bare neck. I jumped out of the tree and began searching the ground. Where is it? I didn't drop it right? What if…. I turned my head back to the clearing after a fruitless hunt and there, around that cranky guy's neck was my scarf. Wait why does he have it on? How am I supposed to get it back? I was so distressed I was almost in tears. Then I saw him walk towards me. Oh no, he's coming this way! I quickly hid in the bushes and as he walked by, I noticed he was only with the girl. Maybe he'll drop the scarf? I knew the chances of him dropping it when it was around his neck was next to impossible, but I decided to follow him anyway in the hopes he would put it down or something and I could grab it. After an hour though, the two of them returned to the clearing near the cave and they reunited with their friends.
"Any luck?" one of them asked. I have to do something.
"Nope," a girl's voice said. I picked up a stick and scribbled some words on the floor, "We couldn't find her anywhere." I moved away from my message and threw a rock into the bush behind it, causing them to turn around. The white haired boy read it of off the ground.
"What do you want?"
"So she's around here somewhere," The guy with long hair began to draw his sword and I took a step back when the boy with white hair stopped him.
"Wait," he said, "Lets try to talk to her first," he took a deep breathe and looked up at the trees, "We are exorcists from the Black Priesthood and we are looking for innocence. It is something that can defeat those monsters that attacked us yesterday. They are called akuma and they are controlled by someone named the Millennium Earl," When I heard that name a chill ran down my spine, "Innocence can take the form of a weapon like your scythe but it can only be used by one person. So, will you show yourself to us?" I took another stick and shakily wrote my response. I moved away and threw another rock and watched them turn around.
"This isn't working," The long-haired boy said in an irritated voice. He drew his sword, "We're doing this my way." He ran his fingertips along the edge of his blade, "Mugen unsheathe. Innocence, activate."
"Wait a minute Kanda," the girl tried to calm him down.
"She's around here right?" I was puzzled so I leaned forward to get a better look.
"Wait, Kanda!" the boy with white hair tried to grab his shoulder but he was too late.
"Kaichu Ichigen!" He swung his swords and, in an instant, bug-like creatures came flying at me. I activated my scythe and tried to fend off the attack, but he saw me.
"There you are," he ran towards me. He grabbed my neck and threw me against a tree. My scythe fell from my hands as I dangled off of the ground. I first grabbed at his hand as I gasped for breathe and then I saw he still had my scarf. I reached my hand out towards him to try and grab it, but his grip was so tight that it just fell limply to my side.
"Kanda, let her go!" the girl yelled as she ran over to us and tried to get him to release his grip. My voice was raspy and trembling as I used the last of my strength.
"Hell ch…ain…" The chains came from my scythe and wrapped around his chest. They grew tighter and he lost his grip over me. I fell onto my knees coughing and then I grabbed my scythe, releasing the chains, and ran to the cave. I ran to where I had prepared the boulder and dropped the scythe.
"Don't let her get away!" he was yelling at them as he clutched his chest. They ran towards me, but as they drew nearer, I rolled the stone across the entrance of the cave, sealing them off from me.
"Don't worry, Yuu," I heard someone say, "If she can move this rock, then we should also be able to move it, right?" I heard someone move to the side and try to push it away, "That's strange," he said as I sighed in relief, "How was she able to move it?" They tried again, but then I heard two people lean against the wall and sigh. It was dark so I lit a lamp and put it down at my side.
"We have to talk her out of there don't we," I heard another sigh and I knew I had to say something.
"Umm,"
"Yes?" he sounded very eager and I recognized it as the boy with white hair.
"May I…" I stopped to gather my courage, "May I please have my scarf back?"
"This ratty old thing?" I heard a different voice reply.
"It's very important to me," I pleaded, "Please give it back."
"I'll give it back if you come with us," the second voice threatened. I thought for a while, but I knew it was impossible, especially after I learned who they were.
"I…I…can't go with you."
"Why not?" a third male voice jumped in and I assumed it was the one with red hair.
"It's because….." I stopped once more, "It's because I haven't left this place in so long, I don't even remember what its like outside of this forest."
"Well, if you won't come with us then I'll just burn this piece of green trash,"
"No!" I yelled, "Please don't! It's very important to me!"
"Kanda!" the first one scolded, "Don't be so mean! It's okay," he said reassuringly, "I won't let him. Just open up so that we can talk." I froze and after a while I heard a sigh and then he spoke again, "Let me ask you something then, Hinako. That is your name right?"
"Yes, it is," I was surprised he knew my name, "but how did you know that?"
"Well, it was written on your keychain, but that's not what I wanted to ask," his voice became a little louder and more clear, "It was you who saved us from those akuma right? So why did you run away from us?" I was really embarrassed to tell him the reason.
