Chpt 13: Basashi Commotion Pt. 2

A/N: I'M ALIVE. Just finished finals and holy shizniggits they were difficult. Had my Chemistry and Biology finals back to back, college is great. Now I'm applying for a certain medical grad school, taking the medical admissions exam, and taking Organic Chemistry this summer. So again, I'll try to get this finished! Fingers crossed! But I promise I won't abandon this story, no matter what I'll write the ending. I've already written the general plot line that this will follow, I just need to make time to finish it. Next chapter will come sometime this week or next week!

"Those hardest to love need it most

I watched our bodies turn to ghosts

Such good friends, it has to end it always does

That's the way life is

Do we take that risk?"

-"Fools" by Lauren Aquilina

May 10, 2010

The two blue clansmen that appeared demanded the horse to be returned. They were flashy, loud, and annoying. I sighed internally, I knew that Basashi was not going to like them and was prepared in case he spooked.

"That one over there is the fiendish strain who ran away from SCEPTER4!" Doumyouji, the one with a large horseshoe print on his face, exclaimed.

The red clansmen were confused, asking if the horse was the "fiendish" strain the blue clansmen were referring to.

"This child says it dislikes that person. He neglected human rights, it says." Anna translated for us.

"10 points to Griffindor!" I exclaimed.

Blank stares.

"No? Nothing? It's a story about… nevermind, I'll read it to you later Anna."

Harry Potter is great, I grew up on those books.

Anna is kind of like Harry. They both lost their parents to evil (Anna's parents were killed by Michuhi, the evil dude from the first few chapters), was taken in by family members (although Harry got the short end of the stick with his evil cousins and Anna got us), and gained "magical" powers that were already inherent to them.

"Haa? Does a horse have human rights?" One of the Blues argued.

Yes idiot, they're smarter than you. Just because you're not intelligent enough to understand what they're saying doesn't mean animals are lesser beings than humans.

Without hesitation, Anna said, "I won't hand it to those who don't take good care of things."

"If Anna had said so, then we have no reason to hand it over to the blues or the likes right?" Rikio finished his taiyaki and activated his red aura.

"You heard it, didn't you? We've received interference from the red hooligans." Doumyouji justified to Akiyama. Doumyouji and Akiyama both unsheathed their swords and declared that they were ready for battle.

Finally, things are going to get interesting. I smiled to myself and held on tight to Anna. These idiots don't know how to behave around a horse and we'll see what happens next. I loosened the reins and gave Basashi some extra leeway to do what he needed to do.

Almost reading my mind, Basashi reared up in response to the loud noises and the boring conversation. Then he took off in a sprint.

"Anna! Hold on tight!" I exclaimed while my face split into a wide grin.

Anna grabbed onto Basashi's mane while I made sure she didn't fall off.

Anna seemed to finally understand what Basashi wanted to do. "You're going?"

Back at HOMRA.

Izumo's phone went off.

"Moshi moshi?" Izumo answered. "Oh, its Kamamoto. Where are you guys now?"

Rikio said something that was too muffled by the noise in the bar.

"Oi! Be quiet, I'm on the phone! Wait… eh?" The phone call ended.

"Kusanagi-san?" Tatara asked.

"It seems that Basashi ran wild while Anna and Hana were sitting on its back."

At SCEPTER4.

Lieutenant Awashimi answered the phone and listened intently with her eyebrows creased. "Understood. Begin a chase immediately."

She reported to Reisei, "The horse in question was found in Shizume Town. However, it seems to have gotten away. Besides, there's two girls from the red clan who ride on its back. In order to retrieve the girls, it seems that the red clan is also on the move."

"I see, troublesome guys as usual, aren't they?" Reisei responded as he placed a puzzle piece into its place.

Back with Hana and Anna.

Both the red clan and blue clan chased after the horse strain, but whenever they attempted to confront him, the horse would rear up and smash their faces in with his hoof.

As the chase continued, Basashi transformed into his flightless pegasus form in order to run faster.

