Jinchu Shima Kara Dasshutsu part 2(Escape from Jinchu Island)

With all the men out looking for us Christopher and I hide close by the meet up point in an abandoned building. People pass by going about their business as I take a look through a boarded window on the second floor. A bell sounds twelve times signaling midday and only seems to signal people to move about at a more urgent pace. Saying he can hear better as a wolf Christopher has decided to change back so I hold onto his clothes for him. he looks out the window with me more so to keep an eye on the people passing by.

"I didn't think this would go on forever…" I say impatiently.

"Well sunset their like to give up right? It's better than losing each other in a crowd." That's true.

"Riesaki, what are you thinking over there?"

"Hm…not that much just bored honestly." I stare out at the ocean. Going back home…Yamato isn't exactly all that great though…but I wonder do the others want to go back or…being out here I'm finally away from hateful eyes…and…

Something pokes my cheek and I turn to see Christopher poking my cheek

"Liar... what are you thinking?"

"Wh-when did you-?"

"A moment ago."

"How long have you-"

"I called out a few times but you didn't seem to respond." My cheeks feel very hot.

"Are you scared?" well I would be lying if I said I wasn't just a bit.

"A little bit…" he smiles gently at my comment, "What?"

"Usually you would try to hide it or say something to try and change the subject but this time you're being very honest." He pets my head "Good girl you're getting better at that."

"Well you told me to rely on you a bit more…"

"That's right I did." He scooches closer a bit before pulling me closer to him. My cheek rests against his bare chest causing my body to react in a way it hadn't before. "You don't have to worry; I'll protect you from them." what…what is this? my heart is beating so fast but my chest feels so warm. My body…why is isn't it tensing up like it used to when e changed in front of me. It feels so relaxed. He and I have gotten closer but this feeling…I don't know what it is…but I don't want to pull away from him. "Reisaki?"

"S-sorry I was lost in thought again." I look up at him and smile trying to not think of what is happening to me, "I'm glad you're here instead of one of the others…"

"Hee hee…why do you say that?"

"It's not that I don't like the others it's just that Eduardo would insult me the whole time, Russell would never stop shouting and being impatient, Nathan wouldn't really talk and Thomas would sort of panic…and Morgan well…need I say more about him?"

"You're right. They would be like that." He looks back out the window,

"Do you hear anything?" he shakes his head no and looks back at me. "I hope the others are alright…especially Jacob."

"The others can take care of themselves you know that…but you're right Jacob benefits from escaping most out of all of us."

"I hope his daughter is all right after all this time. She must have changed so much after all…I wonder if he'll be able to recognize her when he sees her again." my heart drops at the thought of them not being able to pick up where they left off. He daughter may already be married and he mother gone. What if he has grandkids he's never even known about this whole entire time? The thought of even being in that sort of situation makes my blood go cold.

"You know Reisaki, I don't think it would be that bad of a reunion."

"Why?"

"Well ours wasn't."

"Ours?" I repeat. He nods,

"You were really little when you and I first met." wait I met Christopher before? (refer to side story 2) "You weren't any older than maybe six I think. You were really cute too." Wait now that he mentions it… "I met you first when I was looking for some food if I remember right. You had given me a deer leg I think." The vague images play in my mind as I start to think about it.

"Back then…Bachan didn't like me very much…I even remember her getting really mad at me every once in a while. Things I did would set her off and I would get so scared." He pets my head gently as I talk,

"That's actually the reason you ran out into the forest. She had gotten mad at you for taking the meat. It was raining that day so I was trying to find a place to take shelter when I saw you running around scared of the storm. You nearly went over a cliff and would have if I hadn't caught you." With each word the memories become more and more clear little by little but it's still very blurry to make out completely. "you weren't afraid of me from the start actually you were clinging to me when you were crying even though you didn't know my name. So I took you with me for the time being until the storm passed. We talked for quite a long time but you were still worried about what your grandmother thought about you. So you talked to me about it."

"if I did I was probably fed up with feeling like I wasn't wanted by her or anyone for that matter. I just wanted her to like me back then even just a little…"

"I liked you back then…you were too cute not to like with those big blue eyes. Heh they're still the same now." I shift a bit to get more comfortable

"So then what happened?"

"Well after the storm passed I tried to take you home but along the way we were stopped by some wild cats." Mountain lions…yeah that's right! It was mountain lions.

"there were three of them right?" he nods,

"So you remember now… yes that's right there were three of them. they were picking up on your scent and I led them away."

"I remember you trying to explain to me that you could run circles around them or something like that… I was so scared you would get hurt I didn't want you to go." I can't believe I nearly forgot about him like this

"yes but I was able to convince you finally and you waited for me to come back like a good girl. But that only seemed to make you cry again but I think it was because you were relieved I was back. But because of that mishap I wasn't able to take you back home after that and we spent the night again in the forest."

"you were worried about the others not knowing where you were I said you could go and tell them you were ok…but I don't remember you coming back."

"You wouldn't probably you were asleep when I came back. Actually you were falling over when I did finally show up."

"I fell asleep sitting up?"

"it looked that way." He laughs slightly

"I remember a man being there holding me…that was you now that I think about it right?"

"Yes…sorry if I scared you because of that."

"No I just remember him holding me gently and petting my head; I didn't know it was you so I thought back then that the man was really nice is all. I wanted to meet him but he was only there when I was asleep."

"I see…I didn't want you frighten you so I kept it a secret… I'm sorry about that."

"it's not something you need to apologize about. if anything thinking back on it now I should apologize to you…I caused you some trouble didn't I?"

"hm..? I don't remember you causing me trouble."

"Oh yes I did remember I climbed a tree and wasn't able to get down." he thinks for a moment staying silent for a few moments. "Well it was silly of me to climb a tree as big as that one since I didn't really know how to do it in the first place."

"I didn't really see it as you causing trouble. I actually thought you were just having fun. It was just getting down was scaring you is all. I just thought of it as you being very fond of nature and you wanted to be as close to it as possible. You were playing with flowers as well remember?" I giggle,

"Yeah I remember I was making flower crowns while I waited for you to get up. I even put one on your head and then you took my ribbon and I chased after you to get it back." We laugh remembering what happened in the past and I finally start to see what he meant. Even after all this time Christopher and I met again and now here we are picking up where we left off all those years ago. Christopher pets my head again making me look up at him right in the eyes,
"You haven't really changed all that much from back then. You grew up but you're still just the way I remembered you." my cheeks feel slightly worm as he stares back at me,

"I'm sorry I nearly forgot all this time." His hand moves from the top of my head to my cheek. It feels so hot where his hand is yet I can't find myself any reason to look away.

"You don't need to apologize Reisaki."

"But…I nearly forgot about the first time we met…"

"But you remembered that's more important to me."

"…That's not fair…I feel bad about it."

"You shouldn't…I don't hold it against you."

"Christopher…" I can feel his breath on my lips as we get closer and closer to each other. Now I understand…that feeling from before. My chest feeling warm…my heart beating so fast like this. Wanting to get as close to him as possible… why didn't I realize it back on the griffons island? I…I…

a commotion from outside makes me jump and Christopher looks up pulling me close making sure it's not something we need to worry about. it only turns out to be someone announcing a sale and the crowd coming to see what they have. Content with making sure it was nothing he releases me.

"I need to get back to watching the area. Do you feel better now?" I can't make it awkward…

"Yeah I'm fine now." I smile hoping to hide my feelings as best as possible.