6. The first step

After going through a critical period for days, Shiro finally opened his eyes.

"....."

"Waking up next to a sexy half-blooded girl. This is what I call a good opening." Shiro said quietly, slowly blinking his eyes.

"Hmm... Dara?! Why is she here?! Am I still dreaming?" Shiro said to himself, just realized that the girl who is sleeping next to him is Dara.

Shiro got up and patted his cheek a few times to make sure he was really awake. "This isn't a dream. I'm awake." He then turned to the side and looked at Dara who is still sleeping. Seeing Dara's sexy body, made Shiro start thinking perverted. Without a word, he then slowly tried to touch Dara's breast and squeezed it.

"Tehee.. What's this comfortable sensation????" Shiro shouted to himself, feeling delighted. His heartbeat was beating so fast that he felt very nervous.

"Aaahhh.." Suddenly Dara sighed and squirmed a little, making Shiro immediately let go of Dara's breasts in shock.

"Hey, Dara! I found cassava in the forest. Shiro will be happy if he..." Akmal walked into the room and was surprised to see Shiro who was already conscious.

"Armpit horse..!! Don't startle me!! I could die of a heart attack!" Shiro snapped to himself, surprised to see Akmal who suddenly came in.

"Shiro!! Thank God!! I was very worried. You were unconscious for the whole week." shouted Akmal, running over to him. "But what did you just do?" he added, looking at Shiro with a suspicious look.

"Whaat??? I passed out for a whole week?!" shouted Shiro, trying to change the subject.

Because Akmal and Shiro's voices sounded quite loud, Dara woke up. "Shiro....kun?" Dara looked surprised to see Shiro who was already conscious.

"Yo!" said Shiro with a smile.

Without a word, Dara immediately hugged Shiro very tightly. "Thank god, I'm so afraid you won't come back!" said Dara, sobbing happily.

"I'm sorry for worrying you guys." Shiro said, stroking Dara's head gently. "I'm here. So stop crying." he added, trying to calm Dara who was sobbing.

Slowly Dara released her embrace from Shiro and tried to hold back tears. She then looked at Shiro and smiled sweetly.

"Hentai!" muttered Akmal with a sneer on his face.

"By the way, why are you here? Why are we in this shabby room?" asked Shiro curiously.

"At least my room is much cleaner than yours." Akmal said, a little annoyed. "Don't you remember anything at all?" Akmal asked, keeping the cassava in the corner of the room.

Shiro was silent for a moment, trying to remember what had happened to him. "The last thing I remember is... My mother."

There was a sudden silence when Shiro finally remembered what had happened to him.

"I'll explain it to you." Akmal said, trying to break the awkward atmosphere.

"You must be hungry. I'll go cook the cassava for you." said Dara, getting out of bed and taking cassava from the corner of the room and then walking to the kitchen.

Not long after, Akmal began to tell what had happened during the past week that Shiro was unconscious.

Sometime later at Shiro's mother's grave which is located next to Akmal's house.

"So that's how it is... I'm sorry for burying aunty without you." Akmal said, looking at Shiro's mother's grave.

"Why are you apologizing. I should be thankful that you guys took care of my mother." said Shiro, gazing pensively at his mother's grave.

"Of course. I already consider of aunt as my own mother. You know that." Akmal replied softly.

"Thank you... I don't know what else to do. I lost everything and couldn't do anything." Shiro lowered his face and grasped his palms tightly, trying his best to hold back tears.

"What are you saying? Isn't i'm still here? Besides, you also still have people who loves you. Dara takes care of you day and night. She keeps praying that you can quickly recover and back to the way you used to be." Akmal said, trying to cheer up Shiro who looked so depressed.

"You are right." said Shiro, trying to hold back his sadness.

Back inside the house...

Dara came out with 1 plate of roasted cassava and 2 glasses of water.

"Shiro-kun, eat this. You must be able to recover quickly." said Dara, putting the cassava on the table beside the bed.

"Dara.. You still haven't answered my question. Why are you here?" Shiro asked, looking at Dara who is sitting next to him.

"Hey, didn't I explain everything to you?" Akmal said, interrupting Shiro's words.

"Shut up! I asked Dara. Not you." Shiro jerked softly. "Your family must be looking for you. You better go home." he added.

Dara looked a little surprised to hear Shiro suddenly telling her to leave. However, she could only remain silent without saying a word.

