Hello everybody. Can you believe it's been a year already? It doesn't feel that way at all. Well, like I said, I made sure to get a chapter up today in celebration, although it was just barely. Stupid stomach bug making me fall asleep all the time.

Anyway, I'd just like to thank everyone who's stuck by this story so far, and actually given it a chance. Also, hurray for being the most successful story in the Keane section ^_^; Of course, my only competition was myself.

Chapter 19 - Of Getting By and Getting Caught

The two boys carefully walked along the early morning streets of the town, although Keane wasn't sure what one. There were several to the east, and without a map, he really had no clue how to tell which it was. They didn't see anyone else out on the streets, but that would probably change soon. Keane wasn't sure if they should look out for a place to hide, or try to blend in with the crowds or something. Probably safer to just hide during the day again.

"We should find a place to stay," Straton said quietly, seeming to voice the red headed prince's thoughts exactly. Keane nodded, his eyes already scanning the streets for anything that might make a suitable hiding spot. Like that dock from the first night, but this town didn't seem to be anywhere near water. They almost instinctively stuck to the outskirts of the town, wanting to reduce the chances of running into anyone as much as possible. Plus, it'd probably be easier to find someplace to hide there than in the middle of a possibility highly populated area.

It was strange. Before, everything had simply been 'get to the next town' but now that they were here, they seemed completely lost again. East was just too vague a direction, and Asteria still felt too far away.

"I, um…" Keane mumbled looking around, all the while very conscious of the sun that continued to rise up farther and farther. People were probably already starting to get up, they couldn't be out wandering like this, especially since he'd never gotten something to replace the fabric strips hiding his anima markings.

"Maybe we should stay out of town for the day?" Straton suggested, and Keane quickly nodded in agreement, not seeing any place that might house them. They could come back tomorrow night, and find everything they needed and then start off east again. Definitely not a fool proof plan, but it was all they had at the moment. Without another word the two walked back into the desert. They didn't go very far, maybe ten minutes, until they found a rocky cropping that effectively hid them from view.

They didn't say much as they made up a feeble little camp sight, if it could even be called that, in order to sleep and wait out the day. Finally they were just sitting there, neither very tired yet, but not sure what else to do.

Eventually they were able to get some very light sleep, both a bit on edge about being so close to others. They ate the remainders of their food at around one before going back to sleep, or at least trying to. Keane kept trying to think of what they should do next. If they went all the way east, what would happen? They couldn't cross those mountains, they could barely survive now as it is. Straton seemed so deadest on it though, and he couldn't understand why. Yes it was dangerous to stay, but it was also dangerous to go. He really didn't know how they were suppose to do this, and it wasn't giving him any peace in the least.

Finally night set back in, the day having been completely uneventful, something they were both grateful for. Picking up the now empty bag of supplies, they could use it to hold anything else they hopefully attained, they started back towards the town.

"So, we'll need food and water… maybe some shoes so that I don't have to use my anima all the time… money…." Keane mumbled, trying to think of anything they would need to be able to get by just a little bit longer. It was weird, when he really thought about it, there wasn't much. Straton nodded as the two started to get farther into the more populated part of whatever town they were in. Luckily, the had yet to see anyone.

"Some gloves too, so that no one can see your anima marking," the blonde suggested, and Keane nodded, having almost forgotten about that. The only problem was, they still didn't have any way to obtain any of this besides stealing. Like he'd thought before, definitely not a fool proof plan, not in the least.

It wasn't long before Keane spotted another stand similar to the one that they'd taken the fruit from before they left Stella. Well that could take care of the food, at least for now. Pointing it out to Straton, he tried to ignore anything inside him saying that stealing was wrong. It was against the law, as future king, laws he was suppose to enforce, not break himself. He wasn't a future king though, he was just trying to live, and right now it was the only option he had.

Letting his hands shift, the needlepoint claws formed at the tip of his fingers, and he quickly started working on the lock, Straton watching the street incase anyone saw them. Biting his lip, the redhead stared at the lock with his advanced eyesight. It seemed to take forever, but then again, it wasn't really something he'd done enough times to perfect.

Straton stared out at the empty street, his back to the redhead working on the lock. There didn't seem to be anyone around, just like the time before, and he really wondered if they were going to be able to get that lucky a second time. A feeling of unease set in his stomach, and almost against his will the younger boy slowly turned around to look back at the fruit cart and his brother. Keane was still concentrated solely on getting the lock open, but that wasn't what caught his attention.

"K-keane…" he stuttered out, not looking at the other boy, but above him to the angry looking man starting down at them on the other side of the cart. Of course, Keane had yet to notice him and realize the situation.

"What's wrong?" he asked, still not even glancing away from his work. Straton just continued to stare up at the tall man, who almost looked amused now, as if wondering just what the fear stricken blonde boy was going to do. Slowly Straton reached out and grabbed Keane's shoulder, making sure he had his attention and the chances of them getting split up were fewer.

"Run," was all he said, and it quickly caught Keane's attention, who finally looked up to see the black haired man glaring down at him. Without a word the redhead scrambled to his feet to follow Straton's advice. The owner of the cart, that was all he could be, started chasing them without a moment's hesitation.

Straton felt himself get pulled off his feet and into the air, almost instantly starting to struggle. He couldn't get caught, not again. "Keane!" he yelled, immediately stopping the older boy in his tracks.

"Let him go!" Keane yelled, running back over to where the younger boy was struggling in the man's grip. This was so bad. Oh so, so, so, so bad. He couldn't lose Straton, and the man probably already saw he was an anima, and who knows what he was going to do to them, and this was so bad. "We didn't take anything! Let him go!" The man just stared down at him, not showing any sign that he was going to actually do what Keane said.

