~ Time Travel ~

Warnings: AU, OOC-ness, one own OC, Centered around Fubuki x OC.

Italic = thoughts

Chapter Five: Symperia's festival

Normal P.O.V.

The next morning when Maira woke up, she flustered. Her face was only inches away of Fubuki's. She quickly sat up straight and tried to calm down. Then, she also spotted him shirtless.

''Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.'' Maira whispered.

Fubuki woke up by all the gesture.

''Good morning.'' He said sleepy.

It only made Maira fluster more. Fubuki's sleepy voice was pretty hot.

''G-Good morning.'' Maira stammered back.

''Something wrong? Your face is all red.'' Fubuki said.

''N-No, I'm fine. I'm just going to take a bath.'' Maira said.

She dashed downstairs and found Yamaka.

''Good morning, miss.'' She said with a smile.

''Morning, Hiroshi-san.'' Maira greeted back.

The woman smiled.

''What can I do for you?'' She asked.

''I wonder if I could take a bath somewhere.'' Maira said.

''There is an onsen nearby the hostel. I hope that helps a bit.'' Yamaka replied.

Maira nodded and smiled thankful.

''Thank you. Then, I'll be heading there.'' She said.

When Maira walked outside, she didn't saw many people. It was really early though. Maira guessed it was around seven a.m. She walked towards the onsen and greeted the young teen who had the morning shift. The girl's eyes widened.

''The Chosen One?'' She asked shocked.

Maira giggled.

''Yes, but my name is Hanasaki Maira.'' She replied.

''E-Excuse me for my rudeness.'' The girl said with a blush.

Maira shook her head.

''No, it's okay. What's your name?'' She asked.

''Tamaki Raika.'' The girl said shy.

Maira guessed her fifteen years old.

''Nice to meet you, Tamaki-san.'' She said.

''L-Likewise, Hanasaki-san,'' Raika replied. ''If I can call you that.''

Maira smiled.

''Of course.'' She said.

Raika showed her a warm bath and handed her a towel. She stayed with Maira and chatted happily with her, since there were not many other women in the women's area.

''So, you're from Rain Eden, aren't you?'' Raika asked.

Maira nodded.

''I really want to go there sometime.'' Raika said dreamy.

''Never been there?'' Maira asked.

Raika shook her head.

''No, I've never been out of Symperia.'' She replied.

''Ah, souka… Well, you should really go to Rain Eden sometime, when the war is over.'' Maira said.

Raika's glare turned sad.

''I was hoping you could show me around in Rain Eden. But… that won't be possible anymore.''

She wiped a strand of her waist-length brown hair behind her ear and looked sad to the ground with her brown eyes.

''Hey… don't be gloomy. Think about the peaceful time there will be in Aculis, once the war is over. No more fear anymore.'' Maira said.

Raika smiled.

''Right.'' She replied.

They talked for a few more minutes and then, Maira excused herself and told Raika that she had to head back again. She dressed back into her casual clothes and brushed her knee-length, dark blue hair. When she stepped out of the onsen, she bumped right into Fubuki.

''Hey, good timing. I just finished too.'' He said.

Maira blushed.

''H-Hai. Let's eat breakfast.'' She said

Fubuki nodded. They ate their breakfast at the hostel and headed back to the hotel room. They both grabbed their weapons and handed Yamaka the key of their room downstairs. In the mean time, it was already nine a.m.

''The festival just begun. You should check it out.'' Yamaka said.

Maira and Fubuki smiled.

''We'll make a stroll on the festival grounds.'' Fubuki said.

''Have fun!'' Yamaka said.

Then, the two said goodbye and left the hostel. Outside, there were small tents everywhere and lots of people.

''Wow, look how crowded it is!'' Fubuki said.

Maira smiled.

''Symperia is known for its annual festival.'' She explained.

The two of them walked past the tents and looked around them with a bright smile. Suddenly, a big group came and separated Fubuki and Maira. Maira started to panic. She hated being alone and lost.

''Gotcha!'' Fubuki said, while he grabbed her wrist.

He looked into the scared eyes of Maira.

''Hey..'' Fubuki said soft, while he hugged her and laid his chin on her head. ''Don't be scared. I'll always go and look for you if I lose you.''

''D-Do you promise me that?" Maira asked.

Her 'battle-side' was nowhere to be seen. Her timid and shy side completely took over. Fubuki smiled.

''I promise.'' He replied.

