Ch. 7: Hidden Fury (MOON)
There was a hard glint to Haku's eyes…
I wonder what's wrong…
OO: "Um…"
As I spoke out, the rabbit hopped around Haku's feet.
Then the sharpness disappeared from his gaze as he looked towards the rabbit.
Haku: "…"
OO: "It looks like it's completely better. I know, why don't we take it back to the forest? I bet it has friends there."
Haku: "The forest…"
I thought I saw Haku's expression darken slightly at my proposal.
Haku: "Thieves might appear in the forest again. It's dangerous…that man…he looked at you and smiled…"
I remembered the sneer the thief had directed at me as he'd left.
So he noticed it…
At that time, I noticed Haku's body beginning to tremble.
OO: "Haku…?"
Haku: "When I think of that guy doing anything to you…I feel something dark dominate my heart."
Haku turned to look to me, and his voice was low and heavy as he spoke.
…
This time, I saw confusion projected in Haku's eyes…
Haku: "What…is this? Tell me…!"
OO: "Haku…!?"
In confusion Haku grabbed my shoulders and in the face of that strength, I cried out.
OO: "…"
Haku is a little frightening…
At that time…the rabbit hopped around us without a care in the world.
Haku: "…"
Little by little, Haku's fury faded.
Haku: "…if that's what you want to do, we'll bring the rabbit back to the forest. But…I will not forgive anyone who hurts you."
Haku's voice was cool and level as he spoke, and I couldn't get it out of my ears…
The next day…-.
Haku and I came to bring the rabbit back to the forest.
OO: "It's looking much better."
Haku carefully set down the rabbit he'd been holding and…
It cheerfully hopped around us, then returned to the depths of the forest.
OO: "I'm glad…"
Haku: "…glad?"
Haku quietly watched the rabbit as it darted away.
He was a little scary yesterday but…
I felt my heart ease in relief as I saw the gentleness in his eyes.
At that time…-.
There was a rustle, and an unnatural sound split the silence.
OO: "…"
For some reason, I could feel a hateful presence from the direction of the sound…
OO: "Haku…"
Without thinking, I grabbed Haku's shirt.
Haku: "…it's alright."
Haku held me gently to make me feel more at ease.
Haku: "Come out."
OO: "…!"
As Haku called out, a single man I recognized appeared from the shadow of a tree.
Thief 1: "Aw, you found me."
OO: "…!"
It was the man who had attacked us in the forest the other day.
Thief 1: "I ain't alone this time. See, I brought some friends."
I became aware of multiple men surrounding us.
What do we do…?
Haku: "…"
I looked up at Haku and saw him staring fixedly at the men with a surprising amount of calm.
His eyes were the same as I'd seen the day before: dark and sharp as daggers.