Eventually, it seemed like the red clan had teamed up with the blue clan and traveled in their car.

A Blues' car approached us and when the window rolled down, Izumo had his arm outstretched. "Hey, are you alright?"

"Why? The Blues' car…?" Anna asked.

"We're on a momentary common front. Hold onto me and come over here."

Anna pouted, "This child has a place to go to. It has someone who it wants to meet with. I'm sorry."

"Hana! Stop being irresponsible! Get it to stop!" Izumo tried to reason with me.

"Never!" I exclaimed to be dramatic.

With that, Basashi leapt off of the highway and down to the street below.

The Blues' car stopped and Awashima expressed her disappointment in Izumo. (Harsh!)

As the Blues and Reds argued over whose fault it was that the strain got away, Tatara laughed.

Tatara assured everyone, "It's fine, isn't it? Just let her be."

"Haa?"

"She seems to be looking alright. And besides, since Anna, who usually doesn't say selfish things, insisted like that it'll be fine, right? She also has Hana by her side and Hana would never let Anna get hurt."

Basashi continued running towards a specific destination for a few minutes before he was startled into a stop.

Guess the jig's up. Hana pouted.

Mikoto stood in front of us.

Anna had a panicked face as if she was going to get in trouble, "Mikoto…"

"Don't cause us any more trouble. You too, Hana."

As Mikoto approached Basashi, Basashi slowly backed up until Mikoto grabbed his halter.

"Mikoto, listen…" Anna tried to justify herself.

"So, what do you want to do with it?" Mikoto asked.

"I want to let it go where it wants to go." Anna blushed.

Mikoto sighed and walked with us as the rest of the clan joined us.

When we arrived at a chapel next to a farm, Mikoto was a little bewildered. "What?"

Anna explained, "This is the ranch it was at before. That bride had been taking care of it all this time, Basashi says."

They leaned against the short wooden fence as they watched the bride and groom exit the chapel doors. Flowers surrounded them and the bride had the brightest smile on her face.

"So it wanted to come back to her?"

"No. Because she's marrying, it wanted to see her in that state. It's not longer needed in that place, and I think it's… because it's a strain."

Those words hit a little too close to home. Anna… you're wonderful and we will always love you. I know you weren't referring to me, but was I brought here because I was no longer needed at home? In my universe? Am I that worthless?

I placed a warm hand on Anna's head before I silently got off of Basashi. Once I hit the ground, I immediately walked towards the grove of trees. I needed some time to myself.

"Hana..?" Anna called out but I ignored her and kept walking.

While I walked away, Mikoto pulled Anna off Basashi's back, "You're satisfied now, aren't you?"

Concerned about Hana though, Anna stared at her feet.

"Don't worry about Hana-chan, I'll go after her." Tatara reassured Anna whose face brightened up.

Tatara walked off in Hana's direction as Seri renamed Basashi, "White Bean Paste Stewed Tofu."

I stepped into the forest and leaned against a tree.

I sighed and closed my eyes, "I know you're there Tatara."

Tatara stepped out from behind another tree and rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Ahh, I was that obvious, wasn't I."

"Hm."

He leaned up against the same tree, his right arm touched my left arm. I leaned my head against his right shoulder and sighed again.

"Didn't you once say that every time you sigh, a little bit of happiness escapes?"

"I know, I'm just… I'm just a little sad right now. I miss everyone."

"But we're all here with you."

I shook my head. "It's not the same. It's that feeling as if the whole world is against you. I lived my life trying to make other people happy, and now that those people aren't there anymore I don't know what to do."

"Would you… would you go back if you could?"

I stared up into the trees and listened to the birds chirping at each other. Sunlight filtered through the green leaves and specks of dust floated in the air.

"I don't know." I murmured.

Tatara leaned his head on mine in comfort. "We would miss you."

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Thank you to Kikikitsune18 and Lau (Guest) for the reviews!

All of you help keep me motivated to keep writing. Not that I would abandon this story but it's sometimes difficult to make time for it. But knowing you guys are out there and enjoying something I've created makes me happy. :3