His earlier opinion of the village seemed to be right, as soon as they stepped through Alice had guided him around. Pointing out where everything was. She'd even gone to the elder and brought him out to meet Shun.

"Well, young lad, what did you say your village was called?" He asked, a stick in his hands, though it looked like he didn't need it and it was more for show than for support.

"I didn't" he answered simply, staring down at the older man.

"Oh didn't you? My, I must be getting forgetful in my old age." Shun had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at that, his grandfather was old, this man was classified more as middle-aged.

"Perhaps" he answered instead. There was no reason for him to start a fight with someone Alice knew.

"Yes, perhaps, now come on Shun, Alice you can take whatever you want from this village. If it is a matter of returning to family I will allow for you to take what you wish for now and you can pay us back later Alice." The elder told them as he walked down the wooden steps that led down from his raised house.

"Why do we get it for now Sir?" Shun asked mildly curious

"Because I know what it's like to be separated from your family and I don't want that to happen to someone so young." The man answered, inadvertently revealing too much to his villagers who were stood to one side of him as he led the two away.

"Where are we going Elder?" Alice asked as she quickened her pace slightly to walk beside Shun. The elder was walking quite fast to cause Shun to believe all the more that the stick was for show and nothing more.

"To the market of course" he answered, as though it were obvious. Which it was to him. But to Shun it wasn't, he'd never been to a market.

The village in which Alice lived was far bigger than the one he awoke in. And not just size, the population was far bigger than the last village not to mention the houses were far fancier. While the last village looked basic this one had its houses raised on small stilts. Only a foot or two high. With small wooden planks that lead up to the door-less door.

"What's wrong Shun?" Alice's voice snapped him from his thoughts and he turned to look at her smiling face.

"Nothing, I was just thinking that this place is a lot fancier than the last village I was in." He admitted as he stared at the people staring at him in equal wonder. He must a have looked a sight to them. His features were always quite striking to people back home. His hair was dark black almost to the point where it blended into the midnight sky, and his amber eyes had left the realm of brown and were entering pure amber orbs.

"I'm not surprised, there're a few poisonous animals around here. We stay off the ground to avoid them. It's always given this place a slightly exotic look." He nodded his head at that.

"That does make sense. Back in my village the worst we have to worry about are big spiders." Shun laughed softly to himself, he could remember very clearly Julie screaming from a spider at Marucho's house.

"Big spiders are very dangerous Shun, you shouldn't laugh about them." Alice chastised making Shun smirk. Here they may be dangerous but back home they were just a nuisance. Still, he didn't argue with the girl and nodded his head softly at her.

"Alright. Here maybe, but back at my village it's the size that worry people not whether they're poisonous." He explained, trying to sound as convincing as he could. He didn't have the faintest clue what animals back here were like but considering the lack of vaccinations back here he guessed a lot more things were poisonous to them.

"Well, your village is a wonder Shun. How people can live as long as they do there and not be worried by poisonous things is beyond me. I would love to live there maybe my life could be lived less stressful" he pulled a smile onto his face, hoping it didn't look as fake as it was, and nodded his head. Mumbling what sounded half like a 'yes' and half a 'no'. Thankfully she didn't question the teen no more and they walked in silence behind the elder.

oooo

Of course the silence didn't last too long as the chocolate eyed girl didn't seem to be able to keep her mouth closed for more than twenty minutes.

"So, elder, sorry to rush you but do you think we could stop for a drink?" She asked as the old man was chattering away to someone from the village.

"A drink? Or course, why didn't you just ask for one?" The elder replied as he waved bye to the young child.

"We've been trying to for the past twenty minutes." Shun muttered, somewhat bitterly, but who could blame him? He was on the verge of unconsciousness and this old man was chatting with anything and everything.

"Come this way" he instructed as he turned and started down a path they had just passed. Staring after the elder Shun sighed while Alice laughed softly. Rolling his eyes he made a silent promise to himself.

'If I don't get out of here soon I'm dragging Alice and leaving. That man is too annoying.'

"Shun, come on, you're going to go the wrong way" shaking his head he turned to face the voice, Alice was stood at the entrance of a new path her eyes staring at him questioningly.

