Carnelia

Tsukiko looks really happy at his reaction and she grins happily before rubbing the back of her head.

"Well it's true! I don't want to go anywhere my special friend Natsu cannot.... it wouldn't be fair to you... or me..."

She says with a small pout before grinning again but she looks around to see a large tree in front of them and she nods.

"Yep! just behind that tree!"

Tsukiko says with the same smile and she runs ahead a bit.

Natsu quickly follows her and chuckles at her reaction.

"W-Wait!"

He says with a happy expression before he also runs ahead a bit so that he keeps up with her.

"Special friend huh?"

Natsu thought with a soft smile trying to think about what he should say before he looks at her.

"Your also a special friend to me."

He says with the same smile.

Tsukiko turns her head back with a grin when he tells er to wait and she slows down so he can catch up and she tilts her head with a curious expression when he doesn't looks at her but a big and excited grin goes across her face.

"Really?!"

She asks really happy and she twirls.

"I'm so happy!"

Tsukiko exclaims but she suddenly grabs his hand and she holds it between both her hands.

"Promise we'll always be friends! alright?!"

She asks with the same expression but in a slightly serious tone.

Natsu looks suprised when she twirls and he chuckles but his eyes widen in suprise when she grabs his hand with both her hands.

"Y-Yea!
We're going to stay friends forever.
I promise..."

He says with a soft smile while he puts his hand on hers.

"Thanks Tsukiko."

Tsukiko grins happily at his response and nods.

"Yay! alright now we have to keep that promise!"

She says with a grin but looks surprised when he puts his hand on hers and looks confused when he thanks her.

"Thanks? for what?"

Natsu looks at her with the same smile.

"For making that promise."

He says with a soft smile before he looks around when he passes the tree.

"Um...sorry to bring it up all of a sudden.
But..where is that stable?"

Natsu asks in a curious tone when he looks ahead of him but slowly looks down at her hand when he's still holding it.

"Do you want me to let go?"

Tsukiko looks surprised but she grins again.

"You need to stop thanking me for these kind of things...."

She says with a giggle but she looks confused at his question and she points in the direction of a small wooden fence past a few trees.

"It's over there.... "

Tsukiko says with the same grin but she looks at him surprised at his question and shrugs.

"Not really.... but if you don't want to you can let go..."

Natsu nods and keeps holding her hand but loosens when they arrive at the wooden fence.

"Ah..so it's here..thanks again."

He says with a small smile actually saying that he won't stop but his eyes widen slightly.

"Tsukiko...someone's watching us..."

Natsu whispers when he noticed some movement in the tree's when they passed them earlier.

"So let's go ask for a horse."

He says with a serious expression before he let's go of her hand and jumps over the fence but quickly turns to her and pulls down the hood.

Tsukiko looks at him confused but she also jumps over the fence and she looks around worriedly before walking into the stable to see a largely built man carrying two large sacks of food over his shoulders and Tsukiko looks a little worried but she gathers her courage.

"U-Uh.. excuse me.... is there any chance that we could get a horse from you?"

She asks with a weak smile and the man looks between the two with a raised eyebrow.

"Hmph... why would I give yall a horse? what do I get if I give you one?"

The man asks with a smirk and Tsukiko looks a little upset and flustered.

"Well you would..umm..."

Natsu follows Tsukiko but looks at the man with a cold expression and raises his arm before the blade shoots out his sleeve.

"You will get this in your throat if you don't give us one."

He warns him with a cold expression.

"Do you also got a carriage?
Tell me..now."

Natsu says in serious tone while he looks behind him but doesn't see anyone and turns back to the man with a serious expression.

The man looks shock and scared and he gulps.

"P-Pick whatever y-you like.... th-the carriage is r-right past the st-stables to your right... c-can't miss them..."

He stammers but Tsukiko looks back at Natsu surprised and she looks between them worriedly.

"Y-You didn't need to threaten him..."

Tsukiko says with a small pout but she turns back to the man and bows.

"Sorry to intrude..."

She says as an apology but the man watches the blade nervously.

"I-It's alright... take as long as you need..."

Natsu looks at the man with a cold expression but looks at Tsukiko with a calm one and turns to the man and the blade shoots back in his sleeve.

"Heh."

He walks past the stables and sees the carriage with horses.

"Tsukiko let's go!"

Natsu yells while he grabs the reins and pulls it so that the horses turn around to the direction of the road.

The man takes a deep breath when the blade disappears but Tsukiko quickly bows again before running to Natsu when he calls her.

"c-coming!"

She shouts before reaching him and she looks at him worriedly.

"What do we need to do now?"

Tsukiko asks keeping the worried expression before eyeing the horse.

"Pretty..."

Natsu sighes when he looks at the horses but looks back at her.

