Disclaimer- I don't own the hunchback of Notre Dame

Hi! Well I hope you all like this chapter. Enjoy! ^^

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Quasimodo gripped her hand tightly as they ran down the stone stairs loudly. Mizuki quickly made her way down the ladder driving splinters into her tender palms while Quasimodo found a quicker method down. They both made a mad dash for the stairs leading down to the bottom levels of the cathedral. Ayame started barking at their sudden appearance annoyed that they had the gall to leave her down stairs while they explored the balconies.

"Ayame shush!" Mizuki snapped hoping that insufferable noise didn't travel any farther than the room. The dog's ears flattened against her skull looking as if Mizuki had whipped her rather than raised her voice.

"Go quickly. He can't find you here!" Quasimodo said desperately pointing down into the darkness of the stairway.

"Are you going to be alright?" Mizuki asked worried

"Yes, but if he finds you here-"Quasimodo broke off shaking his head silently begging her to understand.

She nodded and gave his hand a squeeze before turning and running as fast as she could down the stairs with Ayame close on her heels. There must have been some angel guiding her in the shadows for it was truly a miracle that she didn't fall down and break her neck. When she reached the bottom she stopped not daring to jump in the light. Pressing the collar of her dress against her mouth to muffle her loud pants she carefully peeked out into the candle lit church. The place seemed absent of all life. Releasing her dress she quickly stepped out into the open. Not wanting to be caught near the entrance of the bell tower she hastily began walking in the opposite direction. Just as she turned the corner Mizuki ran into something very solid and warm. A soft thud echoed throughout the nearly empty cathedral. Mizuki immediately took a step back and stared as her pounding heart came to an abrupt halt. For standing before her with now ruffled robes and a basket full of food at his feet was non other then Frollo himself. Straightening his wrinkled clothes he glared at her with those small black eyes that reminded her of cold dull coal.

"Excuse me sir," Mizuki said smoothly while bowing. It has been awhile since she had put her acting skills to use but it was a relief that she was still able to appear calm when inside she felt as frightened as a cat trapped between dog's fangs.

"Watch where you're going child,"

Mizuki inwardly cringed at the harsh cold tone in his voice "Yes sir," she quickly walked past him with her eyes lowered not daring to look him in the face. She could feel his hated gaze boring into her back. Surpassing a shutter Mizuki forced herself to walk rather the run to her room. Closing the door behind her she let out a sigh of relief as she ran her hand through her hair. Wincing when her fingers got caught up in the tangles she reached up and undid her braid letting her messy locks fall about her shoulders. Ayame jumped upon the bed making the straw mattress beneath her crinkle as she made herself comfortable among the cluster of blankets. Sitting next to her Mizuki seized her bush from the small wooden table beside the bed and ran it roughly through her hair ignoring the pain as several strands of hair got intertwined in its teeth. Nothing not even the unfortunate meeting with Judge Frollo could dampen her spirits. She felt as if her heart was soaring among the clouds, free at last from the harsh chains of reality, which usually kept it tightly bound. For the first time in such a very long time Mizuki allowed herself to hope for companionship beyond Brother Robert. Smiling to herself, Mizuki put the brush back into its proper place and collapsed into the pillows unable to stifle the happy giggle that escaped her lips as she replayed the events of the day in her head. Yes, this day had been quiet wonderful. She absently stroked Ayame burying her fingers into the soft undercoat earning a happy grunt from her friend. Maybe if her luck held she would be able to let Ayame sleep in her room tonight. The head nun Sister Catherine was very insistent that the dog slept outside where it belonged. But it was heartbreaking for Mizuki to watch as the creature who for years had been her only friend left tied up in the courtyard forced to suffer the elements alone. Mizuki hugged Ayame close as if silently asking for forgiveness. What the old hag didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

"Mizuki? Mizuki?" a wrinkled hand was waved in front of her face jerking her out of her daze.

"W-what?" she asked stupidly glancing up to Brother Roberts face who was desperately trying to repress a smile.

"You're running out of ink," he replied pointing to her near empty inkwell.

"Oh," Mizuki grabbed it and walked to the cabinet which held all the supplies to refill it.

"You know I don't think I've ever seen you so distracted," Brother Robert commented casually.

Mizuki's stomach churned. She hadn't told him about her meeting with Quasimodo and didn't plan on doing so in the near future if it could be helped. Brother Robert absolutely despised Judge Frollo and would not of approved if he knew she was keeping the company of his ward. Despite the fact she hated keeping secrets from Brother Robert the last thing she wanted was for him to forbid her from seeing Quasimodo. Returning back to her desk with the now full inkwell she merely commented "It's a wonderful story," He just nodded his work already consuming his attention. Mizuki's thoughts drifted back to Quasimodo. When am I going to see him again? Looking back down at her writings she noticed that she had written the same sentence five times over. She stared at the destroyed work in disbelief. Never in her time of working here had she made such of mistake. An hour's worth of work utterly ruined. Crumbling up the spoiled paper she tossed it aside and grabbed a fresh sheet.