Straton was still trying desperately to get out of his grip. He'd even bitten the man, but it wasn't very strongly, and he'd simply pulled his hand away and held him in a safer position. Without thinking, Keane let the rest of his anima fold out, feeling almost like he was fighting that wild dog again. He wasn't though, this was a person. It was much more dangerous, and there wasn't any way Keane could even think about killing him. They just had to get away, somehow.

"I said let him go!" the redhead yelled again, starting to run towards the man, having absolutely no idea what he was doing. Any attempt at a daring rescue were quickly cut short when the cart owner simply kicked the boy halfway across the street, before walking over and placing a foot on top of him in order to keep him down.

"Keane!" Straton yelled again, panic really starting to grip at his heart. This couldn't be happening. They were going to get caught and killed or sold as slaves all because he hadn't noticed someone coming up behind them. He could feel his eyes start to water, but didn't let himself cry just yet.

"Just what did you brats think you were doing?" the man asked, and Straton didn't stop his struggles as he answered, although he was quickly starting to wear out.

"Stop! We're sorry! Please let us go, we didn't have any other choice!" he sputtered out quickly, trying to escape and look down and see if Keane was alright at the same time. The black haired man didn't appear to be considering what he said in the least, instead taking Straton and holding him out in front of him by the scruff of his shirt, almost like a kitten, in order to get a better look at the boy. Looking down, he could see Keane now, who was still struggling, but it was obvious that he was pretty out of it from that kick. Why was a fruit vender so strong?

"Are you an anima too, boy?" he asked, still looking Straton over. Without thinking, the blonde answered.

"Y-yes! Yes, we're both anima!" he said, immediately catching Keane's attention, who managed to look up at the younger boy in shock.

"Strat! What-!" he started, but was cut off by the fruit vender as he continued to question the blonde hanging in the air. Straton had no idea what he was doing, just trying to think of some way they would be able to stay together. If they could just get by now, maybe they could escape again. It was wishful thinking, but it was all he had.

"Then why aren't you transforming and attacking like your little friend?" he asked.

"I'm just a rabbit! I can't do anything!" he blurted out the first thing that came to his head, hoping desperately that the man would believe him. After a few moments of staring, Straton not stopping his struggle long enough to let the man get a good look at his face, the vender shifted the boy under his arm before looking down at the redhead still locked under his foot.

Picking him up, Keane almost immediately started to try and claw his way out, causing the man to swiftly knock the boy unconscious. Slowly Straton started to stop his struggling as the vender carried them to who knows where. He was exhausted, he wasn't lying when he said he couldn't do anything.

"W-what are you going to do to us?" the blonde asked, the fear in his voice very clear. At least he didn't realize who they were. He just thought they were a couple of loose anima. As long as it stayed that way then they could… what? Be sold into slavery? Thrown in jail when they realized he was lying? It was starting to get very hard to hold back his tears.

"I take it you know the laws, just because the king was overthrown doesn't mean it's changed," he said with little to no remorse. Straton just nodded, trying to get a better look over at Keane, just to make sure he was alright, but wasn't really able to get a clear view. His mind was whirling trying to think of someway to get them both out of there, but he wasn't able to find one, having to keep stopping to try and distract himself from the last time he was carried away against his will.

When they reached what Straton assumed to be the man's house, they were taken over to the opening of some sort of cellar. Clearly not caring too much about what happened to them, he tossed each child inside before slamming the doors shut. It was pitch black inside, and when Straton managed to stumble his way over, he found that they were obviously locked there. It was on the outside though, there wasn't any way for Keane to try and pick it, even if he was awake.

As if on cue, the blonde heard his brother moaning slightly and pushing himself up off the ground. "Keane!" he called, somehow making his way back over without falling down. The redhead quickly managed to pull himself together and realize what had happened to them. He was able to make out the area around him in the darkness better than Straton, and whirled himself towards the younger boy, confusion wracking his brain.

"Why did you do that?" he asked, the exact meaning of his question lost to Straton.

"What do you mean?" the blonde question, and Keane just held his head where the vender had hit it before answering.

"Lie! You're not an anima, he might have let you go if you just told the truth!" Keane said, starting to look around the cellar for some sort of possible exit. So far, he could find one, just stone floors and walls covered with what he guessed was crates of food.

"I… I just didn't want us to get separated. I knew he'd take both of us if he thought we were both anima," Straton answered quietly. Keane just sighed, stopping his search to turn back towards the obviously terrified boy. He was too, but he couldn't let Straton see that. There had to be someway for them to get away, or for at least Straton to. He might get in trouble for lying, but as long as they didn't find out who he really was, then he might be able to get off free.

"Don't worry," he tried to reassure, but it was kind of hard when you sounded so close to being distraught. "We'll find a way out and get to Asteria, it'll be fine," he mumbled, although he really had no idea how that was going to work. There first night alone again, and they weren't able to last fifteen minutes without being caught and about to be sold into slavery in the morning.

Was it really this hard just to try and get by, or were they really just that bad at surviving? Looking around in the near blackness, Keane couldn't find an answer. He guessed it really didn't matter either way. It wouldn't stop the morning from coming.

Yay, done. Poor Keane and Straton, those boys just can not get a break. I am happy that things are starting to happen again, even if it isn't exactly good things. Like I said before though, thanks everyone for sticking by this for so long, I hope the rest of this story will be just as good, or hopefully even better.