"Well, after I defeated those umm, akuma, another one of them came up from behind you three and knocked you out. I got rid of that one and I couldn't just leave you there so I carried you back here. Then," I stopped. I'm gonna sound like a loser.
"Then?" a female voice asked.
"Umm, then that other guy came in and so I hid and then he started yelling at you to wake up," my voice began to shake a little, "and I was just a little curious to see who was yelling and then, his face was so scary, I just…."
"I told you so," the first voice said.
"Che,"
"And," I continued, "I haven't talked to other humans for so long, I was a little…"
"Scared?" the first voice finished my sentence.
"Yes," I looked down at the floor feeling guilty, "I'm sorry."
"Oh, no," the girl said, "don't apologize to us. Now that we have gotten past this misunderstanding will you open up the door?" I still didn't want to open the door "I promise that Kanda won't do anything to you."
"There's one thing I want to know though," his voice was scary and intimidating, "how did you know how to fight off those akuma?" I didn't want to answer that. It's not like they would believe me anyway.
"It just those things," I tried to make something up, "have started coming recently so I had no choice but to fight them off."
"But even so," he persisted, "How were you able to fight off level threes and even a level four?" I couldn't answer that, "What are you hiding from us?" he demanded.
"Kanda," the first voice said, "It's true that it is a little odd, but maybe she can synchronize very well with her innocence."
"No," he kept pushing it, "It's more than a little odd. Something is wrong here. She could defeat level threes and she is able to move this rock so easily. What are you not telling us?" his voice was stern.
"I….I…" my voice started to crack and I tried to hold back tears, "I am not hiding anything," I insisted.
"Then why won't you come out and talk to us face to face?"
"Kanda, stop," the girl said, "You're making her cry."
"Do you really know nothing about akuma?" the only thing I could do was cry, "If you are so strong why won't you come with us and fight the akuma instead of hiding in your cave!"
"I don't want to fight anymore!" I was sobbing now, "I am tired of fighting! Why can't I just stay here? Why do I always have to fight?" I just wanted to live here. I didn't want to fight the earl; I didn't want to fight akuma. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life alone. No one said anything and for a while, I was just crying my eyes out. Then I heard someone call my name from inside the cave.
"Hinako?" I looked up in alarm. I quickly wiped away my tears and held up the lamp.
"Who is it?"
"Allen?" It was the boy with red hair, "How did you get in there?"
"What? Allen?" the girl sounded confused.
"Umm, I accidentally fell down a hole and wound up in here," I saw him and I quickly stood up and pressed up against the wall.
"Bean sprout, grab her and get her out here! Now!" When I heard those words I slid even further into the corner until I felt my back hit the other wall.
"Its okay Hinako, I wont force you out of the cave," he tried to reassure me, but I was still wary of him, "I just wanted to return this," I couldn't see what he held up, but when the light hit it and I saw a flash of green, I dropped the lamp and ran over to him. I grabbed the scarf from his hands and wrapped it carefully around my neck and then I grabbed onto him.
"Thank you," My voice soft when I said it so that the others outside wouldn't hear. I felt guilty so I reluctantly grabbed onto his sleeve and pulled him towards the exit. I picked up my scythe from the ground and took a deep breathe and prepared my self. Then I rolled the boulder back and sunlight came pouring in. After my eyes had adjusted and I saw the three of them, I instinctively grabbed onto his arm.
"It's okay," he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "they won't bite you." I blushed and hid behind him as he walked out to them.
"Hello Hinako," she held out her hand, "My name is Lenalee. It's nice to meet you," she had a sweet smile on her face and I reached my hand out and shook hers, but quickly took it back.
The boy with red hair walked up and put his arm over Lenalee, "My name is Lavi, nice to meet you Hinako."
"Its, nice to meet you too," I whispered as I looked to the ground.
"This is Yuu-chan, but you can just call him Yuu," Lavi said in a cheery voice I looked up to see him pointing at the boy with long hair.
"It's Kanda," he practically snarled and then glowered at Lavi and all of us. He just stood a few feet from us, scowling.
"It's nice to formally meet you," I looked up at the one I was clinging to, "My name is Allen Walker."
"Allen….Walker?" my eyes widened and I let go of him and stepped back, clutching my scythe.
"What's wrong?" he asked. I was trembling. I turned away from him and bowed to the rest of them.
"I'm sorry about my behavior before," I kept my face to the floor, "I hope I didn't hurt any of you."
"Don't worry, we're tougher than you think," I looked up to see Lavi grinning widely.
"Oh, that's right!" Lenalee remembered, "We need to call brother! Kanda, do you remember the way out of here?" Kanda was silent.
"Umm, if you want to go to the village outside you just have to keep heading East and you'll be out of the forest soon," I said.
Lenalee smiled, "Thanks Hinako. Now let's go." As we started walking out of the forest, I thought of the cruel twist of fate that led me to meet them and wondered how things would go for me from here on out.