Chapter 19 (Trust) (Hayate)

"Welcome to Floria you guys," I said, taking a step off of the portal. I looked towards Saya who was now running towards the green lush fields. Everything here just seemed… perfect. These past months had been the best of my life and before returning to reality I was going to enjoy them. I was able to become the person I had dreamt of as a child and wanted to continue to live that way forever. Even though I knew that once we escape I would have to return to something far worse. I wasn't as much wearing a mask then becoming who I always had wanted to be. Here I could sleep in till noon and only have to worry about an extremely attractive girl pouring water on me. I was able to fight against evil with people I cared about, not despised. I finally had something to protect.

Amaya had affected me in a good way since coming here. When I started to become jealous of Katashi, Amaya always knew and would shout at me or smack the back of my head. She acted like she needed to protect us, but in reality I wanted to protect her. I played clumsy oaf since I came here, but now it was time to get serious. If anyone died because of me I would never forgive myself. As much as I wanted to put on this show for myself and the others..it just wasn't reality.

Saya and Katashi were lying in the grass pretty far away and Amaya was setting up camp. This was a chance for me to talk to her, just the two of us. I approached her slowly and grabbed onto her shoulder. WHAMM! Before I knew it I had face planted into the ground. Amaya looked a little worried then quickly turned around and continued to work. I sat up and spit dirt out of my mouth. Somehow, I wasn't surprised.

"Listen Amaya, there is something I have to tell you," I said working up the courage. I didn't know what I was going to say, or how I was going to say it. But I was going to say something. But before I could finish my thought I heard a familiar scream. Me and Amaya looked at each other and booked it towards Saya. We both ran at full speed until we came face to face with some kind of mutation of a… "A squirrel?" Amaya said in confusion. I don't know who came up with these creatures, but seriously… Saya had been kicked in the side and already half of her HP was gone. "Katashi! Get Saya to safety!" Amaya ordered, unsheathing her sword. Katashi carefully picked up the now unconscious Saya and ran back to camp.

(Amaya)

I charged the beast head on and continued to dodge its attacks one by one as they came at me. Me and the monster fought back in forth until its HP finally hit 0. Katashi approached quickly a few minutes after.

"I healed Saya, but what were you fighting?" he asked scanning the area.

"Isn't this what attacked you two?" I asked in confusion.

"I don't think this could take Saya out Amaya," Hayate said walking over. Hayate's cockiness, lazy, and weak stature melted almost immediately. He had a dead serious look on his face, which scared me a little. So naturally I grabbed his ear and pulled him down to my level.

"Amaya, that didn't attack us… It was something bigger and stronger. I just saw a glimpse...call me crazy, but I think it was a dragon. It may have been the same dragon Saya saw a year ago. If so… we need to take it down," Katashi said already walking back to camp.

"Amaya…" Hayate said as he pulled free of my grip."I have a plan to take it down, but you can't tell the others… I know Saya would stop us, but it's our only chance."

I loved Saya and wanted to keep her safe, so I nodded in agreement and he explained his plan to me.

"That's crazy enough it might work," I answered after he was done. "Why have you never showed me this side of you?" I asked troubled.

"If you knew me, you would wish you never did." he answered with a different tone.

"Don't be so sure." I huffed, causing him look at me with a shocked expression. The wind hit his face and tugged at his long bangs so I could see his eyes clearly for the first time. He had a thick scar going over his right eye, which surprised me. I reached out to his face to touch it without thinking, then suddenly pulled my hand back in. I won't let him catch me off guard…

"When do we leave," I asked. "Soon, just let me tell the others we will be gone for a few days grabbing supplies and we will set off for the beast. I nodded and followed him back to the camp, prepared for what we will face.