"What? Oh, alright" he mumbled, his mind feeling jumbled. Was the heat affecting him so badly? Somehow Shun doubted that, he'd been out in intense heat before and he'd never been this out of it before. Still, he'd never been in the past before. Who knew how strong the sun was before time took its toll. Nodding his head subtly at his own thoughts Shun followed after Alice. Confident that that was all it was.

oooo

The two were led to a well in the centre of the village. It was surrounded by multiple women who were scooping the water up into buckets. One of the women glanced up and caught the eye of the elder. She straightened herself before whispering to the women around her. And they parted like the red sea. Half on one side half on the other, all of them staring at the trio with inquisitive eyes.

"Ladies, do you mind collecting some drink for Alice and our guest?" The elder asked, and it was clear from his tone that he was forcing politeness. Not to mention the looks on the women's face as they moved to fulfil his order were holding hidden fear. He was definitely forcing himself to be kind for the sake of company.

"What's he usually like?" Shun asked as the elder stepped forwards, closer to the women who quickened their pace as he neared.

"What're you talking about? He's always like this" Alice answered as she glared at the back of the man's head. Clearly not being truthful in the slightest.

"Alice, you're a terrible liar" he told her pointedly, not only was her lie clear as day but her body language was about as subtle as an earthquake.

"Fine" she sighed, letting her glare lessen for a moment. "As I've said before. This place thinks it knows a woman's place. Chauvinistic pig. I hate him" she ground out the last part of her sentence, anger evident on her face. "I heard from my parents that it didn't used to be like this. That things were more like they are at your village. Equality, but that seems like a stupid dream now."

Shun stared at her in shock, he'd never been around anyone chauvinistic before. He'd always presumed that that was something that died out long ago. And it was, but now was before that had happened.

"I'm sorry to hear that, it's a little strange for me here. I've never seen a woman act like that around a man. It's quite sickening. Almost like they're scared of him." Despite what he wanted Shun couldn't keep out the image of his mother as one of those women out of his head. The thought of his mother catering to someone when she was ill was sickening.

"They are, if they don't do as he says he'll hit them. I do agree Shun, it is sickening." Forcing himself to keep a straight face Shun turned his face from the man. This world was horrible. He could hardly wait to be sent home.

"Alice, never come back here. Promise me." He told her, his voice low almost harbouring hate.

"I promise. The only reason I came back here in the first place is because of you. Otherwise I'd never want to step foot in this disgusting village." Smiling at her answer he nodded his head softly, keeping one eye on the elder.

He'd managed to get a bucket of water. How he expected the two to carry that across the desert was beyond the teen but he kept quiet, watching as he sent a woman over with the bucket. Handing it over to Alice. Water sloshed out of the wooden pail as she carried it. The thing obviously too heavy for her.

"Here Alice"

As she went to take the bucket from the girl Shun grabbed it.

"I'll take that, thanks" he insisted as he picked the bucket up with ease, the girl looking at him confused. Obviously she'd never seen a boy like him before.

"Thank you, it does look quite heavy." She noted smiling up at the black haired teen.

"A little, but I'm used to carrying heavy things, it was part of my jobs back in my village" he almost felt sick by how easy he was lying to her. During the beginning he struggled to form lies, now, it was becoming a second nature to lie to her. Pushing the worries to the back of his head he watched as a look of confusion crossed her face. Obviously she wasn't used to someone acting like a gentleman.

"Oh, alright, if you're sure" she answered, her voice holding bewilderment

"Thanks Shun, it does look quite heavy" Alice noted, smiling up at the taller teen. She herself was mildly shocked but it pleased her to know that she didn't have to carry it.

"Yeah, anyway. What else do we have to do here before we can keep moving? I do want to get back home"

"I think all we have to do is get some clothes and keep going. I don't think we have much food during this time, I really don't want to take food from them when they haven't got much" nodding in agreement Shun watched as the elder made it over, staring at the teen curious.

"Tell me child, why are you carrying that? Why not leave it to Alice?" He asked staring at Alice for a moment before shifting full attention to Shun.

"It's quite simple, it'd be far too heavy for her. I, however, am used to carrying things. It's part of my job back home, it wouldn't feel right to allow someone else to do it." He excused, already feeling his dislike for the man grow.

"Oh, well, alright then. I suppose if it's your normal job it would be strange not to do it yourself." The elder nodded his head in understanding. "Now, come on where shall we go next?"

"Well, Shun and I need some new clothing" Alice answered, smiling though it was strained

"Alright, I'll take you to the small market we have. I'm sure someone will be awake. A small shop has to open" he didn't stop once he made it over to them. Instead walking between the two and leading them back the way they came. With a quick glance to one another they followed behind him.

Neither looking as happy as the old man did.

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