The rest of the walk, Fubuki did not let go of Maira's hand. Maira kept on blushing the entire time. She had never felt so … weird before. A warm feeling rushed through her stomach, but it didn't hurt. Instead, it made her feel … content. Fubuki saw her smile.

''Are you enjoying yourself?'' He asked.

Maira nodded.

''Yeah.'' She replied.

After three hours, the two young adults decided to sit on a green hill, a bit from the festival, to rest for a bit.

''You know what makes the festival so sparkly?'' Fubuki said to Maira.

She looked to her left, where Fubuki sat, with a sweet smile.

''Well?'' She asked.

''You.'' Fubuki replied with a sweet smile.

Maira flustered.

''M-Me?'' She asked with a puzzled look.

Fubuki nodded.

''Yeah. You.'' He replied.

''B-But why?'' Maira asked.

''The way you smile and point at things,'' Fubuki said. ''It makes me enjoy the festival ten times more.''

''F-Fubuki.'' Maira said shy.

Fubuki smiled brighter.

''The way you look at me now … that sweet smile … that blush. I like the way how you brighten my day.'' He went on.

Maira couldn't get any more red. She laid her hand on Fubuki's forehead.

''Seriously, what did you eat? You're talking nonsense now.'' She said.

''I know what I'm saying.'' Fubuki replied.

Now, he realized how close Maira actually sat to him, since she leaned forward to place her hand on Fubuki's forehead. They look in each others eyes and their noshes brushed. They both knew they had to look away now, to avoid awkward situations, but neither of the two could. Fubuki took the lead and made his face move closer. Maira blushed, but didn't pull away. Just when there was only one inch left to go, they both shook up by a loud bang. They both looked up and saw the red fire whirl down.

''Fireworks?'' Maira asked surprised.

''I guess so.'' Fubuki replied with a smile.

They both kept looking to the sky, where several fireworks popped and filled it with colors. Fubuki slowly laid his hand on Maira's, while he kept looking at the sky. Maira didn't move too, but Fubuki definitely saw her blush out of his eye corners. Just what was that moment seconds ago? They've only been traveling together for a day and now, it already felt like he knew Maira for ages. He shook his head. Once the fireworks were over, Maira looked at her communication device, which also served as a watch.

''Three p.m. We have to move further towards the next town.'' She said.

''Eehh? Now already?'' Fubuki asked pouting.

Maira nodded.

''Let's go.'' She said, while she stood up and pulled Fubuki on his feet too.

They started to walk into another forest. This one was clearly bigger than the one close to Rain Eden.

''So, where are we exactly heading?'' Fubuki asked, while he walked beside Maira.

''Racoon Falls.'' Maira replied.

''Okay, and what's the village like?'' Fubuki asked.

Maira smiled.

''My first artifact can be find there, Ember.'' She replied.

Fubuki smiled too.

''Do you know where it's located?'' He asked.

''No, of course not, silly!'' Maira replied, while she gave Fubuki a push.

''Hey, it was just a question!'' He said, while he chuckled.

Maira smiled too. Her eyes met Fubuki's once again. Gosh, what was that tension she was feeling? The seventeen-year-old girl shook her head and forced herself to think of other things.

''Wait!'' Fubuki suddenly said serious, while he stretched out his left arm, so Maira couldn't walk any further.

''What's wrong?'' Maira asked.

''Not. A. Sound.'' Fubuki replied.

Maira looked confused, but decided to listen to Fubuki. They stayed still for three minutes, until Maira noticed it too. Footsteps were heard close by. Her eyes widened and she looked scared to Fubuki. His serious stare only told her not to be scared and to be quiet. Maira looked at her surroundings. Suddenly, the footsteps became closer and Maira saw tree's shake in the distance.

''It's approaching!'' Maira whispered scared.

''Sshh!'' Fubuki shushed back.

Maira quickly closed her mouth again. She wanted to say sorry, but couldn't because she had to be quiet. Suddenly, the sounds faded away and Fubuki smiled relieved.

''It's gone. Let's move on.'' He said.

Maira nodded and they both started walking again. Then, out of nowhere, the trees in front of them got swiped to the side and they made eye contact with a giant monster, made out of vines. Maira let out a scream and Fubuki only said: ''Oh god…''

''RUN!'' Maira shouted, while she grabbed Fubuki's wrist and dragged him through the forest.

They dodged trees, fallen logs, big rocks and ran through high grass and bushes. The monster was busy chasing them and he was approaching quickly.

