"Alfred!" Feli called as he spotted Alfred walking back from where the bridge is, "I was just about to go to the bridge but I see you have already been". Alfred sighed internally but he smiled on the outside and said "Yeah, I was with Amaya so I didn't see you guys". "Amaya was here? Was Hatsu?" Feli asked, looking around. "Yes but they're gone now" Alfred interrupted. Feli frowned disaapointed. Alfred gave him a sympathetic smile and continued to cross the bridge. Feli decided to follow him back instead.
The next week or so rolled on quiet and bleak for poor Arthur who's heart was still questioning his current situation with his life, but his mind forced him to focus on the present and make sure he didn't get carried away. Hatsu had asked him multiple times if something was the matter, sensing something wasn't quite right. Arthur would just smile and tell her yet again that nothing was the matter and she would give up and leave him be. The same routine continued on and on and Arthur believed he would give anything to make it stop. Perhaps, he wouldn't need to.
The door knocked and Arthur heard it being opened. He heard some unfamilar voices come in with laughter embedded in their words and the clank of shoes being removed. He wondered who it could be, he didn't know they were expecting visitors. Then the footsteps came closer to him and he hurried back to his room. His mind scoured it's self for an answer to who had come in, there was no one he knew with those voices or who should be visiting at this time. Hatsu came in with a smile, "Arthur! Hey Arthur! Guess who's here!". "Who?" Arthur asked puzzled.
"The Matsuragi sisters. You know, the women who visit Okasan every few years and brings us gifts".
"Oh! I remember!"
"Come on, we have to go and greet them!"
Hatsu pulled Arthur by the arm and lead him through the house until they reached a pair of double doors. Hatsu gave Arthur a smile and then pulled him down to the ground where they both bowed and Hatsu made their presence known. "Come on in" Okasan called and both of them slid a door across. "Hello again you two! My, my look how they change" One of the sisters greeted. Hatsu and Arthur rose but remained on their knees. "Hatsu, come here dear" One of the sisters called and she did as she was told. "I hear you and Arthur are full maiko now, so here is something to celebrate" The sister told her, as she handed her a long box. Hatsu smiled and carefully opened it up. She looked down and gave a quiet gasp as she lifted an incredibly beautiful hair piece that contained many different jems and shells and flowers. "Thank you so much" She grinned, "I wear treasure it". "Arthur" The other sister called and he also came forward. "This is for you" She said, also handing him a box. This one was more square. He smiled at her and picked at the ribbon around it, opening it. The lid came off and revealed a hair comb, silver and shining for part of it was encrusted with precious stones. It had 4 beautiful flowers on it and the ends were long and strong. He looked up at the sister with a surprised and then happy expression. "I. . . Thank you very much. It's beautiful!" He grinned. Hatsu smiled at him and they both showed their gratitude to the sisters one more time before exiting.
Instead of returning to their room, they decided to hang by the door and listen to the latest news. The Matsuragi sisters always had interesting news. They babbled about regular things but then something hit Arthur's eardrums in particular. One of the sisters mentioned an American traveller in the area with azure eyes behind a pair of glasses and golden hair. Arthur's heart beat, could they be talking about Alfred? He leaned in a little closer. At first he couldn't make out the words properly so he listened harder. Finally he could sort of hear the conversation.
"No!"
"Yes! You wouldn't believe it would you! Everyone thinks the Alfred Jones is a hunter. They think he travels around the world, looking for beautiful girls and persuades them to leave home and come with him. Then when he's tired of them, he tossing them like rotten carp. Obviously they have nothing because they've left home."
Arthur's heart spilt in the middle. What? It couldn't be true. His Alfred would never. . . wait. Arthur remembered what he said to him at the festival, how he thought it didn't really have meaning to it. Could it really be? Was Alfred a. . . no! He couldn't listen to this anymore! He stood and hurried away as quiet as he could. Hatsu ran after him and caught him in her arms before he dropped to the floor.
Arthur felt his chest tighten with fear. His eyes closed tightly, trying to keep the now seeping moisture inside but it was to no avail. He began sobbing into Hatsu's shoulder, holding her for support. Hatsu remained silent, deciding that words were unnessercary right now. Instead she just let him vent through tears and stroked his silky blonde hair in sympathy. It hurt even her to know this news, she could see how much Arthur had fallen for him. Arthur felt his head become heavier and begin to ache, just like his chest. To be honest most of his body was now in pain and all he remembered of the day was his last thoughts, What if it was true? What if his supicions were right? What if Alfred was a hunter?