Chapter Two"

Chapter Two

"He's beautiful," Fuu murmured.

Mira peered down at her new baby brother and smiled so widely that Fuu started grinning too.

Just then Fuu's stomach let out a loud growl. Fuu blushed and put a hand over her mouth. "Excuse me." She mumbled feeling rather embarrassed.

"You hungry?" Ferio asked as he laughed.

Fuu nodded slowly. "I don't have any food with me though."

Ferio smiled. "Come over to my house and I'll feed ya," Ferio laughed quietly.

Ferio took Fuu's hand and took her out of the house. Just next door was Ferio's small and rather run down looking house. He swung the door open and revealed the inside of his humble home. A fur carpet covered the crude wood floor. A mat lay on the floor by the carpet, and the mat was covered in a white cloth sheet. He had a little stove, and a tiny wooden table.

"I love this place," Fuu cooed.

He raised an eye brow. "Are you nuts?"

"No really, it's so homey, and cozy," She said as she held a hand over her heart.

Ferio laughed and put a roll down on the table in front of Fuu.

"Thank you." She whispered.

He shrugged. "No problem."

Fuu bit down on her stale roll and looked around the room. She had left her stuff by the front door, which was a sword and one tan bag.

Ferio was peering inside the bag. Fuu laughed.

"You're welcome to look through, you will find very little." Fuu said with a smile.

Ferio blushed. "No, it wouldn't really be right for me to go through a ladies things."

Fuu laughed. "I was thinking about taking a walk around this town."

Ferio raised an eye brow.

"From when I first came into this town I knew it was a mighty fine village."

Ferio laughed. "Fine? What do you mean 'fine'? This town is FAR from fine."

Fuu shrugged. "Perhaps in it's own way it is fine."

Ferio shook his head. "You're a silly girl."

Fuu blushed slightly.

"I think I'll join you on your walk," Ferio announced.

Fuu smiled. "That would be wonderful."

Fuu stepped out of the house and into the sun light with a smile on her face. The sun made her golden curls glow, giving her an angel like look. Ferio's breath got caught in his chest making it impossible for him to breathe. Despite that, Ferio was loving the feeling.

A gentle breeze toyed with her hair as she took three graceful steps across the brown dirt. Ferio's heart pounded as he watched the mysterious beauty move. So fondly he watched her, move here and move there.

"She's lovely," Ferio whispered into the breeze.

"Hm?" Fuu murmured. as she stopped short and turned.

Ferio shook his head. "Nothing."

She walked along the first row of houses and came to a small fruit stand.

"How much?" Fuu asked the girl who seemed to be running the stand.

The girl looked up at Fuu wit her ruby eyes. "Two half sterling," the girl replied as she tossed her pink hair over her shoulder.

Fuu counted the handful of gold in her hand and realized she didn't have sterling, let alone half sterling. Her gold was worth as much as $100 and the fruit was more like 50 cents.

"All I have is this I am afraid," Fuu said as she dropped a single gold coins into the girl's hand.

The crimson eyed maiden was about to make a fuss when she realized just how much Fuu had given her. "Oh wow!" She exclaimed.

Fuu blinked. "I hope you do not mind."

Ferio looked over Fuu's shoulder and was shocked by the amount in her small hand.

"I am new around here and have only my local currency as you can see." Fuu said as she looked down at her coins.

"It's um fine, though you may have more than one piece, you gave me enough for a lot of fruit," the girl said as she sweat dropped.

"Why thank you, um, what is your name?"

"Nova miss." She replied.

"Ah, well thank you miss Nova I believe I will be taking four," Fuu replied kindly.

Nova handed her four apples without one more question.

Fuu smiled and bowed.

"Come now Ferio, we shall give these to Mira and her mother." Fuu said in a cheerful tone.

Ferio nodded and fallowed her. He loved how sweet and happy she seemed, but felt a slight twinge that she might be hiding something. Shrugging he pushed it aside and enjoyed the company of the lovely lady.

After delivering the fruit Ferio decided to ask Fuu what her plans were for the afternoon. "Fuu-san, what plans have you for this glorious morning?"

Fuu laughed. "Ferio you are quit a silly young man. I am afraid I have no plans and am at the mercy of boredom."

It was Ferio's turn to laugh. "You talk so properly it's a cryin' shame!" He said wit ha smile.

"It is very true sir, I have no plans now that I have arrived." Fuu said as she bowed her head slightly.

Ferio shrugged. "Well I have to go into the woods to pick some berries. You're welcome to join me."

Fuu's pools of liquid emeralds shimmered with a radiance that made Ferio want to laugh.

"Yes! Yes! It sounds terribly lovely!" Fuu replied gleefully.

Ferio shook his head. "You are like a child on the first day of spring."

Fuu grinned "better a child in spirits than an old made."

Ferio nodded. "True miss."

Fuu smiled. "Shall we get to work then?"

"We shall," Ferio replied as he ducked into his house and picked up two brown baskets.

The two of them set off into the woods.

"Fuu, could you be any more excited?" Ferio joked.

"I've never been berry pickin," Fuu admitted shyly.

Ferio's eyes widened, "where are you from? A castle?" Ferio asked.

Fuu looked down at her shoes. "No, of course not..."

"There's a bush," Ferio announced as he pointed straight ahead.

Fuu nodded and started pulling off small red berries.

"The darker berries are the sweetest," Ferio explained.

"Because they are the most ripe," Fuu added.

Ferio nodded and popped a handful of berries into his mouth. Fuu popped one into her own mouth and chewed.

"Mmm," Fuu mused. "I've never had wild berries before."

Ferio shook his head.

Soon Fuu's basket was half full, and Fuu was completely Fuu. Ferio threw a berried at her.

"Hey!" Fuu yelped.

"You've eaten more than you've picked!" Ferio said as he shoved the blonde girl over into the dirt.

Ferio laughed, "sorry, I didn't mean to knock you over."

Fuu's eyes grew very wide as she froze in shock sitting on her royal bottom. She then laughed.

She then accidentally hit her basket with her elbow, spewing the basket's contents all over the dirt.

"You're such a clutz," Ferio joked with a leer.

Fuu blushed. "I am not usually like this. I am an accomplished young lady."

"You sound like royalty miss."

Fuu threw a handful of berries at Ferio.

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Meanwhile soldiers combed the town in search of the missing princess. They questioned everyone but got no real answer. Everyone thought Fuu too kind to be a real princess. But then they happened upon Fuu and Ferio in the woods.

Fuu ducked behind a tree. "Please don't let them find me." She pleaded with Ferio.

"Hey! Hey you!" A solider yelled out.

Ferio looked up.

"We're looking for a blonde young lady, have you seen her?"

Ferio glanced at Fuu before answering. "No, but keep going ahead, she couldn't have gotten far.

The soldiers nodded and continued marching. Fuu let out a sigh and slide down until she was sitting.

"Please don't ask. Please." Fuu pleaded as she covered her eyes.

Ferio's first thought was to ask her the questions bubbling up inside him. But she looked scared and lonely.

"Thank you," Fuu whispered.

Ferio bit down in his lip. Fuu put her berries back into the basket without another word.

"When you're ready, you can tell me what's going on. Until then, you can stay with me no questions asked." Ferio said finally.

Fuu bowed. "Than you Ferio."