''He's right behind us!'' Fubuki shouted.

''I KNOW.'' Maira snapped back.

She stopped running and pulled out her blade.

''I'm not gonna run from this bastard. If he wants to fight, then let him come. BRING IT!'' She said with a grin.

Her battle personality had come out and her sweet side made place for a fierce one. The monster stopped and growled.

''Show me what you got.'' Maira said with a smile.

The monster stretched out it's arm made out of vines and Maira easily cut them with her blade.

''Hmpf, that was easy.'' She said.

Then, her eyes widened. A new vine arm grow back.

''Oh snap…'' Maira said.

Fubuki had pulled out his Crossblade too.

''Let's find the chip and destroy it.'' He said.

The monster growled and dashed forward, picking Maira up and wrapped his vines around her body.

''NO, LET ME GO!'' Maira shouted, while she tried to use her sword.

She couldn't reach it, since she was so tightly bounded.

''I-I can't breath.'' Maira choked, while she desperately tried to free herself from the vines with her hands.

Fubuki's eyes widened and he dashed forward. He cut the vines Maira was tangled in and Maira fell on the ground, while she coughed and gasped for air.

''You alright?'' Fubuki asked.

''Y-Yeah, let's destroy it.'' Maira replied, while she crawled up and took her blade with shaky hands.

Fubuki narrowed his eyes.

''I've got enough of this thing.'' He said.

He dashed forward and sliced as many vines as he could. They all grew back.

''Damn it!'' Fubuki growled. ''Why won't this thing die?''

''Let me search for the chip.'' Maira said.

She closed her eyes, trying to contact her father. But in the process, the monster swept his arm at her and swept her aside, against a tree. Maira smacked hard against the log and fell onto the ground. She didn't make a move anymore.

''No, MAIRA!'' Fubuki shouted.

He gritted his teeth and let out a battle cry.

''You'll pay for that!'' He shouted, while he jumped on the arm of the vine monster and ran up.

Where's that damn chip? Then, Fubuki saw a weird, green light blinking in the left shoulder of the vine monster. Fubuki jumped from the right arm to the left, but the monster pulled his arm away. Fubuki quickly clung onto a vine and tried to pull himself up. After some struggle, he managed to stand on the arm. He quickly glanced down at the tree and to his luck, he saw Maira getting back on his feet.

''Maira, the chip is in his left shoulder!'' Fubuki shouted.

''Got it!'' Maira replied.

She still swayed a little when she walked. Fubuki helped her on the arm and Maira pulled out her sword again. She stabbed the monster in his left shoulder.

''Akua!'' She said, while water flowed inside the shoulder.

But, it didn't work. The vines quickly took in the water.

''We need to try something else.'' Maira said.

Then, the monster tried to brush off the two young-adults of his left arm, by using his right arm.

''Look out!'' Maira shouted, while she jumped to the side.

She grabbed a vine and hung on. Fubuki had less luck. He fell down and Maira quickly grabbed his left wrist.

''Hang … on.'' She said, while she closed one eye due to the effort.

''Let go! You can defeat him with your magic.'' Fubuki replied.

''No! I'm not risking again that you get injured.'' Maira said stubborn.

''LET GO!'' Fubuki shouted.

Maira looked in his eyes and saw how determined he looked. She slowly nodded and let him go. Fubuki fell down and landed safely on his feet.

''Good! Now use your magic!'' Fubuki said.

''Right!'' Maira replied.

She crawled back on the arm, stabbed the monster another time and closed her eyes.

''Embāru!'' Maira shouted, while flames came out of her sword.

She burned the chip and the monster started to roar, while the vines let go. Maira jumped off the monster with a backward flip and landed neatly on her feet with a smile.

''Let's move on!'' Fubuki said.

''Shouldn't we warn the people in Symperia?'' Maira asked.

Fubuki shook his head.

''No. I think this was the only monster. They'll be safe.'' He said.

''O-Okay.'' Maira replied.

And together, they walked on in the forest.

~ End of chapter ~

Mamera: And that was chapter five! Sorry if I didn't show a lot of the festival in Symperia. I was a bit uninspired for that part. But I did like writing the firework/intimate moment, teehee! ~ So yeah, maybe this chapter wasn't so interesting. I'm sorry for that. I hope you guys still like the story though. Next chapter will be about that Maira and Fubuki reach the next village and go look for the first artifact. That's all for now! Until next time! Bye! xoxo