"Shiro! Can't you understand Dara's feelings just a little?!" Annoyed, Akmal stood up and scolded Shiro.

"I.. I don't know. I just.." Dara nervously tried to get her point across, but Shiro interrupted her.

"Then go home! You don't need to bother taking care of me anymore. Before it's too late, go home!" Shiro snapped, staring at Dara who looked dreadful of his stern words.

Dara just pensive and confused what to say. Meanwhile, Akmal, who was trying to grasp the purpose of Shiro's words, was silent and looked a little annoyed.

"Dara?! Are you listening to me?" asked Shiro firmly.

Because Shiro kept urging her, Dara finally got the courage to express her feelings. "I just want to always be by your side!! I really worry about my family! I also want to go home! But... But I don't know why I feel if I leave now, I will lose you forever!" shouted Dara, crying to express her feelings.

For a moment Shiro stared at Dara pensively. What Dara was worried about is true. If Dara and Akmal weren't with him right now, Shiro would have gone to hunt the royal soldiers by himself. And with his current condition, it is very likely that he will die.

Shiro got up and then took some of the roasted cassava that was served on the table. He ate all of the cassava and then drank the 2 glasses of water that was served.

Shiro then put on a coat and walked to take his sword which was lying in the corner of the room.

"Where are you going?" asked Akmal.

"Go to the town. I will put an end to this damn rebellion." Shiro replied as he walked to take his sword.

"With a body like that?! Don't be stupid! We are not doctors. Your wounds could be open any time." Akmal said, trying to forbid Shiro from leaving.

Shiro stopped behind the entrance and said, "Then should I hide and wait for them to die? I don't want my loved ones to feel the same pain I do."

Hearing what Shiro had said made Dara startled and immediately stopped crying. "But Shiro-kun, you just woke up from coma!" shouted Dara who looked worried.

Shiro looked out of the house pensively. A moment later he said, "When you fall, get up! Hold your tears! Hold your anger! Strengthen your will! Save what you can save. For whatever is left of you, fight! Never dim. Light up this dark world with your rays!"

Shiro looked back at Dara and Akmal. "Those are words that are often spoken by the person I hate the most. I don't want to do what he says. However, Dara... I don't want to see you sad."

Dara looked at Shiro with teary eyes. She doesn't know whether to be happy or sad. Because if Shiro intends to stop the rebellion for her, it is certain that Shiro will definitely get hurt again.

"Because someday, I want to squeeze that soft mountain again!" Shiro said softly, chuckled lecherously and gripped his right palm tightly.

"Heh...?" Dara looked a little confused seeing Shiro who suddenly changed his serious expression to a little strange.

Akmal sighed and said softly, "Hentai!" He then took the remaining roasted cassava and ate it heartily. "Dara, get up. I'll take you home." said Akmal, with a mouth full of cassava.

"Why are you even going along?" asked Shiro.

"Because I'm worried if you take her home by yourself!" Akmal said, walking out past Shiro.

"Huh?! You damn four eyes! You doubt my strength?!" snapped Shiro, irritated.

"No. That's not it. But sexual harassment will happen!" said Akmal, who started walking leaving the house. "Dara, let's go!" exclaimed Akmal, looking back.

"Stupid!! Don't make her misunderstand!" shouted Shiro, running after Akmal.

"What's misunderstand?! I saw it with my own eyes! Do I need to show you the photograph?" Akmal said, walking away leaving the house.

"Eh, you took it?!! Impossible. You poor and don't have a camera! You must be lying, Right, Akmuaal-chan?!" exclaimed Shiro, quickening his steps to catch up to Akmal.

Dara hurriedly put on her coat and started running after them. "But I don't mind if it's Shiro-kun!" exclaimed Dara with a smile.

Surprised to hear what Dara had just said, Shiro and Akmal suddenly stopped and looked back.

"Really??" shouted Shiro, excited.

"Dara, is your head okay?" asked Akmal.

"Yeah, really. Although I don't know exactly what you're talking about." Dara chuckled and kept walking leaving the two of them.

"Dara, are you serious?!" exclaimed Shiro, running after Dara and still couldn't believe his luck.

"Yep! 50% innocent and 50% stupid." Akmal said, slowly walking after Dara and Shiro.

In the dusk with a light drizzle, Shiro unwittingly set his first step on his long adventure.