Quasimodo spent the passing the time the same way he had done every day since he had become the official bell ringer of Notre Dame, by doing chores. However unlike the past his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of a certain blue eyed girl. It's been two days since they were nearly caught by Frollo and he was hoping that somehow he would be able to see her today. After lunch with Frollo he was planning on venturing out into the cathedral once again and seek her out.

At long last he had finished with his duties. Grabbing his cloak he threw it about his uneven shoulders and was about to begin his journey down the stairs when he heard the echo of heavy footsteps making their way upward. His first thought was that Frollo had returned but after a few seconds of listening he realized that Frollo's footsteps where lighter and softer. Quickly Quasimodo rushed up a ladder and hid himself in the shadows of the rafters and not a moment too soon. He could see the figure of a small person moving in the darkness of the stairway. After what seemed like hours but in reality was not more than three minutes someone stumbled out into the light. It was Mizuki. She stood there out of breath looking around clearly hoping to spot him while Ayame pranced around sniffing several odd objects that captured her attention. Quasimodo let out the breath he had not realized he was holding as happiness swelled inside of him. She had not forgotten him! Mizuki actually went to see him! Surly that that was proof she did not think him a monster. He had been worried since she didn't come back in those last two days that she regretted their meeting and no longer wished to be assimilated herself with him.

"Quasimodo?" her questioning voice called out. Immediately he grabbed hold of the rafters and made his way down with enough grace and skill it would have made a swan's feathers turn green with envy. Mizuki jumped horribly when he landed right in front of her. "Goodness," she said placing a hand over her fast beating heart. "Where on earth did you come from?"

"The rafters," Quasimodo replied waving his hand nonchalantly upwards while trying to contain the chuckle that threatened to burst out of him when he saw the comical expression on her face.

"That's rather high,"

He shrugged "Heights have never bothered me."

Mizuki smiled "Yes that would be like a fish being afraid of water"

"That's one way of putting it I guess," Quasimodo said, a little embarrassed rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry, after copying books all day I tend to get a bit narrative I suppose." she tried to explain unable to prevent her ears from turning a rather brilliant shade of red.

Quasimodo couldn't stop himself from grinning. "Would you like to sit down?" He asked as he nodded to the stairs that led up to his workshop.

"Yes, thank you,"

After they were both sitting comfortably around the table an awkward silence stretched out between them causing Mizuki to squirm. For the life of her she could not think of a single subject to discuses. What happened to all those brilliant ideas she had formulated down stairs? They all flew out the window when she came face to face with the person who had dangerously distracted her to the point where she nearly fell down the stairs having missed a step. All of those wonderful conversation starters had mysteriously vanished leaving her brain as hollow as a balloon.

"So," Quasimodo paused to clear his throat, clearly as nervous as she felt. His eyes drifted down to Ayame who was happily lying on her feet. "How did you two meet?" He finished lamely asking the question the moment it came to mind. Mizuki looked down at the dog who noticed that she was receiving attention and started wagging her tail.

"I found her in England,"

"You've been to England?" Quasimodo said in disbelief

Mizuki nodded staring at the floor as she recalled the part of her life that she had forcibly shoved in the deep depths of her mind. "Until I moved here less then five years ago,"

"You speak French very well. I can barley hear your accent."

Mizuki let out a somewhat bitter laugh. "And I speak English so well, that you could barely hear the accent hiding beneath that language."

"How many languages do you speak?"

"I speak Latin, French, English and Japanese."

Quasimodo's eyes widened. "You must be very smart. How did you mange to learn so much? Are you able to read in them all as well?"

"Japanese was my first language and I learned English when I lived there. I only knew a handful of French words before Bother Robert. He brought me here to be his assistant in the library. He was the one who taught me French and Latin so I would be able to correctly translate and copy the stories."

Quasimodo nodded dumbfounded. "Why did you move to England?"

Mizuki visibly flinched as if his words had struck her. Memories assaulted her viciously with the sole purpose of causing her pain. "I-I'd rather not talk about it," She said forcing a smile on to her face. The last thing she wanted to tell a friend she had only known for three days was the story of her being sold into slavery.

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I know, I know another cliffhanger. I just can't help it they're too fun to write! Anyway we are starting to get alittle bit into Mizuki's past and how she came to France. Mizuki's past is a sad story which well later help her and Quasi bond strongly. Anyway please review! Your feedback is my reason for living! (as sad as that may be) I GIVE U COOKIES!