Yousei no Kuni

by Yuuki-hiro

Nine

Country Mice Meets City Mice

It was a good three minutes before Die, Toshiya, Aiji and Kaoru actually moved after Kyo's form disappeared into the woods before them.

Akira had scattered like an alert hare while Kyo merely skipped towards the general direction Akira had fled to, humming a song as he went along. It was as if he was playing a sick game with his victim.

Aiji broke the silence.

"That was scary."

"Ha~! Tell me about it. I have to live with that little devil." Die spoke with no malice. In fact, his words had warmth in it and even held a tint of pride.

"Impressive…" Kaoru looked at Die with a crocked eyebrow as he clapped his hands.

"Thank you, thank you." Die replied with a smirk, deciding that he like this Kaoru fellow.

"Ano ne, where are you guys headed?" Toshiya asked.

"The berry bushes by RunRun Mori Pond, we live there."

"Ah! So you're our new neighbours!" Toshiya clapped his hands in delight while Die grinned warmly.

"You two live together?" Aiji asked gingerly.

"Nope, Die and his family live on one side of RunRun Mori Pond by the tree stump. I live on the other side by the hills. Your home is smacked right between our homes!"

"Oh~" Aiji nodded, getting a general idea of the area's layout.

"Maa, I'll pass you guys a map of RunRun Mori." Die offered as he held onto his magic stone necklace. Mumbling a short chant, the stone glowed with a dim red before a map materialised in the air before them and floated onto Die's out-stretched hand.

"Here."

Die smiled as he handed the map to Aiji, but what he got were awed looks from the duo.

"What?"

"How'd you do that?" Kaoru asked, managing to find his voice again.

"Huh? Oh, that's just one of the new incantations I'd learnt from Emiru yesterday." Die smiled.

"Emiru?" The unfamiliar name rolled out weirdly from Kaoru's mouth.

"Yeap~! He's my cousin. He lives further in the woods, just pass our school." Toshiya butted in.

"Your school?" Aiji didn't expect to find a school in such a rural area.

"Yeap! We study in the best school in Faerie!" Toshiya declared with pride.

"Mh, you're not saying that just coz your mommy's a teacher there, are you?" Die teased.

"Yea-Hey!?" Toshiya smacked Die on the shoulder.

"What do you study?" Aiji asked.

"Huh? Magic of course what else?" Die replied.

"MAGIC???" Kaoru and Aiji chorused.

"Mh, you two city dwellers?" Die frowned.

"Yes." Kaoru answered.

"That explains it." Die and Toshiya looked at each other and nodded.

"What?" Aiji asked.

"City dwellers don't know much about magic. They've got their laws and stuff to protect them. But here in the woods nature's the only law and her law is survival of the fittest. We have to learn magic to fend for ourselves against dark elves, imps, trolls and all them other evil beings." Die rattled on.

"Dark elves? Trolls!?" Aiji sounded like he was going to faint.

"Oh, don't worry. We don't get them much. My mommy says trolls don't like RunRun Mori much. Something about the forest being situated on sacred grounds and the strong aura driving them crazy or something." Toshiya assured his new friend.

"It's a relief." Aiji looked less worried while Kaoru nodded, taking in all the information Die had provided.

"Hey, tell you what, I have to go call off the search since Kyo's back to normal. How about I get our friends to help you guys move in while Totchi brings you to your new home. The berry bush home had been empty ever since for as long as I can remember. That place will need a lot of clearing up now if you guys are staying there." Die reasoned.

"If it's not a bother-"

"Nonsense! We'll be more than happy to help!" Die's warm smile washed away whatever unease Kaoru felt, and he smiled in return. He was beginning to like his new friend.

 to be continued~