Good Work

"Haruto! Order for 4, 10, 19."

"Hai."

I have found a job in a bustling village called Chitaka. The village was full of life. You have merchants selling and buying materials from every part of the stores, women going to tailor shops to buy new clothes, children admiring the merchandise, and the storekeepers yelling out their products. There were many restaurants that specialize in many things.

"Sweet and spicy dangos and boiled mochi for 10."

"Thanks, boy."

I smiled. "Your welcome."

Yasumi was the place I choose to work. It is a very successful place as it let its workers lived here and it was also for the travellers. There is a hotspring and public bath that I could use. Yasumi food are very delicious with many choices to eat. There are sweets, fresh vegetables, meats, breads, and all kinds of drinks. Earning money here was easy for me.

"Haruto, customer at 3."

"Hai. Lady Chouko."

I went over to table 3. He seem very intent on drawing in his book that I could not see his face. He was wearing a light-color cloak. The only thing I could see were his black pants. As I neared his table, the man closed his book and turned to face me. I didn't expect to see him again.

"You!"

"Yes, it is me." He smiled annoyingly.

"How dare you show yourself to me?"

He tilted his head a little. "You came to me."

I responded angrily. "Because I thought you were a customer."

"I am a customer, am I not?" he asked wide-eye.

I became indignant. He's right. This fool is a customer and if I make anymore scene, Lady Chouko won't be please. I'll have to deal with him as a customer.

"What can I get you?"

U*U*U

"How was your day, Haru-kun?"

It was Motoki-san. A fellow employee who was kind. She was a brown-haired girl with dotted cheek. She was about my height.

"It was unpleasant."

She giggled. "Is it because of the customer from table 3?"

"You know?"

"How could I not? I was serving table 6 and I bet everyone saw it also."

Oh dear. Is that fool going to ruin my job?

"Don't worry. Lady Chouko isn't mad. She was glad you didn't make any trouble in her business."

I sighed in relief. "I'm glad for that."

"Are you going to retire, Haru-kun?"

"Yes, I am. Please have a good night, Motoki-san."

"You too."

We separate to our respective destination. I made my way to my room to change and then I went to the mix hotspring.

U~U~U

I went through my drawing to see what I have drawn. It was the only pastime I could do while hiding. I thought about today. It was amusing as the male from before showed up. He must have escaped from those soldiers if he's out here working. I stopped at a picture of a woman who seem ready to hugged two children. I trace the outline of her from her feet to her head.

An idiot like you will always be welcome back!

I better rest soon to cover more ground tomorrow. I prepare to go into the hotspring to loosen some muscle and then have my clothes wash.

U*U*U

This feels so nice. It has been awhile since i've taken a bath. Thank goodness no one ever use the mixed bath or else I'll be in trouble. I looked at my chest and saw many red marks circling around my breast to my back. I sighed, thinking that this was the consequence of leaving the bandages unattended too long. I hope her medicine will work.

Clack.

I tense at the sound of the fusuma opening. I thought no one was using this bath but it seem like I was wrong. The footstep was coming closer. I desperately look for a place to hide and saw a rock. I went there quickly and quietly as possible.

U~U~U

I slowly dipped myself into the hot water. I made sure to have my necessaries so that all I can worry about is tomorrow. I grabbed a small towel to dipped it in the water, then I put it over my eyes. I could feel the tension leaving my body as I try to find a way not to get myself kill by one group and one person. I looked up at the night sky, thinking about my time in SOL, my time with my fellow comrades, and as I look at the white moon, I thought about the female I saw in the river. Even though I saw her back, the way she look and stand was beautiful. Just like that person.

Splash.

What was that? I searched the area for the cause of the noise. I noticed something floating beside the rock in the middle of the hotspring. I moved cautiously toward it. It was a body...of a woman. Her body was red from the heat. I quickly went to grab a towel and wrapped it around her body. I carried my yukata and the woman toward the dressing room. Then, I began tending to her.

U*U*U

It was tiring for me to run away and try to survive in the world that I have rarely set foot on. Now when I needed to go out, I was alone. If it wasn't for him, I probably would give up and go back home or die. For a year now, I walk, I eat, I work in what ways I can and I survive. But I stilled made mistake and become lonely. It'll be nice if I could go back to how everything was and be in his warm embrace.

"..."

