Well.
Okay, perhaps the villagers wasn't as bad as I thought, I admit. Maybe living among them for three days could somehow tame their fear of me. Right. Like that'll ever happen.
Juggling a bag full of peaches and a gigantic bundle of cloth that Jien's father had sent me out for (I don't really know his name; I call him 'Uncle Jien' for no apparent reason), I weaved dangerously through the morning crowd, grimacing as I was jostled from left to right. At the moment, I was shorter than most adults, my head only reaching the tips of their shoulders. No worry though, I was sure to grow it out.
"I don't understand how women can come to such a crowded place every morning without getting a million bruises or something," I muttered as the crowd finally thinned out. Looking up, I let out a gasp of disbelief as I realized that I had to climb a steep slope. "Uso..."
My head flopped to the front as I twitched. Great. First of all, I couldn't see where I was going, and now, I have to climb up a slope while being half blind behind all the stuff. Still, I couldn't complain, I guess. If it wasn't for Uncle Jien, I wouldn't even be having a place to stay this winter.
"Right," I told myself as I balance the two items precariously in my arms. "Left foot, right foot and- YAH!"
I banged into something, causing whitish-pink peaches to spill over the ground, while the olive cotton cloth bounced into the brown mud puddle. I myself landed hard on the ground on my seat and I winced, ready to get yelled at. Damn it, I've failed once again...
"Um...are you okay? Really, I didn't mean to bump into you, but I was busy reading and..."
The high voice trailed off, tinkly to the last tone as I looke up and saw the brown-gold luminous eyes that were framed with a head of long, chestnut locks. The girl seemed to be blinking back tears as she looked at me with alarm. "Really...I didn't mean to bump into you and all..."
That's weird. I thought that whenever I did something wrong, I would get yelled at. Maybe this girl didn't know who I was. That's impossible; how coud a well-brought up girl in any of the families here not know about me as a social outcast? And SHE was apologizing to ME!
"It's okay," I sputtered, finding my tongue at last before the girl could burst into tears. "I'm okay, I mean. What about you? I wasn't looking either and-"
"No, it was my fault," she stammered, cutting through my words as she flushed. "Kaasan told me that a girl shouldn't read so many books, but I defied and so..."
A big tear rolled down her pale skin and I started, shaking my head profusely. "Don't cry!" I whispered to her urgently, noticing that some passers-by were already beggining to stare at the both of us. "It's okay. Really. I'm fine."
"But...but..."
"I'm fine," I pronounced each word so that the meaning could sink in as she wiped her eyes dry with the corner of an embroidered light yellow handkerchief. "But I really don't like the attention we're getting at the moment..."
Jien was going to tease me tonight about little boys making girls cry. I just KNEW it. "Listen, if you don't mind, I have to go now," I spoke hurriedly as I picked up the coth and grimaced, wondering how long it would take to wash off the mud stains. "I'm in a hurry, actually."
"Let me pay for the cloth."
"Ah?" I blinked, my mouth falling open as she gazed wide-eyed at me. Was this some kind of joke? Girls weren't supposed to be paying for me of all people!
"Let me pay," she repeated, her voice not so wavery this time, and she fished out a small purse from the pocket of her robes. Counting a few coins, she handed a handful of money to me. "Here. I'm REALLY sorry, I am."
"That...that's no necessary," I sputtered, almost speechless as I stared at the amount of money that she held out to me. That had to be twice the amount that I had started out with! "Really. I can go back and wash this..."
"If you don't take it, I'll cry," she threatened, and I retreated slightly. The girl had got me there. "Go on, take it. It's the least I can do."
"That...that's not necessary..."
She opened her mouth, and I sensed a gigantic wail coming. "Fine, fine, I'll take it," I spoke hurriedly as I took half the coins that were in the palm of her hand. "The cloth wasn't that expensive anyway; there's no need to give me so much money for compensation, Miss..."
"Meihou," she finished my words as she caught my hand and forced the remaining coins into my palm "I don't care how much it was; it was my fault anyway. Please," she added.
I was at a loss. "But..."
"WA-"
I cringed, then sprang up, waving my hands frantically as I stared at her in alarm. People were already beginning to point at the both of us, especially when tears threaten to overflow in Meihou's face. "Fine, I'll accept it. Scary onna..."
