Chapter 10

Let's backtrack to when this day started. Tsuyoshi awoke feeling refreshed. After taking a shower, he dressed himself in a white long-sleeved shirt and gray colored pants. He then walked to the room next door and knocked.

The door opened to reveal Akito wearing brown pants,but no shirt.

"What?" Akito asked grumpily.

"What do you mean, 'What?'" Tsuyoshi said as he walked into Akito's room. "You told me to come over here this morning. Remember?"

Akito stayed silent for a moment,the replied "Right."

"Well,what is it?" Tsuyoshi asked.

"I'm getting bored." Akito said,staring out his bedroom window.

"I'm sorry?" Tsuyoshi asked. "Did you say you're bored?"

"Yes." Akito answered. "Bored."

"Bored of what?"

"How long ago was it when we robbed that man called McCullum?" Akito asked.

"Let me think." Tsuyoshi thought. "Two or three days,I think. Right?"

"Well that's too long." Akito said,still out the window. "I feel like going out. There are a few towns to the south of here. Let's go see who we get."

Tsuyoshi stood up from his chair. "You want to leave? What about-?"

"We'll come back before the day is done." Akito interrupted. "After we've done something less boring." Akito turned away from the window. "What do you say?"

Tsuyoshi smiled. It has been a while since they had pulled of a heist. "Sure. Let's go. But I think we should tell Sana we'll be leaving for a while."

"Whatever." Akito said.

Akito and Tsuyoshi walked into the sun and started down the street,looking for Sana. As they passed the sheriff's office,Akito noticed some new posters placed on the bulletin board.

"Tsuyoshi." Akito called. "Look at this."

"What is it?" Tsuyoshi asked,walking up next to Akito.

"Look." Akito gestured to the posters. They were two new wanted posters for the 'Silent Duo.' Wanted dead or alive,the reward had increased by another two hundred dollars. Worst of all, the illustrations had been improved. Almost by a professional,the two people looking back at them looked just like them. The nose,mouth and chin were covered by a bandanna.

As they were staring, Sana walked up to them. "Good morning Tsuyoshi. Akito."

"Oh,good morning Sana." Tsuyoshi greeted Sana. "How are you this morning?"

"Rested." Sana said. "Thanks for the flowers last night,Tsuyoshi."

"Oh, don't mention it,Sana." Then he turned back to the wanted posters. Sana,following their gaze, looked at the posters too.

"Looks fun,doesn't it?" Sana asked.

"What?" Tsuyoshi asked. Looking next to the wanted posters,he saw a large poster for the town festival. Sana must have thought they were looking at it. "Oh...the festival. Right. Yeah. We can't wait."

Tsuyoshi looked back at the posters and whispered to Akito, "What do you think? They're getting better,aren't they?"

"Maybe." Akito simply said. Turning to walk away,he heard Sana let out a surprised gasp. He turned back around quickly,think that maybe,just maybe, she recognized them from the new posers.

"These drawings are way better then before." Sana said. "This should make it easier to catch those two,right?" Sana looked at Akito and Tsuyoshi. Still in a state of mild shock,they didn't reply. Sana looked back at the posters. "I can't wait for those two to be caught. I'll be able to sleep better when they are."

"Let's go Tsuyoshi." Akito said.

"But what about telling-."

"Let's go." Akito repeated. The two of them walked away,leaving Sana behind to look at the pictures. Breathing a small sigh of relief, they strolled down the street back to the hotel.

Akito and Tsuyoshi grabbed and packed a few of their things they would need. Locking their rooms,they went downstairs to the main room.

"What if Sana comes looking for us?" Tsuyoshi asked. "You know she will."

Akito thought about that. Turning to the clerk,he walked over to them. "Excuse me."

"Yes?" the clerk asked. "What can I do for you?"

"Could you please tell anyone who comes looking for me,that I'll be returning by later this afternoon?" Akito requested.

"Not a problem,Mr. Akito." the clerk responded.

"Don't forget,now." Akito said.

"Don't worry." The clerk said. "I won't forget."

"Alright." Akito said. "Thank you." Akito walked back to the Tsuyoshi,who was standing next to the door. "There."

The two young men walked outside and saddled up their horses. With Akito on the white one,and Tsuyoshi on the brown one, they both galloped toward the town's south exit. Just after leaving town, Tsuyoshi could barley make out the faint outline of the next town. Looked about a twenty minute gallop.

As they galloped southward,Akito and Tsuyoshi kept their eyes open for anyone traveling. The town out in the distance grew closer and closer. Tsuyoshi looked behind him and saw the town they left grow smaller and smaller.

