Disclaimer: I do not own FoR

Chapter 4

Runaway Princess

KNOCK. KNOCK.

'Damn.' A boy with purple hair cursed as he heard a distinct knocking pattern. 'Recca.'

"Fuuko! I know you're in there! Open the door!" the black-haired boy yelled from the other side.

"Fine!" the 'boy' hollered letting Recca in.

Recca was shocked at what he saw. The long purple hair of his friend was cut unevenly to above shoulder length (AN: her hairstyle in FOR series). At a distance, you can mistake her for a boy but at a closer inspection, there is no doubt that she is Fuuko. As he recovered, he laughed at how ridiculous his friend looked.

"Are you finished now?" Fuuko asked tapping her foot on the floor.

"Almost."

"Recca!!!"

"Fine." Recca said recovering from the hysterical amusement. "Seriously, why did you cut your hair?"

"So no one would recognize me."

"Why???"

"Because..."

"Because?"

"Because imrunningawayfromhome."

"What? Come again?" he didn't understand a word she said.

She sighed, "I'm running away from home."

"I don't want to get married especially not to my best friend." Recca pitied her for he knows that it would also spell disaster. He already grew fond of Yanagi even with the few days they were together.

"But you can't just run away because of that." He argued.

"Do you see another way?" Recca thought for a moment but couldn't come up with a good solution.

"Fine. How can I help?"

"Well, for starters, get me some men-peasant clothing and something to cover my hair. I will also need a horse. Bring him below my window."

"Why do you need to conceal your hair?"

"Because with my purple hair they can trace me back here." Recca's mouth formed an o as he went out to find the things his friend asked for.

Minutes later

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Recca asked helping Fuuko tie the bed sheets together."

"Yes. They might just think we elope if you go with me." She replied as they dragged the sheets over the window.

"I'll miss you." She saw sadness in his eyes as he said this and so she embraced him: a sister to a brother.

"I'll miss you, too, Recca. I'll be back when they call off the engagement. Goodbye. I wish you luck with Yanagi."

"Sayonara." He watched her descend carefully to the ground. He waved goodbye at her retreating back as she galloped off towards freedom.

oOo

'What am I gonna do??? I don't have any money!' she strolled around the town.

In the plaza of Yore, she saw a young man of eighteen with a ponytail strode off with two kids in tow.

"Uniichan, I'm hungry." complained his nine year old companion.

"Me too." the blond little girl of six agreed hearing her stomach grumble.

The man leveled himself with the children and said, "Ok, fine. We'll buy some food and head back to camp. I guess we have enough." He bought one whole chicken and went off to the forest path.

'Hey, I remember that boy. He was the one who bumped into me. They're not going to get away that easily.'

oOo

Minutes ago

'A fairly small town.' The townspeople eyed him suspiciously wondering who this newcomer is.

He tied his horse at one of the stores that offered free horse meal and browsed around town for something to eat.

'That might be a good place to eat. How much do I have anyway?' he took the money from his pocket remembering who gave it to him.

Flashback

"Fuuko, wait. Before you go, take this." Recca handed her a small pouch.

"I can't take this. This is your life savings." She argued.

"It's alright. You can pay it back when you come back. I'm only lending it to you at a ten percent interest." joked Recca.

A vein popped up on her face but she easily dismissed it with a smile, "Thank you."

End of flashback

'I wonder what Recca is doing right now.' As she was about to enter the restaurant, a young boy with spiky hair suddenly bumped into her. "Gomene." The boy said.

"It's alright." She answered in a manly voice she could muster. She saw the boy go off disappearing into the crowd. She felt through her pocket and found it to be empty. 'What the....'

'I've been robbed!' she frantically looked around for the small boy but found him nowhere in sight.

oOo

She took her horse and followed the group in the direction they had taken.

After minutes of walking, 'Oh, man. I think I'm lost. What am I gonna do?'

She was about to give up when she suddenly saw smoke from not so far. 'I hope that's not a bushfire.' She followed the direction of the smoke hoping to find the culprits.

oOo

"I can't wait. We haven't eaten something good for days."

"That's because we robbed someone who is totally loaded." The man replied. His head shot up when he heard twigs snapping.

"shhh." He motioned the children to be quiet and gestured them to climb a tree. The two easily clambered into the nearest tree while the man concealed himself waiting for the new arrival.

oOo

As she reached the clearing, she saw the place deserted, 'Oh shit, an empty camp.'

She looked around hoping to find any one, when she couldn't, she dismounted from her horse and headed straight to the fire in the middle of the clearing, 'There is food here.' She saw the cooked chicken over the fire.

She was about to touch it, when a figure jumped on her, knocking her to the ground and her cap off her head. Fearful that it might be a wild animal, she quickly got up and put on a fighting stance.