Chpt 3— Izumo

"Hana, don't ever let your kaa-san know about this, if not I'll be dead!" Ryu trembles a little at the thought of Anna's expression.

"Don't worry! I won't let her know!" (pat Ryu's shoulder) Hana consoled.

"Mm…(nod) Ok, let's see if there's any place for us to rest for the day… it's getting dark." Ryu yawned.

"(nod-nod)Mm…I'm tired too, Ryu-san… Can you carry me on your back…please…(yawned)" Hana stood up and stretched himself.

"Ok ok…Come, (squat) I'll wake you up when we reach the nearest motel." Ryu said after combing his… 'stylo' hair.

Ryu carried Hana on his back, walking on the dark streets, whistling his favorite song. Although the sky has darken, the roads on the town still seems busy. Ryu has to cross the road carefully, before reaching his bike. At the same time, he has to take care of Hana, to prevent him from facing danger again. Ryu was guilty at the 'tourists incident'. He blamed himself for not going off with Hana to buy food, but instead, leave him alone and let the tourists 'bully' him.(although it was Hana 'bullied' the tourists in the end.)

"Hana… Hana… We've reached the motel, wake up…" Ryu patted Hana gently. "Ryu-san… When are we going to reach Izumo?"

"Just one more day and we'll reach. But we've to stay here tonight for a rest before we set off tomorrow. Come, go and take a bath first before sleeping."

"No… I don't want… I wanna sleep… Let me… sleep…" (zzZ)

Ryu sighed. He carried Hana on his back again, and walked into the motel.

The next day…

"Ohayo! Ryu-san! Wake up! It's late! We've to reach Izumo by today! Wake up!" Hana shouted in his ear when he found that Ryu was still in bed after he cleaned himself.

"Oh! Lyserg! Don't leave me" Ryu jumped. He was in the middle of his beautiful dream—bathing with Lyserg.

"Ryu-san! You drooled again! Did you just dreamt of that 'Lizard' again?" Hana frowned.

"Er… Heehee… He's 'Lyserg', not ' Lizard', he's sooo cute!" Ryu blushed.

"Oh my… Ryu-san, you are a man! You should act more like a man! Don't be such a sissy!"

"But I just can't help myself! Heehee… Ok let's not talk now, when I've the chance I'll tell you more about him. Heehee… (blushed) I go and wash up first. You wait for me here ok! Heehee…" Ryu whistled as he went into the toilet.

They both set off to Izumo, one with a gloomy face, one with a happy mood.

Izumo.

"Yoh. Don't you have anything to do today?" Anna asked in the everyday-same-expression of hers, watching the television.

"A…Anna… The weather is so humid today, can I don't go?" Yoh pleaded after running 20 kilometres everyday for the past two weeks.

"What do you think?" Anna said, eyes not leaving the television.

"Ok ok…" Yoh knew he can't skip the training.

As he was going to left the room, Anna said, "You will get to see Hana earlier if you come back early."

"Little Hana is coming?! …… Heeheehee… Ok ok I'll come back asap!" Yoh went to have his training after replying.

After Yoh's answer, Anna smiled.

To be continued