“But what if a guard sees me? We both know the consequences of that. That’s what started this whole situation in the first place. Look, I’m grateful you agreed to help me, but if I get caught too, well, no offense but you’re not going to just leave your life behind in order to save some strange guy and his best friend. Actually, you’re kind of doing that now...but anyway, if I was captured as well, you’d be left alone in this. Then, I’d have no hope whatsoever. At least let me wear it until we’re farther outside of Nioleme.”
Dara takes the cloak from my arms and slips it back over his head. I don’t rebuttal his words because, in the end, he’s right. Going off to save both him and Cassidy would prove risky and completely unbeneficial to me. Not to mention I barely even know him. I’d rather take my own path at that point.
“Dara, where’d you get that anyway?” I ponder aloud, indicating the cloth.
“First of all, you don’t need to say my name every time you want to speak to me. It gets a little redundant after a while.” A mischievous smirk seems to slide onto his lips. “And I stole it.”
“You stole it?” I nearly laugh. “Says the person trying to stay away from the authorities. Are you nuts? Might as well have burned down the stand while you were at it. Maybe shake up some old women for change.”
Dara’s holding back a smile as he tries to respond. However, a voice breaks his. “Oi, Miss Nanami! Hold up!” Both the footsteps and voice get closer as Dara and I exchange looks.
“Oi, can’t you hear me?” they yell out.
Our eyes land upon none other than Takehiko speeding up from behind us, a gold chain swinging in his hand. I stop in my tracks and Dara confusedly peers at me.
Takehiko catches up to where we are and holds the chain out to me, almost wheezing. Slowly, I remove it from his hand and examine it. My eyes widen when I realize it’s the locket that Ev gave me on my fifth birthday. The familiar name ‘Nanami’ is etched onto the round surface and gleams up at me. I open it nervously but feel relieved to find the photo of him still intact. Nothing seems to be able to destroy that grin. “Where did you find this?”
He rolls his eyes with his hands clasped firmly behind his head. “On the floor where you fell. Nearly slipped on it actually.”
It lingers in my fingers for a few moments. “Well, thanks. Probably would’ve freaked if I noticed it wasn’t there.”
He scrunches his eyebrows. “It’s just a piece of jewelry. What’s so important about it?”
The relief floods off my face as I get smart with him. “If you thought it was so unimportant, then why’d you bring it back?”
“Think about it.” His hands come down. “If you realized it was missing, your first thought would most likely be,” He clears his throat and brings up the pitch of his voice. “Oh no, Takehiko must’ve taken it.” His pathetic impersonation of me makes the corner of my mouth twitch. Takehiko continues in his regular tone. “Then, you’d probably have a whole mob after me or something, accusing me as a thief. And no one would believe Takehiko ‘the supposed arsonist’ now, would they?”
Even though I hate to admit it, he does have a point. Being in his position, I probably would’ve done the same thing.
“Hmph. Well since you want to know, my brother gave it to me before he died, so actually it is very important to me.” I pause and bend over to clip it around my neck. When I come up, Takehiko’s face has softened up as his eyes look off to his side. “Yes?” I ask.
“You have a brother too?” The atmosphere around him feels slightly perturbed.
“Had,” I correct him. “You got one?”
Takehiko lowers his gaze a bit. “I don’t know if it’s have or had at this point.”
At this, Dara steps out from where he was apparently listening in. “How can you not know a thing like that? He is your brother, isn’t he?”
Takehiko turns to Dara. “It’s not something you need concern yourself with. Who are you anyway?”
“Dara. You?” Dara seems to be sizing Takehiko up, almost like he’s a threat to the mission (which he could very well be). Being visibly stronger than Takehiko even with his slightly shorter height, he could make for a daunting opponent if the need arose. Takehiko could very well end up overpowered by him if something were to ensue. He’s just not a naturally intimidating guy. Well, I guess Dara isn’t exactly ‘natural’ either.
“Takehiko.” To Dara’s surprise, Takehiko casts out his arm followed by a sparkling grin. After a few seconds of Dara just standing there motionless, Takehiko expresses his impatience. “Well, are you just gonna leave me hanging?” After another short couple of seconds, Dara warily grabs Takehikos hand and seems to hold it rather than actually shake it. Seeming content, Takehiko strolls forward a few steps before questioning, “So, where you guys off to anyways?”
A stern look remains on Dara’s face. “To pay Mayen a visit.” Takehiko halts suddenly. With his head turned ninety degrees, a glare peeks out from behind his bangs.
“And why the hell are you doing that?” he asks firmly.
Dara returns Takehiko’s fierce tone. “Why the hell do you care?”
“As I said before, that’s none of your business.” Even though I understand the reason as to why he cares so much about Mayen, I really don’t think Dara is one to show pity so easily considering he’s in a similar boat. Exhaling deeply, Takehiko states, “I’m coming with you.”
He commences his walk again as Dara stands starstruck. ”Whoa, whoa, whoa, you can’t just invite yourself you know? Hey! Get back here!” Dara speed walks to Takehiko, who is still ambling in front. His fists turn white as he snatches Takehikos shirt from behind, pulling him around to face him. It seems I’ve been ignored at this point, so I just follow along, keeping quiet.
Takehiko isn’t even fazed as he speaks. “Miss Nanami doesn’t mind if I come, right?” The two's attention is now on me, a pair of azure eyes and one hazel one.
“Well, I really don’t think-”
“Great! It’s decided!” Plucking Dara’s fingers from his collar, he smiles, almost impishly. I didn’t stutter, right?
After Takehiko moves on, I catch up to Dara and find him staring daggers at those silver locks. “That guy is really going to get on my nerves.” Tell me about it.
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