Chapter Three

The next morning, Akito woke up on his own. He got out of bed and went to the door. He opened it,surprising Natsumi,who was standing on the other side preparing to knock. Akito smiled,walked around his sister,and left for the day.

Akito ate breakfast at a small diner,then headed to Tanaka's farm. Akito got to work,working twice as hard,all the while thinking about his horse. Akito took a break a little after noon.

He took his white colored horse for another ride around Tanaka's property. He had the horse charging at full speed,Akito enjoying every minute of it. The wind whipped his hair around,blowing it back from his face. Too soon after starting,Akito slowed the horse down to a stop. He hopped off her and put his horse back in the stables.

He got back to work,and he worked until the sky began to darken. Tanaka waved him good night,and Akito walked back into town. Instead of going back home,he walked around the town,breathing in the night air.

Akito took a deep breath,before knocking on the door of the house he stood in front of. The wooden door opened,and Akito's friend Tsuyoshi stood in the frame.

"Akito?" Tsuyoshi asked surprised. "Hey. What brings you here?"

"Just walking around. I wanted to talk to you." Akito said.

"Oh? Come in then." Tsuyoshi said,stepping aside. Thanking his friend,Akito walked inside.

Tsuyoshi lived alone in a small but cozy house. A dark blueish gray rug lay in the middle of the living room floor. Against the wall farthest from the front door was a cushioned bench that could fit two,because Tsuyoshi liked it better then a couch. A table sat in front of the bench,and he also had two chairs for any visitors. A door on the right wall led into Tsuyoshi's bedroom. On the left wall was a fireplace,a warm fire burning,filling the whole room with an inviting glow.

Akito sat down on the bench,while Tsuyoshi closed the door. He sat in the chair directly facing Akito and smiled. "So? What did you want to talk about?"

Akito smiled. "Did you hear about Tanaka? About the thieves?"

"Yeah,I did. Heard what you did too." Tsuyoshi said. He smiled and laughed a little. "Did you come here to brag and gloat?" Tsuyoshi joked.

"No." Akito said. He was quiet for a minute.

"What is it,Akito?" Tsuyoshi asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No. Listen." Akito took a deep breath. "What I'm going to say,needs to stay between us. Is that alright?"

"Of course,Akito. We're friends. You can tell me anything." Tsuyoshi said. He leaned forward in his chair a bit.

"I'm bored." Akito said.

"Bored?" Tsuyoshi repeated.

"Bored. I've been bored for a while in this town."
"Yeah? This isn't news,Akito."

Akito smiled. "Yeah. Well,when I chased down those thieves,I wasn't bored."

Tsuyoshi stared. "Yeah. I'd imagine you weren't."

"That was honestly the most,for lack of a better word,fun I've every had." Akito admitted.

"What?" Tsuyoshi said. "Fun? You?"

Akito nodded. "I know. Crazy,right?"

"Yes." Tsuyoshi said,a bit surprised. "Crazy."

"Well,since that happened,this small town just seems so much more boring." Akito told him.

"Really." Tsuyoshi said.

"Yeah. But Tanaka's been letting me ride the horse I used to chase those thieves."

"Really? That's nice of him." Tsuyoshi said. "Is that any fun?"

"Almost." Akito said.

"Almost?" Tsuyoshi repeated,sounding confused. "What's that mean?"

"It means,that no matter how fast I get that horse to run,it's just not as exciting."

Tsuyoshi was quiet for a bit. "Interesting." he said after a while. "Is that all?"

"No." Akito said. "I had a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yeah. A dream. When I woke up,I felt almost like I did that day."

"Really?" Tsuyoshi said,sounding intrigued.

Akito nodded. "If it was real,then maybe,it would've felt good enough. It's hard to explain."

"What happened?" Tsuyoshi asked. "In your dream?"

"I dreamed that I was a criminal." Akito out bluntly.

It took a moment for Tsuyoshi to respond. "A criminal?"

"Yes. A thief."

"Like a bank robber?" Tsuyoshi asked,trying to understand.

"Exactly." Akito told him.

Tsuyoshi was quiet for a bit. Then he asked "So what are you going to do?"

"Good question." Akito said,sitting back in his seat. "I don't know."

The small house grew silent,save the cracking fire in the fireplace. Finally,Tsuyoshi spoke. "Akito,would you become an outlaw,just for something to do?"

Akito said nothing. He stared at the wall,thinking. Tsuyoshi sighed and sat back in his chair.

Akito nodded. "Yes."

Tsuyoshi looked at him. "So what now?"

"I guess I should leave." Akito said. "Can't really be a criminal in my own town." he said smirking.

"Suppose not." Tsuyoshi said.

"You know," Akito said. "the life of an outlaw could be lonely. I could use some company."

Tsuyoshi stared at Akito. "Are you asking me to go with you?"

"Yes."

Tsuyoshi was quiet for a moment. "I...don't know. Leave? How could I?"

Akito looked at him. "Listen. If you had the chance to do something completely crazy,just for the fun of it,just because you could,would you?"

Tsuyoshi said nothing. Akito turned and left. He walked home. At dinner,he told Natsumi that he was leaving town. After he ate, he hugged his sister and left the house for Tanaka's farm. He explained to the farmer that he was leaving. Tanaka gave Akito the money he earned for working for him. Before he left,Akiro gave the money to Tanaka.

"What are you doing?" Tanaka asked.

"I would like," Akito said. "If it's okay, to buy one of your horses."

"A horse?" Tanaka asked.

Akito nodded. Tanaka smiled and nodded. He hugged Akito and Akito went back home. Natsumi had gone to bed. Akito packed up everything he thought he needed. Then he too fell asleep.

Early the next morning,Akito woke up and bid his sister farewell. He walked to Tanaka's farm and saddled up his white horse. Akito led the horse to the edge of town. He climbed onto her and was prepared to start off,when he heard a call.

"Akito!" Tsuyoshi shouted from a distance. He trotted up to Akito riding a brown colored horse. The saddlebags looked all packed up. He looked at Akito smiling.

"Tsuyoshi." Akito said.

"Yes. I would do something crazy,just because I can." Tsuyoshi said. "Only an idiot would miss out on a chance to become an outlaw with his best friend."

Akito smiled. He reached out his hand. Tsuyoshi took it,the two of them sharing a firm hand shake. "Weclome aboard." he said. The two set out then,heading south,with Akito in front and Tsuyoshi following at the side.