I felt tired as I opened my eyes and my body felt hot. I wonder why? The image of the hotspring flashed through. I was...in the hotspring to take a bath and relax. Someone came in and I had to hide. I see...I fainted from the heat. My eyes focus to see the ceiling of Yasumi.

"Is your temperature fine?"

Hm? I turned my head to the voice. Black hair, pale skin, dark eyes...what is he doing here!? I risen up quickly which I quickly regretted. My head became light-headed and I would have fallen to the floor due to my knees giving out if it wasn't for that fool holding me.

"Be careful! You just got out of the hotspring!"

I would have struggled if he didn't say anything. This time, I slowly raised up and face him.

"Was it...you who took me out?"

U~U~U

To think that I would see her again, much less in an inn with a hotspring, was a pleasant surprise. She was still beautiful when fully cloth as to being naked. Through I was a bit worry, for it seem she had stayed too long in the hotspring. When I steady her, she looked surprise.

"Was it...you who took me out?"

"Yes, I did since I was the only way there to help you."

Her face turned bright red and she glared at me.

"You pervert! Why did you not call for a someone else, like a female?"

"Would you want me to leave you in the water until you drown?"

She lessened her glare and hesitantly shook her head. Her skin was starting to cool since her color is returning to its former beauty.

"I...guess I should thank you for helping me."

I smile politely at her. "Your welcome, your majesty."

U*U*U

I shut the door quietly so not to alert anyone and started panicking. Did he know? He said 'your majesty.' He couldn't have known since I only first met him three weeks ago. Did Father sent out words to some people to look for me? I bit my lip in worry. I better go back into hiding.

W*W*W

Knock. Knock.

"Haru-kun, wake up."

I mumbled a bit before slipping back to sleep. Whoever it is, I don't want to be woken up.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

"HARU-KUN! LADY CHOUKO IS ANGRY!"

I woke up quickly and went out of the bed. I glanced at the mirror that was next to the bed and then opened the door. It was Motoki-san. She was dressed ready for the day in the usual light colored uniform. Motoki-san had a smile on her face.

"Good morning, Haru-kun. What a surprise that you woke up late?"

"Huh? Where is Lady Chouko? Am I in trouble?"

She laughed. "No, I just need to wake you up faster so why not use Lady Chouko's name."

"It'll wear out if you use it too much, Motoki."

Lady Chouko scared me, appearing out of nowhere. She was wearing a red kimono decorated with black and white koi. Her chestnut haired was elegantly tied up with a ruby hair pin. Her eyes were smirking.

"Lady Chouko! G-good morning," Motoko-san greeted with a bow.

I bowed down also.

"Good morning to you too," she said and faced me, "Haruto."

Lady Chouko went off to do her routine as we should do ours too. I pulled my yukata closer to my body and turned to Motoki-san.

"I'll see you in the kitchen."

"Okay, Haru-kun. See you there."

U~U~U

I feel like I was at my wit's end. That fool kept on baiting me, urging me to argue with him. When is he going to leave? I collapsed onto my bed and thought about my days. It went as usual. I wake up every morning and prepare myself for the day. Luckily the dye I am using work, keeping my hair dark, so I needn't worry about my hair. I began wrapping bandages around my chest and stomach. Then, I donned in a dark blue yukata that Lady Chouko has given me as a uniform. I was prepared for work.

By mid-afternoon, I was convinced that I was not prepared for work if he is here. He didn't say anything but the way he watched the inn was an annoyance. Is he waiting for me to let my guard down? I gripped the tray tightly. If that so, then I will protect myself with everything I have.

I felt a pat on my back.

"Haru-kun, you shouldn't dilly-dally. We still have work to do," Naoshi-san chided.

"I apologize," I said to the chestnut-haired girl.

She grinned mischievously. "I'll forgive you if you take out these orders: 5, 6, 9, 10."

I grumbled but agreed to do it.

"And...have an outing with me."

"Very well...What!"

"Naoshi, Haruto, hurry up and help Ayumu!" Lady Chouko shouted.

"I'll see you later, Haru-kun," Naoshi-san said, walking away.

I was stunned to her request, thus making me unable to talk. An outing with someone else and a female to it, what have I gotten myself into?

"HA-RU-TO!"

"Coming, Lady Chouko!"

U*U*U

A/N: Yo, everyone. Here is the second chapter to My Protector. Hotspring incident are always so amusing cause it makes everything bad...or good. Enjoy and Have fun ^^

Fusuma is the sliding paper door you would ususally see in an inn or japanese house.