"We got to get out of here.
Get on the carriage."

He says when he hears some people yell not far away from them.

"You can look at the horse later."

Natsu looks around and waits for her to get on the carriage.

Tsukiko blushes in embarrassment and nods.

"Oh-Okay..."

She stammers before hopping onto the carriage and looks around worriedly.

"You said someone was watching us before.... do you know who...?"

Tsukiko asks worriedly before grabbing ahold of her pendant and holds it tightly.

Natsu pulls the reins when she gets on the carriage and the horses start to run at a normal pace.

"I don't know...but i just had the feeling...
But..being with me is pretty dangerous..."

He looks behind him and turns back to her with a serious expression.

"There are people that want the remaining assassin's dead.
That's why i am always careful."

Natsu says with the same expression but a small smile goes across his face when he sees she's holding the pendant.

Tsukiko watches him worriedly but she nods.

"Guess I'm not the only one who had a rough life..."

She says before looking down in thought before putting her free hand on his arm and she holds onto it tightly.

"No matter how dangerous it is... I'm here for you.... kay?"

Tsukiko says with a warm smile while tilting her head.

Natsu nods with a warm smile while horses can be heard behind them.

"Thanks Tsukiko...
I am also...here for you whenever you need m-"

His eyes widen and he raises his hand telling her to stay quiet for a moment.

"Ssssh...wait...we're not alone..."

Natsu turns around and he sees three archers on horses following them.

"Hayaa!"

He pulls the reins so that the horses speed up.

"Hold on tight."

Natsu whispers while they get closer.

Tsukiko grins at his response and she looks confused when he holds up his hand and she looks a little worried before nodding in understanding but she eyes him worriedly when he turns around.

"what's wrong?"

She whispers confused but she nods when he tells her to hold on tight and she let's go of the pendant and his arm and holds onto the carriage tightly.

Natsu pulls the reins again and the horses go faster.

"Tch..."

He turns around and a cold expression goes across his face.

"Th-Those ar-"

Natsu looks slightly suprised but turns back to the road.

"We got to shake them off.
You know how to use these?"

He asks when he looks at the reins before he turns back to her with a serious expression.
The sound of a arrow going into the carriage could be heard and Natsu turns around for a second and sees that the men on the horses carry bows.

"Tsukiko?"

Tsukiko looks surprised at his question but she nods.

"Ye-Yea... I know how..."

she says with a weak smile while she takes the reigns and she makes the horses go faster.

"Hyaa!"

Tsukiko yells before looking at Natsu worriedly.

"Be careful.."

Natsu nods and he jumps on the roof of the carriage.

"Bring it on."

He says while he takes out three throwing knives and throws it at the archers on the horses.
A few of them fall down but one jumps on the carriage.

"Tch..."

Natsu takes out his dagger while trying not to fall and the man on the carriage does the same.

"Assassino!
I am your executioner!"

The man yells before he tries to slash him and Natsu dodges his slash and tries the same but the man slashes the dagger away and goes in for a stab.
The blade shoots out Natsu's sleeve and he slashes his blade away and they both take a step back.

"Heh you seem pretty skilled for just a guard.
Looks like you really are his guards."

Natsu looks down at the guards legs and kicks him sideways.
The guard blocks his kick and Natsu loses his balance almost falling down.

"Hmph!"

The guard tries to hit Natsu again while he's almost falling but Natsu quickly regains his balance and moves sideways so that the guard misses the stab and Natsu throws him off the carriage.

"Heh...that wasn't so bad..."

Natsu says with a smirk and turns back to Tsukiko but he looks behind him when he hears more horses.

"Tch..."

Tsukiko keeps her eyes on the road while Natsu and the guard fight but she looks up at him worriedly when he turns back to her.

"W-Whose guards are they?"

She asks confused before turning back to the road and makes the horse go faster again.

"Hyaa!"

Natsu turns back at Tsukiko.

"I'll tell you late-"

Another one jumps on the carriage and Natsu turns around and rushes to him without losing balance.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Natsu kicks him off the carriage and his eyes widen when he sees the remaining five men on the horses grab a bow.

"......damn"

He looks at his elbow and sees that he doesn't have any throwing knives left and he quickly walks back to Tsukiko and sits down next to her.

"We're close...we just have to get across that bridge over there."

Natsu yells when he points at a bridge further ahead down the road.
He quickly turns around and his eyes widen when he sees their ready to shoot their arrows.

Tsukiko nods but she looks down at her swords worriedly before a serious expression goes across her face and she hands him the reins.

"I'll handle the archers.... just get us over that bridge..."

She says with a smirk showing him it will be okay and she flips over to the top of the carriage and lands perfectly without losing her balance and she takes the scimitars out and she get's into an offensive position ready for them to shoot.