Running from Danger
"YOU are a good person," Temari said to the boy who bought her breads almost thirty minutes ago. She didn't know his name or the name of the taller guy next to him so she didn't know how to address him. She didn't want to ask for their name because they might ask hers in return.
So the three of them walked side by side, more silent than talking. It didn't matter to Temari since she was busy digesting everything she sees. It was only when they finished walking the long line of tents that Temari decided to voice out her thanks.
Temari could no longer see the boys' faces because they pulled the hood of their cloak down to cover their faces. Still, she was sure the shorter boy smiled and nodded in response to her thanks.
She couldn't say the same about the taller boy though. He hadn't talked to her since the moment she met them. She had a feeling that he doesn't like her but he chose to follow what the shorter boy wanted. He was like a follower or something. Temari was sure that the shorter boy came from a wealthy family because he has a lot of money with him. She knew because she could hear the silver and gold coins from him every time he moves.
They were already walking back to check the other side of lined tents when Temari noticed familiar figures walking on the same side as them and toward their direction. Her heart slammed against her chest and her eyes widened. The orphanage's head mistress and two of her trusted social workers!
A shiver run down Temari's spine because she knew the huge man on the head mistress' left too well. He was the head of the disciplinary committee in the orphanage. He was the one who always do the 'punishments' for misbehaving children.
Temari was at the top of that list. In fact, her punishments were always more extreme than other children. Not only because she always attempts to sneak out but because she has no personal aristocrat sponsor unlike some of the children in the orphanage. The adults always take better care of children with personal sponsors because they bring in more money to the orphanage and eventually get adopted by wealthy families.
If the head mistress and the head of the disciplinary committee caught her outside, she was sure getting locked in the basement without food and water will not be enough punishment to appease them.
Temari gasped when the disciplinary committee head turned his head to their direction. She was quick enough to hide behind the shorter boy before he could see her.
"What's wrong?" the shorter boy asked as his body tensed because of her sudden movement.
She didn't answer. Instead she slowly peeked through his black cloak to look at the people she didn't want to see. They are still moving closer to where Temari and the boys are. She bit her lower lip and quickly moved behind the taller boy when the group of the head mistress got closer enough that she could hear their voices.
"What are you doing?" the taller boy growled without turning his head to look at her. Unlike him, the shorter boy is already facing her and she was sure he was observing her reaction though she couldn't see his face.
Temari opened her mouth to say something but then she heard the orphanage's head mistress as she talked to the head of the disciplinary committee. "You should go back to Angel Wing now. We will go back to the public viewing since most of our sponsors will be there. Someone should go back and check that all the children are behaving."
Temari felt like she was splashed with cold water. Without meaning to, she tightly grabbed a part of the taller boy's cloak. She looked at the boy with forest green eyes. She could see those beautiful pair of eyes now because he took a step closer to her, covering her from the head mistress' group.
The understanding in his expression confirmed that he heard the head mistress and that he figured out who Temari was. She swallowed, prepared to be exposed to the head mistress. But then she was surprised when he took a step forward and lifted one side of his black cloak until she was covered by it.
"Rhys!" the taller one whispered harshly.
[Rhys. So that is his name.]
Rhys ignored the taller one. He put his arm around Temari's shoulders and carefully pulled her closer to his body inside his cloak. She couldn't see much anymore since she was so much smaller compared to him. Then she felt him leaning down and whispered, "Let's run."
Temari gasped and didn't have time to actually think about that. Rhys began to move and she run with him. The taller guy was also running behind them, cursing and whispering, "This is a bad idea."
Temari's heart was beating so fast and her breath became uneven as they run away from the flea market. The adrenaline made her want to laugh aloud. She was able to hold it in until they turned in a corner where no other people were around.
They stopped running and Rhys let go of her shoulders. She stepped away from his cloak and finally let out her laughter while trying to catch her breath. Temari turned to face the two boys and she realized that the hood of Rhys's cloak fell back, revealing his head and face fully for the first time since they met.
Her laughter and breath were both caught in her throat as she looked at him. Temari was not the type to care about how people look. She doesn't even care about how she looks herself. It was one of the reasons why no aristocrat wanted to sponsor and adopt her. She was not up to their standard.
But wow, this boy was so beautiful it hurts to look at him without the hood of his cloak. Temari didn't know enough words to describe him. He was that beautiful.