She frowned at my last muttered words, before her face broke out into a smile once more. "I'm new in this village. You're...?"
"There's no need to know," I told her brusquely, afraid that she would be horrified if she heard from anyone regarding my social status in this village. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be going..."
Avoiding the accusative glances that came from all the vilalgers that had gathered into one small crowd around us, I pushed through the sea of bodies. My cheeks burned red, and I flushed as I ran up instead of down the slope. Meihou's loud 'Wait!' was lost in the wind.
"I just hope she won't go all obsessed over that idiot of my son like half the girls here," he had commented nonchalantly as he went back to work after handing the cloth to his wife to be made into garments. "He shouldn't let all that attention go to his head, he shouldn't."
Whistling softly as I wandered at the outskirts of the village, I revelled in the tranquility, the solitary atmosphere that I found strangely comforting. Here, the evergreen pine trees swayed gently in the freezing autumn wind, their treetops rustling as the sky darkened gloomily above.
"It's you again!"
I started, hearing the voice as I spun around in shock. Meihou stood there, wearing the same green and silver robes, her hair undone from its strict tidiness, giving me a sheepish grin. "The village seemed to be a little too busy, so I rationolized that it would be a lot quieter out here. Fancy meeting you here!"
Great. I couldn't even have a moment to myself without having to put up with this girl. Maybe I SHOULD be getting back anyway- it seemed to be getting dark. "I'm going back."
"Wait!"
Her slender fingers reached out, grabbing hold of the shoulder of my tunic and I stiffened, blinking rapidly. They wrapped round the coarse material of my clothes as I turned around, gazing inquisitively at her.
"Don't go," she spoke, flushing slightly, a splash of pink to her pale cheeks. "I'm new in this village and well...I don't know anyone here. No one bothers to talk to me either except some really hentai guys who try to make moves on me."
I tilted my head slightly. "Your point?"
She seemed to find a spot on her dainty shoes very interesting as she scraped one foot on the ground nervously. "Well...you seemed decent enough when I met you," she spoke slowly, lifting her eyes to meet mine. "Can't we at least be friends?"
Silence seized the moment as I stared at her, contemplating my reply. She was looking at me now, her eyes pleading as she tightened her hold on my tunic. Half turning away, I averted my eyes to gaze at the horizon.
"I don't see why anyone would want to be friends with me of all people," I remarked in a slightly gruff tone as I flushed. "I have no friends or anything, and am DEFINITELY not a good person to be with if you want to know more about the villagers themselves. Still, I'm fine if you want to be friends...I guess."
"Really?" she sqealed, throwing her arms around me and almsot suffocating me in the process. "Arigato!"
I could feel my cheeks burn as she looked up after a moment. "By the way, you haven't told me your name yet. I'm Meihou. You?"
Trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably, I felt a smile break onto my face. "Chen Emtato at your service."
"Emtato?" she frowned. "That is a weird name..."
I twitched slightly. "Ano na..."
"Emtato, bakayaro!" she sang, dancing away as I gaped at her. Her brown hair danced on her shoulders lightly as she bent over slightly, sticking out her tongue at me. "Catch me if you can!"
It took me a few second to react, but soon I was on her path, laughing as I tried to catch her.
Author's notes:
Emtato bakayaro...sounds cool! XD Anyway...
Story seems to be getting on just fine, and I'm actually writing this when I'm supposed to be studyng for my trials. I'm a BAD girl...who is hyper over something that is not sugar or caffeine. Don't ask. I'm actually a hyper girl who can't control herself when she's not writing. ^^;;
Remember, this story has actually been mentioned in one fo my chapters in Stars of Hope and Destiny, so don't expect anything that's too far from the explanation that I gave. Of course, none of you expected Meihou's personaility to be like this, ne? Of course this does not give you a reason to NOT review Stars of Hope and Destiny!! >. Actually, I'm trying not to sue too many Japanese words in thie fic, but I find it really hard to do so. Maybe it's because anime fanfics just have to be Jap-like, ne? ^_^
Wish me luck for my exams! I need it but don't forget to REVIEW!
Okay then, until next time, ja ne~!