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CHAPTER SIX
no name yet

As my eyes slowly creaked open I realized that I was very wet. I felt pressure from above me and found that it was raining. I tried my hardest to look at my surroundings but the rain and clouds turned everything grey. I sat up, to find I had been laying on a rock. My back hurt, but I ignored this, trying to remember what had happened. “There was that man, then Ryoku…” My eyes widened, remembering what had frightened me. I wrapped my arms around myself, shaking from the cold. “And now I’m here.” Feeling lost, I glanced to either side of me and then behind me, coming to realize that I was still in the middle of the river. I heard the water rushing about me. Unsheltered from the rain, I began to sneeze, and a few moments later I lay back down on the rock crying. I must have fallen asleep again because as I opened my eyes a second time I saw a dark figure standing over me. I reached my arms out to it, not caring who it was, but I needed someone. The figure hoisted me upward, holing it close to me, and I hugged it, surrendering to my weariness.
As I woke I noticed a light mist around me, dampening the air. I took deep breaths, my eyes adjusting to the light of an early morning. Memories of the previous night flooded back to me and I grew worried, where was I? Standing up I came to realize that I was back on the same little strip of land where I met Ryoku by the river. I considered that the terrors of the previous day could have been a dream, but it had felt so real. I didn’t see Ryoku anywhere so I stood and went to sit by the river, watching the water swirl around.
“Kiko.”
I turned around sharply when I heard my name, and saw Ryoku in his red cloak and black clothing with an armful of food. I smiled at him but a worried look continued to grow on his face. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in a long while, rather staying awake with worry. My smile stretched to a frown, realizing that what happened the other day must have been real.
“How are you doing?” Ryoku sounded so scared that my own heart began to race.
“I’m great!” I cheered reassuringly.
He sat, spreading the extravagant meal out for me to see. There were meats, breads, cheeses, fruits, and vegetables. While I happily ate, I wondered why we got such a large meal, and glancing upwards I realized Ryoku wasn’t even eating, rather staring at me.
“Um…” I began, stopping my meal to stare back at him quizzically.
He reached down and gingerly touched my face, wiping off pieces of food that I had let rest on my skin. As my cheeks flushed I pulled myself away from him, he had a very concerned look on his face. Ryoku was acting very strangely. He stood, looking mildly surprised, perhaps at his own behavior, and then turned away from me.
“I’m… very tired” He began, his voice drifting back to normal, “So I’ll be back.” He walked back through the bushes and into the forest and I was alone again.

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