I do not own Tsubasa or any of their wonderful characters, although Sammy Featherstone is my own creation.

Hope you enjoy this chapter and I promise the next chapter will not take as long, thanks for reading ^-^

~Featherstone

Chapter 4

I ran around several streets trying to get as far away from the gang as possible, only stopping when I burst out back into the main streets. The noise crashed into me like a concrete wall along with the people. It was so tempting to venture back into the area without the people in it, even with the gang there. I carried on walking again with my head held low, avoiding as many people as I possibly could and taking side routes. I had no goal in mind, just to find the others so I could get back to the apartments. What time was it? How long had I been asleep? Am I still in a dream or is this really happening?

All the questions running around in my head were conflicting with each other and I couldn't take it. There was a little shop at the end of one of the streets and it looked like a book shop. I glanced through the window and saw rows of chairs and tables strewn throughout the room along with shelves stacked full of books just waiting to be picked up and for their information to be absorbed. The best thing about the shop however was the fact that no one seemed to be going inside. This might be a perfect opportunity to take a rest and if I am lucky I may even find a map to find out where I am. I walked towards the door and twisted the brass handle and pushing the door forward making a little bell tinkle. An old woman looked up from her book behind the counter and gave me a quick smile.

'Hello there, I don't see many young people come in here. Are you looking for something to help you with a school project?'

I have seen this done before. You welcome a person warmly and try to get them engaged with a product. You then convince them that they need something to clinch a sale. I guess I shouldn't be so paranoid around an old person but you can't be too careful. Besides, I liked the shop. It had a musty smell to it and was extremely quiet.

'No, thank you. I have no money on me I'm afraid but I liked the look of the shop from the outside.'

This is the point where she tells me to get out because I have no intention of buying anything.

'I'm glad you appreciate my shop, to be honest its all so busy outside to have a quiet place to retreat to think always a gift. Have a look around and take a seat if you want to read anything.'

I was slightly taken aback by her comment but it would be rude not to acknowledge her kindness, even if it was jus a ploy to make me come back with money.

'Thank you.'

I walked further into the shop, glancing back to see If she was watching me. She had lost herself back in her book seeming to enjoy the content not even having the slightest concern that I might have the opportunity to steal something.

xXx

I found a soft chair hidden between one of the many shelves within the shop and took a book with thick leather binding off the top of a stack. Settling into the chair I let out a small sigh before unbinding the book and opening the cover. The book took me by surprise when I noticed that the front cover was on the other side. I had seen a few books before which were read the other way called 'manga' and I believe they came from countries like Japan. I opened the book on the right side and mentally cursed myself. How could I have been so stupid? If I couldn't read the signs outside how was I supposed to read the book? Come to think of it, if the people here were using a different language to the one I use how could I have understood anyone? Symbols were placed in lines down the page and I turned each of the crinkled pages thinking about how I would get back. I could ask the woman at the counter but I don't have an address or an idea of the area it was in, everywhere looked the same to me.

What was I going to do, not about getting back to the apartments (I can figure that out later) but about… this. I have a good idea that I am not dreaming, if I was I wouldn't be able to rationally think. The logic part of your brain may be shut off when you sleep but this seems too real. I can recall what has happened. Time seems to be flowing normally. I experienced pain. This is real.

I guess this means that magic is real too. Who would have thought it? The wish I made was granted as well for the price of my blood. If I wanted to give my blood away I would have gone to a clinic to be a donor with clinical procedures. The knife seemed a bit rash, especially as it could have gone wrong easily. Everything seemed to be done in a rush without much explanation when I arrived at the place where I paid for my wish like it was urgent. My wish was what, to never go back, to stay away? An extreme case of running away from home you could call it. Was it just because of punching that kid? No… no it was going to happen eventually. My life is worthless and I had no connection with any of the people back home. No, it's not home, it's my past and it should be dead and buried. This place, everything is so different. I can use this opportunity to my advantage and start again.

Those people are looking for feathers of the girl back at the apartment and they are travelling to get them. I assume that I am going with them whilst travelling via the 'mokona' now. Should I get to know them? This is a chance for me to change who I am. They don't know who I am and they don't seem to have the motive to make friends to better themselves and they just let me join in with their group. Should I take the chance?

xXx

I returned my attention back to the book to keep my mind off the situation for a period of time occasionally finding ornate artwork flowing along a page describing what seems to be a story. I could see creatures dispersed around the page each having their own characteristics. Some looked like they may be made from water and others which resembled weapons. Could this be the Kudans? I carried on turning the pages finding more drawings of the Kudans looking for something which resembled mine but without any success. I was about half way through the book when I heard the bell chime as the door opened and a sense of relief and anxiousness washed over me. I peered through the shelves and saw Fai, Kurogane, Syaoran and Mokona walked in along with someone that looked like a police officer. I sank back into the chair and placed the book down waiting for them to come around the corner and find me.

'Hello, how may I help you?'

'I have been looking for a girl about this tall and she has blonde hair and blue eyes, she has been missing for a while and these people are travelling with her.'

'Oh, yes she is reading over there.'

I heard footsteps and then Fai poked his head round the corner.

'Yup, that's her, thank you very much for your help!'

The rest of them rounded the corner and I heard the bell chime again. I presume it was the officer walking out. Mokona jumped onto one of the books and started talking really quickly.

'We went for a walk and then Syaoran got attacked by these gang people and then we went to eat food with a friend and we bought some for you to eat when we got back to the apartment. While we were buying the food for you in the shopping centre Kurogane beat up some bad guys and then when we got back to the apartment we couldn't find you so we got help from a police officer who can use her Kudan to track down people and then we found you!'

Mokona used actions while explaining and it reminded me of a small child who has had too much sugar and just has to tell you about the most amazing thing ever. I didn't even think about food but considering I skipped breakfast I should have been getting pretty hungry. I stood up and put the book back carefully before slowly turning back to the group. I had caused a fuss and it ended up getting me attention which I do not want.

'I caused problems for you and for that I am sorry. It won't happen again.'

Fai clapped his hands together and smiled, again.

'Right now that is sorted lets get back and eat some food!'

They started to walk out of the shop and followed after them before saying a quick thanks to the lady sitting at the counter. She smiled and waved a goodbye at me before I shut the door following the group back to the apartments. It had got dark by now and there were less people around. I looked towards the group happily chatting away from a careful distance picking up the maze of thoughts from earlier. Should I take the chance?

'Hey Sammy, hurry up or we will lose you again!'

Fai had shouted and I looked back at the group to see that they had stopped. Should I?

'I'm coming.'

I took it.