The breeze picked up around us again as I leaned in and gave Sora a squeeze. I wasn't sure why I did it but at that moment I couldn't help the feeling. That was when I noticed that Sora was unusually quiet then I realized what I was doing. I wasn't sure how he was going to react, so I pulled back and stared at him as he was still holding me in his arms.

Sora then did something surprising; he held the back of my head and pushed me forward until our foreheads were touching. I was shocked and mostly scared because I wasn't sure what he was doing but all of that dissolved as he spoke,

"I'm Sorry" The soft tone of his voice and the tenderness in his eyes amplified his words and made my cheeks light up. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt."

"I know" he seemed to perk up a little from my words as I continued, "I shouldn't have strayed away from you."

"I shouldn't have let you go." He said back softly.

"I won't leave you again"

We both suddenly said at the same time.

We were both shocked by our words as I could see it in Sora's eyes and I knew he saw it in mine. My cheeks lit up but so did his, which I knew was probably because we were both glad that the situation we were in turned out for the better.

"Um, Sora...you can put me down now."

I saw a slight look of embarrassment on his face as he realized the awkward position we were in.

"Oh, okay" he quickly said, but no sooner had he put me down that I gasped in pain as I realized that my leg was badly bruised. Sora then quickly grabbed me by the waist and pulled me up again while I panted and grabbed my leg.

"I think it's broken!" I said between panicking gasps. A sudden pain had hit me which was surprising as I hadn't felt it before while Sora was pulling me up from between the rocks.

"Calm down, I'll look at it" Sora said as he walked over to a boulder before putting me to sit on it. He then gently lifted my leg before sliding his hand down it. My skin ignited in response to his tender touch, the smoothness of his hands soothing the pain.

"It's not broken, it's just bruised" A smile found it's way to my lips at the good news but then it was replaced by a look of worry.

"Sora, my leg, if it's bruised this badly how am I going to get back?"

"I'll just carry you" he said sighing just as a smile formed on his lips.

"What!" I exclaimed

"Don't worry I've done it before."

"W- When?" I asked shocked.

"Do you remember the day you fell asleep against me when it was raining because you couldn't go home and it had gotten late?" He asked sitting beside me.

"Yes, I do remember. My mother told me that you had brought me home."

Sora nodded his head at my words before getting up and ripping his sleeve.

"What are you doing!" I gasped in shock.

"I'm going to bandage your leg."

"Oh, um... okay" I watched as he ruined his good shirt and ripped up his sleeve before bringing the torn fabric to my leg. Again his touch soothed my bruised leg but this time it was more electrifying.

"How does it feel?"

"Great" I breathed.

"What?"

"I- I mean awful!" I quickly said realising my words.

"Fumiko are you okay?" He asked while putting the back of his hand on my forehead.

"I- I um... I'm alright, I suppose the heat is just getting to me." I said putting a hand over his in order to change the subject.

"Okay, but we should get going." He said facing away from me. "Climb on my back"

***

Sora had been carrying me for while since we had left the place I had fallen from because he had to divert from our first route because we had gone off track when I had slipped. To tell the truth, I was glad that I had slipped because being so close to Sora was great.

"Fumiko don't worry, we'll be out of here soon" he said breaking the air of silence that had fallen around us for a moment.

I tightened the grip I had around him a little more as a show of appreciation and I was almost sure I saw him blush but as we continued walking I broke the silence again,

"Sora, I'm really glad that you got to me so quickly after I fell, well that and the fact that you bandaged my leg so well even though it was at the cost of your shirt."

Sora remained silent but I couldn't help but smile while I stared up at the enormous trees around us, which small streams of light were falling down from and onto the leafy floor.

To tell the truth, I was amazed at everything Sora had done. He had made his way so quickly down the slope after me when I had fallen without falling himself and he had helped me up quite easily and without strain when he had wrapped his arms around me and pulled me from between the rocks. Even now as he was carrying me on his back he didn't look as if he was struggling or even tired. He was either really strong or I was really light but I suppose either way was okay with me.

"As soon as we get back I'm going to have to dress your leg and bandage it again. Then you'll be okay."

A wave of gratitude flooded me as I was so taken a back by his kindness. "Thanks Sora, for everything."

"Fumiko, don't you remember, I promised that I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

As we continued walking, soon enough we made our way back to his house just as the day began to cool. I gently slipped from Sora's back and sat on his porch with a hand on my leg. The pain had started again and my leg was throbbing in pain, Sora on the other hand disappeared into the house before reappearing moments later with a hand full of ointments.

"Okay, let me see your leg."

I gently raised it and rested it against him as I squinted in pain. He then slowly removed the torn cloth before examining it again and shaking his head.

"What's wrong?" I asked a bit worried.

"Your leg is bruised worse than I thought so I guess I'll have to use this on it." He said holding up a small bottle.

"What's that?" I asked a bit puzzled.

"It's just an ointment but it stings a bit. I didn't use it on you before because I didn't think it was necessary."

"Oh, okay but how is it that you have so many ointments?"

"I'm a farmer, they're a necessity when working." He said as he poured a little of it on a piece of cotton. "Hold on, as I said, it stings a bit"

***

"How do you think Sora is doing, you know with his farming now that he has Fumiko with him?"

"As fine as ever"

"They seem to be growing closer everyday."

"Yeah, but Sora is a responsible young adult and -"

"Ahh! Sora!" I screamed, "be gentle!"

"I'm trying" he huffed.

"But it hurts!" I cried.

"I know but you have to hold on!"

"No!" I screamed as I saw him reaching for the ointment again. "No, it stings!" I cried trying to get away but he held me by the waist.

Just then I saw Mr. and Mrs. Saito standing a few meters away, and they both had strange looks on their faces.

"Mr. and Mrs Saito?" at my sudden pause Sora used the opportunity to rub the ointment on my leg.

"Aow!" I shouted as I accidentally pushed my foot out and kicked Sora in the head. His head jerked back and slammed into the post behind him on the porch. "Oh my gosh! I'm Sorry!" I said kneeling and putting my hands on his head." Does it hurt?"

"I'm okay but at least I'm finished dressing your leg." He said in a half dizzy voice. "M- Mr. and Mrs. Saito?" He said finally realising they were there, he then sat upright with a hand on his head. Mr. Saito was still looking at us strangely but I noticed that Mrs. Saito had a wide eyed look of concern.

"Fumiko, what happened to you?" She said walking briskly up to me.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just fell" I said looking at Sora who had this sudden look of sadness on his face.

"Oh, my poor child! You have scratches all over you!" She said motioning to my arms and legs.

"It's really not that bad." I smiled, waving a dismissive hand.

"It's all my fault" Sora said suddenly, while standing up.

"Sora, how could you let this happen to her?" Mr. Saito said joining in.

"I was careless" Sora whispered softly as I saw his sadness deepen but this time it was different. I had never seen him that upset before, not even when he talked about his past and I knew it was all my fault. It really hurt me to see Sora beat up on himself like that.

"Sora I didn't mean it like that" Mr. Saito said trying to correct himself.

"No but it is true, I should have taken better care of her but I didn't." Something about his voice brought an indescribable sadness to my heart.

Sora has never done anything to hurt me before but all I've done is hurt him...

Maybe he would be better off if I wasn't here.

With that thought I felt a sudden indescribable wave of dizziness fall over me followed by a throbbing head ache.

"Fumiko are you okay?" Mrs. Saito asked me suddenly .

"I- I don't know" I muttered unsure of what was happening.

I can't recall exactly what happened next but all I could remember was the feeling of my legs failing me as I felt myself lose balance.

"Fumiko!" Was the last thing I heard as everything went dark.