Raven slowly opened her eyes. The sky was dark and she could see the tops of trees softly swaying side to side. The cold air sent chills down her spine. The rustling and howling sounds made her think of ghosts. She shook the thought out of her head and staggered to her feet. She scrutinized the surroundings, dusted off her clothes and rubbed her arms for warmth.
' I don't like this place. '
The light of the campfire struck her face. She turned to the campfire.
There was a man sitting by the fire. She caught sight of the gray hair tied with her blue hair ribbon. Her heart skipped a bit.
It was Kenji.
Kenji slowly turned and glanced at her. He said nothing and turned to the campfire.
Raven swallowed.
She really wanted no further connection with this man.
She cleared her throat, " Ah... I... " She scratched the back of her head. " This is dumb. " She murmured to herself.
Kenji didn't turn. " If you're not going to talk. Then don't."
Raven didn't seem to care about his cold statement. She secretly rolled her eyes and cleared her throat once again.
" How do you know my friends?"
Kenji ignored her.
Seeing that he had no intention to answer, Raven frowned but decided not to push him.
She put her hand on her chest in a sympathetic manner.
" I really appreciate your help. I. Am truly grateful." She pointed to the side. "Then, I will be on my way."
She smiled and bowed at him. She started walking away.
Kenji looked at her.
" Don't come back."
Raven turned at him. " Don't worry. I won't."
Kenji scoffed and shook his head, annoyed.
He added more wood to the fire.
After a while, he heard approaching footsteps.
" So... Why are you back?"
Raven sat on the other side of the fire.
" I don't want you to be killed by some fierce animal."
Kenji glanced at her with a ' you're crazy ' attitude. He scoffed.
" Then please do protect me."
Raven pursed her lips.
Kenji lay in a position that his hand supported his head. His gaze was fixed on the fire as he poked the firewood in his hand into it.
Raven then had a chance to scrutinize his face. Many years had passed. He had become taller, more handsome and quieter. Even the colour of his hair had changed.
" What happened to your hair?"
Kenji glanced at her. " Aren't you hungry?"
Raven frowned. He really knew how to change the topic of discussion.
" Yeah." She answered.
Kenji gave a meaningful nod. " You'll eat tomorrow."
Raven cursed under her breath.
What was the use of asking her in the first place if he wasn't going to help?
When morning arrived, Raven woke before Kenji and set off. But no matter what path she took, she found herself back to where she had started.
After many failed attempts, she slouched down and leaned against a tree.
Too bad she had no cigarettes.
She stared at Kenji as he slept.
" Why don't you wake up? It's already morning, yet you're still lazily sleeping. " She kicked the stone under her feet.
" May you be quiet."
" May you please wake up... I mean stand up. This place... I don't like it."
" Really? I like it. Just wait until I'm in the mood to walk. Then; "
He glanced at her. " We will leave."
Raven was frustrated and annoyed at the same time. Her heart burned from rage.
But instead of making a fuss, she decided to sit down and wait.
It wasn't like she had any other appropriate choices at the moment.
Kenji didn't go back to sleeping. Neither did he close his eyes. Instead he just stared in the distance with no expression.
When he was tired of just laying down, he stood up.
He dusted off his clothes. " Let's go."
No answer.
He turned only to find out Raven had already dozed off.
He looked at her for a moment before walking over and lazily nudging her foot with his.
Raven woke up glaring.
Seeing that she was awake, Kenji started walking away. Raven immediately stood up and followed him.
After walking for some time, Raven realized they somehow got back to where they had been.
Raven blinked a couple of times before staring at him waiting for an explanation.
Kenji ignored the stare and pointed at another path.
" Let's try this one."
Raven scoffed in disapproval. She crossed her arms over her chest. " Don't tell me you don't know the way out."
Kenji shamelessly nodded.
After he abandoned the carriage, he planned to go in an inn. Unfortunately, there were guards all over. So he could only step into the forest at his side. After taking only a few steps, he realized he couldn't recognize the way out.
" Did you come here with your eyes closed?"
Kenji didn't answer.
" How comes you can't even... "
Kenji didn't seem to care.
" Let's go." He took another way.
" Ugh..." Raven followed.
They always ended up lost.
Raven fell down and lay where she had fallen with no intention to move. She inwardly started complaining about how hungry she was. Kenji glanced at her.
He sat down, his hand propped against his chin as he scrutinized the forest.
He stood up. " Let's keep going."
After many turns, they were finally able to get out of the forest.
"Seriously, how come you can't recognize the path you've walked before in a forest since you're..."
Kenji calmly looked at her. "Do you know bees?"
Raven instantly knew what was going to follow. Instead of answering, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared in a distance.
" You sound like them."
" Whatever."
Kenji nodded.
" We will meet your friends tomorrow."
Raven was delighted.
A smile spread across her face." Where?"
Kenji gave her a look. She opened her eyes wider for an answer.
" Let's go eat. "
Kenji walked away.
" Ahhh a, that idiot. I wouldn't be following around if I had money. Poverty is really a disease! " Raven followed.