"Yo," Maya said with a small grin.
Did Maya just say that?
"Yo," I replied.
"You came here to fetch me? Well, that's how it's always been; you people will not understand the feeling of wanting to escape for a while. Especially after everything," she said as she began to kick her feet up and down.
What the hell is she talking about? I'm here to save you and bring you back. Please don't lump me in with whatever you're talking about. Also, she is still as fine as she was before. She had her hair flowing down, with no ornaments, and a simple, dark blue dress that was a bit tattered. She's not dressing like a noble.
She looked at me, waiting for my reply. Focus nero, focus. "I mean…I was sent to bring you back."
"Yeah, of course you were. What do you think this is? They won't let me go."
"I-i also have to protect you too."
"Haa, I can handle myself. Thank you."How bold of him, after everything that happened to him. Maybe she's over it; some people recover quickly. Not like I have anyway to confirm that, but if she's running away, then she's gotta be fine.
"Ohh..i..uhh."
Her eyebrows fell. "Can you speak up? I can't hear you properly. Also, why do you keep looking away? Is there someone watching?"
Aahhh i can't. I'm so nervous, fuck. Are you telling me I get to spend the whole day with a runaway princess? That's not my mission, but it could be, as long as I bring her back, right?
I don't think I was this shy the first time, but this time it's just us, and I actually have a chance. I'm feeling the pressure, and I'm getting sidetracked.
Composure Nero.
"I—"
"I want to run," Maya said as she began to pout her lips. She then raised her head, looking up at the sky. "I like to run, I think I'm fast too."
"Well, we can go run then," I said, "still, a princess running is pretty weird."
"I'm not a princess, just a noble," she said, caressing the hair on the right side of her face. She then stood and began walking past me. "Come, let's go running."
We can go do something else instead. Why are we running? Well, it beats fighting, not like a hate battle, but I'm pretty weak, so death is always near.
Let me see how she responds.
"Maybe after we can go back to my place and get some rest."
She stopped, then turned to me "....."
I averted my gaze without even meaning to; I can't handle this pressure.
"I forgot the kind of man you are. Please don't remind me. Let's go."
My god, isn't that harsh? I could take you back if I wanted to, you know…damnit. I followed Maya to go run shortly after.
*****
Maya, for some reason, knew where the closest stretch of grass was. We walked for a bit before we arrived at a river flowing from the hill. This side of town doesn't seem as packed, as there weren't a lot of people on our way.
"Father always brought me here. He said he used to play here a lot when he was a kid."
"I see," I forgot her father grew up here; he probably brought her back to his home once in a while. Thats nice.
She ran up the small hill, pulling her dress up to keep it from falling. If she could pull it a bit further, she'd make my day. On top of the small hill, she called for me and made us run even further up the hill. At this point, we were entering the forest again, but who cares?
After an hour of running, I was exhausted, not really, but tired nonetheless. I'm not exactly doing what I want to do, more like I have to go along with what she wants. Although it wasn't a bad experience. Not even.
I sat on the floor to catch my breath while she stood triumphantly.
"Did you see me, haha. All of that with no touki," she grinned.
"Yeah, yeah, I saw." She was pretty fast for someone without…Touki? What is that? Anyway, it was fun, I enjoyed it.
"You know that's how I was able to escape the ehktars the first time," she flung her hair with a wider smile, "aren't I amazing."
She's really starting to liven up, huh? Is this what running does to her? What can I do to get her this enthusiastic to fuck me?
"Now, I'm hungry. Let's go back and get something to eat."
Does she just march to the beat of her own drums? What a pain. Still, this place is quiet. This is a good spot since there aren't many people here. maybe…
"Come here for a bit, maya"
"Yes," she came over holding her skirt as she did before. I gestured for her to come closer like I needed to whisper, so she squatted and leaned in.
Okay, it's now or never. This way is the best way to push my advances without being too much. She will get the idea now, right?
Placing my hand on her thigh, I turned and pointed towards the forest beside us. "I saw some nice fruits in there, we should give it a try."
Yes nero, make it look natural.
I caressed her thigh as I continued, "In there, in there," I pointed even further into the forest's darkness. To be honest, right now, I might be repeating myself and spouting gibberish, but it can't be helped. She's so soft.
"What's your problem?" Maya said.
"I mean, there are some—"
She slapped my hand away, shoving me to the floor in the process. "What do you think this is? You think you can touch me like a toy? I can get you killed for that. You're aware, right?"
"W-wait i wasn't trying anything!" I held up my hands trying to plead my case.
"Huh?" she said with an exasperated expression, "stop trying to deny! You aren't fooling me. Trying to get me into the bushes, too. How tactless"
Maya began to sniffle. "Father always warned me about men like you," she began wiping her eyes as her voice grew somber "Steph and Anna too, I wouldn't need to be with a pervert like you if they were still alive."
Maya folded her hand into a fist. It tightened intensely.
Steph and anna, those were her guards when we first met. I forgot how many people close to her died in the past few days. She was fine; she was talking casually. She even escaped, so I thought.
"Sorry…"
"Disgusting, I told you not to remind me….let's go get food," she turned and began walking down the hill.
I messed up really badly this time. What can I do….