Capítulo 12: Awakening

"So~ Azami...Are we not going to open that book yet?"

As we walked down the now dirt path into the third town of the day, Sam once again, asks me about the book his mom gave me.

And just like for the past few times I answer with a flat no. "I've told you a thousand times, I'm not opening it until we get to the capital! If someone sees me open any kind of book in broad daylight they'll report us. And I don't know about you but I'd rather not become a slave or even be killed over a stupid book." At that, he stopped talking and looked forward once again.

Not even ten minutes later though we began talking usually again, finding out new things about each other as we went. "Your dad seriously didn't know how to boil an egg?!? That's hilarious!" We laughed along the way to stupid family stories. Never once did I mention Haru and I'm kind of proud of myself.

Yeah but now you're thinking of him instead of talking to Sam...

No, I'm not! I was just making a point that I didn't need Haru to be happy anymore!

Oh yeah?

Yes actually!

Then why haven't you answered him yet?

Because I left town! I'm not going back just to talk to that bast-

No, I meant Sam.

I looked up to see Sam staring at me, a mix of curiosity and worry stapled to his face. "You keep spacing out Zam, what's wrong?"

Tell him about Haru.

"I'm just tired is all."

Or don't...

"Don't worry it's nothing to worry about." I kept walking and shoved the thought of Haru to the corner of my brain to rot away.

"So as I was saying, my sister when she found her partner and moved out, my dad decided to join the guardians so that he could ensure that Eiji would protect her." I walked along the path with Sam exchanging good and hearty stories about our childhoods.

After a while we passed through about four towns by the time the sun was setting. Sam looked over to me, then suddenly pushed me into an alleyway. "S-Sam?! What're you doing??" I looked up at him with a mix of emotions running through my body.

Your whole body? Relax there, girl...

Not the time! He looks genuinely worried about something.

Maybe he's just looking around to see if anyone is around you guys.

No! I need to focus on my surroundings! Something is wrong for him to drag me here.

I looked around and tried to ask again, but before I could he placed his hand over my lips softly, "Shh. I think someone's been following us. Let's go find another laundromat." He pulled me along with him as we stealthily made it to the last door of the alleyway and slipped inside.

It was dark and musky inside, with a single light illuminating the room from the back corner where a young woman sat. "U-um excuse me? We're looking for the owner of this place and--" I was cut short by the woman standing up and slowly walking towards us.

Sam stepped in front of me as the woman began to speak, "I know who you are, follow me to your room Azami." She looked back to Sam before leaving and asked, "but I was not told about this young fellow, who are you?" She peered at him judgmentally with her arms crossed while tapping her foot.

I poked my head out from behind Sam and said, "his mother gave me a book to take with me while he travels with me. His name is Sam...He means no harm." The woman looked him up and down one more time before spinning around and began walking again.

"My name is Ezzy, you'll be staying in this room here. You'll have to share seeing that the other rooms aren't ready for another traveler." She gives Sam a side-eye then continues, "If you want dinner there will be food on the table later, just eat even if you don't see me." We sat on the mat as she kept talking in the doorway, "In the morning do not look for me to thank me, just leave. I'll be seeing you again in the future so there's no need for any of that crap now."

Before I could thank her, she slid the curtain to the room shut. "What an interesting person..." Sam smiled at me and I laughed back at him. "No but seriously...How does she know who you are just by looking at you? That's a little creepy don'tcha think?"

I thought for a moment and when nothing to explain this came to mind, I decided to change the subject, "ahaa~ she's probably met me before who knows! Anyways, let's get ready for the night. We still have to make sure we're on the right path." I looked up at him as I pulled my mother's book from my satchel.

Sam leaned over to me, it looked like he was about to do something unexpected. I pushed him away and started thinking of what to do now.

Do I tell him he was too close for comfort?

No! Of course not! Your romantic life was just getting started Azami, why'd you have to do that so suddenly! Now he's going to think you're a prude!

But I-I'm not! It's just really late...It bothers me that I'm breaking the law in my ways than he is consenting to.

He began to laugh as my cheeks reddened.

He's laughing at you girl.

"I was just reaching for the pillow behind you Zam haha~ don't worry I wouldn't try anything on you even if given the chance. I respect you enough to treat you better than the law allows..."

I looked into his eyes, a feeling of sexual tension rushing over me. My eyes looking up from my lashes, while he had to crane his head down farther to see my hazel brown specs. I leaned up towards him and...

"Can we open my mother's book now? I'm sorry but I need to know what the markings in it mean..." He leaned to the side of me and snatched my satchel from the wooden floor.

I sat there not moving for a few seconds, my cheeks red and my pupils twice their average size. I popped up the minute I snapped out of his gorgeous trance, "HEY! I told you we weren't reading it yet! Get back here!" I chased him out of the room Ezzy settled us in before.

He ran out of the laundromat huffing, "I'm sorry I just need to know~!" He ran out laughing as I sprinted towards the doorframe.

I whipped the door open and jumped out into--

A person?!

Jeez, Azami...Why do you keep doing this shi--

"I'm sorry I didn't see you there! I was just looking for the owner of the safe hou-- I-I MEAN LAUNDROMAT!" The man covered by the shadows sounded familiar, but I didn't get a clear look at him before a guardian came over holding Sam by his collar.

The buff guardian reached out and snatched me by my braids and put a metal rectangle to my wrist. In an instant, everything went black.