After a non eventful horse ride,Akito and Tsuyoshi arrived at the next town. This town appeared to be half the size of the last one,but looked twice the age. Grabbing a few drinks and making little conversation with anybody,they rode south some more to the next town. Tsuyoshi thought the next town looked like a fifteen minute ride away.

Fifteen minutes passed,they arrive at the next town. The welcome sigh said 'Treeport',which Tsuyoshi found weird,since they were at least dozens of miles from any port. Not finding anyone on the road,Tsuyoshi began to feel discouraged.

"Maybe we should just go for a bank or something." Akito said as he ordered a drink at the bar.

"Not so loud Akito." Tsuyoshi hushed him. "And what bank are we supposed to steal from. This town and the one before it don't have one."

"Yeah." Akito agreed,taking a drink after paying the bartender. "Looks like the only good this did was exercise our horses."

"Seems that way." Tsuyoshi said. "We should head back."

"Maybe we should." Akito stood up from his stool and walked toward the door.

"Wait for me,Akito." Tsuyoshi hurried after him.

The two of them rode the fifteen minute trip north from Treeport to the smaller town. Upon reaching the town, they see two men preparing to leave in a carriage. One man inside the carriage,the other driving it.

"Looks like our lucky day." Akito said.

"Looks like." Tsuyoshi agreed. "Seems they're heading north,same as us."

"Let's go." Akito and Tsuyoshi guided their horses toward the carriage and waited for them to leave. Giving them a five minute head start,the two began the hunt.

Galloping toward their goal,Akito and Tsuyoshi pulled their bandannas to cover their noses,mouths and chins. As the carriage drew closer, Tsuyoshi called to Akito. "Hey!"

"What!" Akito called back.

"Do you think I could have this one!" Tsuyoshi asked. "You got that McCullum guy!"

Akito was silent for a second,then answered "Sure!"

"Thanks!" Tsuyoshi called.

When they pulled up to the carriage,Akito steered to the left,while Tsuyoshi went to the right. Tsuyoshi galloped alongside the carriage,waiting for his moment. Akito,on the other hand,struck immediately. Standing up on his horse,he jumped from it onto the carriage's roof. The driver,having seeing this,had pulled out a gun. Being faster then him,Akito grabbed to driver's arm and chopped his wrist,causing him to drop the gun.

Unarmed,the driver panicked and jumped overboard,leaving control of the carriage to Akito. Akito grabbed the reins and pulled on them. The horses began to slow down to a stop. When the horses stopped, Tsuyoshi stopped his horse and leaped off.

Akito,still on the carriage's roof,watched as Tsuyoshi made his way toward the carriage. While he watched,Akito looked to his right and saw the town where he knew Sana was. Akito began to think about what Sana was probably up to. With him and Tsuyoshi gone,she was most likely spending time with that sheriff friend of hers,Naozumi.

Thinking of Naozumi and Sana spending time together,Akito's heart began to speed up. 'Weird.' he thought,as his heart almost never races. 'Must be the heat.' Still, Akito began wondering why he was thinking of her of all people,of all times as now. Feeling slightly annoyed at a girl who wasn't even there with him,he cursed her for distracting him. Suddenly,two loud noises drove Akito's senses right back to where they should have been. Two sounds he'll never forget.

BANG!

BANG!

Looking down,he saw Tsuyoshi lying on the ground,his eyes closed,his glasses askew,and his right shoulder and upper arm bleeding. The man in the carriage stuck his head out and looked up at Akito,pointing a gun right at his face. Thinking quickly,Akito rolled to the left as the man pulled the trigger. The sound of the third gunshot startled the horses strapped to the carriage,who freaked out and began charging east,pulling the carriage with them.

Akito jumped down from the carriage as it went off toward the dessert. Turning around,Akito rushed over to Tsuyoshi's side. His arm and shoulder seeped blood onto his sleeve and the dusty ground,his eyes still closed.

"Tsuyoshi!" Akito said to his friend. "Tsuyoshi!"

Putting his ear to Tsuyoshi's chest,Akito waited for a heartbeat. What he heard was faint,but still pumping. Akito then heard Tsuyoshi's breath become quick and sharp.

"Tsuyoshi! Come on Tsuyoshi!" Akito whistled for his horse,which immediately approached. Akito lifted Tsuyoshi's limp body onto the white horse's back. Then Akito got on and reached for Tsuyoshi's horse.

"Hang in there,Tsuyoshi!" Akito said. On command,Akito's horse bolted toward town,with Tsuyoshi's galloping right behind them.