[Black Heart Event] Kazu and Chase

The sun was just dipping behind the peak of the mountain to the south of the land as Chase ducked behind the fence that seperated the land of the Poultry Farm and the road. Donning a black hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans, it didnt' even cross his mind that he might look a bit--supsicious.

Making his way to the small river that ran south of the farm, he sat down on the ground and picked up a handful of dusty gravel, straining it through his fingers and watching the fine powder gently fly out of his clenched hand.

The sky started to darken as he raked a tan hand through his hair, biting his lip as he stared into the water, transfixed.

A slash came into the water. It was to far away to see. Then a few seconds later, kazu grabbed onto a rock in the middle of the river. Coughing and hacking. Her brown hair stuck wet to her back. She didn't make any move to get back to shore, she just clutched onto the rockrested her head agenst it. To tierd to move. She let out a soft groan.

Chase squinted against the approaching darkness as something caught his attention in the river. It was making too much noise to be an animal...was it human?

He stood up quickly and sprinted over to the bank near a rock, where the person---definitely human-- was hanging on, looking tired. He slid his sweatshirt off over his head and waded into the freezing river. "Hang on!" he called, trying to move as fast as he could, though the currents were pulling at his legs, making it hard to go much faster than a waddle. "Just...hold on! I'm coming!"

Kazu looked up to see chase coming near her. "chase-kun?" she asked in confustion. this was rather akward. and why was he coming for her? Kazu let out a sigh. It could possably be the prediciment i seem to be in. she thought. she coughed again. She felt herslef slowly slipping to sleep, but caught herself again.

Chase reached the girl just before her eyes closed. "Kazumi!" he exclaimed, reaching out for her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her away from the rock. Pressing her against his chest with one arm, he struggled against the rushing water, trying to make his way back to the shore. But the combined weight of both people was too much for the shifting sand. It gave beneath Chase's feet, and he slipped. He managed to grab Kazumi's arm with his hand, grasping it tightly, before falling face-first into the water.

Struggling once more, he managed to surface, gasping for air. "Kazu!" he called, trying to yank her up to the surface of the water. He reached down for her.

Kazu slowly got the surface her self and crawled up on land. Her breathing was normal. She coughed a few times before sitting up and rubbing her eys like she had just woken up. "hi." she said casually and with a tierd voice. "pretty day, huh." kazu's expression was rather dazed and out of it.

Chase followed her to the riverbank, where Kazu was curled up on the soft dirt. She sat up and looked at him with a glazed look in her eyes. "Pretty day, huh?" she said, dazed.

He sat next to her and pulled his knees up to his chest, looking out at the water. "Yeah, it is a pretty day," he said, somewhat dismissively as he looked at Kazumi. A concerned expression played across his face. "You look really cold. Here," he said, handing her the sweatshirt that was lying on the ground nearby.

After a minute or two, he added, "What the heck happened?"

Kazu put the sweatshirt on absentmindedly. "what...happend....?" she repeated slowly. She looked up and put her pointer finger to her lips. Thinking. "hmmm." she said. "i..fell in the water." she said in the same slow tone. "i was walking, and i felt sleepy. And i passed out, but fell into the water...ya....that's it." "and thenn the cold water woke me up. and i swam to a rock." "i was to sleepy to swim back to shore." kazu let out a yawn.

Chase frowned. "Well, you look terrible," he said, not thinking about his words before they left his lips. He blanched, and then quickly added, "I mean, you know, you look...tired, and cold, and everything." He sighed, shaking his head, and then stood up. Without saying another word to Kazumi, he picked her up again, cradling her in his arms and heading out of the farm area. "You're staying at the Inn?" he asked, heading in that direction.

Kazu didn't answer at first "ya..." she said softly. "it's my fault, really." "i've been working on the farm alot latley..and that and my job....i've barley gotten any sleep, really." "it's nothing uncommon for me." she added. "i always over-work myself." 'i have to, otherwise i'll fail daddy." "he was a really hard worker. so i gotta be one, too.' she let out a yawn.

Chase nodded sympathetically. "Well, I'm sure your father wouldn't want you to drown in a river because you were that exhausted," he said calmly, like Kazumi hadn't almost drowned. "You have to do things in moderation."

"And, next time, if you feel tired...go lie down, or something. Walking by a river isn't the best idea," he added jokingly, chuckling softly.

Looking at her, he said, "You should go get some sleep."

Kauz looked up at him. Her tierd face like a child's. she blinked sleepily a few times and nodded. "but i don't want to sleep yet." she said. "i was on my way, to get something for papa.' a gentle smiled appeared on her face. "i was going to say hi to him." "every day...since they day he's died...i've gone to say hi to him and leave flowers or something by his grave.'

Chase was silent for a moment, considering what Kazu had just said. Anyone with eyes could see that she was tired--exhausted, even--but...going to a gravesite was a pretty important thing, too. He sighed.

"I really wouldn't feel comfortable letting you walk around town by yourself, in the state you're in," he started, standing up. With a cordial bow, he changed to tone of his voice to a very proper accent. "So, if the lovely Ms. Kazumi would allow me to escort her, it would be my pleasure."

Kazu let out a giggle. "sure, sure." she said with a happy tone. Excitment filled her eyes. "papa would love to meet new people!" "i always go alone, which i'm sure upsets papa, but he'd love it if you'd come!" she laughed again. "he;d be insulted if you didn't!" Kazu was bubbling with happiness and excitment now.

Chase chuckled, dropping his fancy, formal posture and sticking his hands in his pockets. "OK, then." He offered his hand down to Kazumi to help her off the ground, and then reached into his backpack. "Here, eat this," he said, producing a candy bar from his backpack and offering it to her. "Don't want your blood sugar to go down."

kazu smiled warmly and gently took it. 'thanks." she said closing her eyes and smiling. she nibbled on it some. Then, ended up consuming the whole thing within a minute. "is there any way i could repay you fot your kindness?" She asked giving a formal bow. and then, she remebere the sweatshirt. "ah!" "you want this back?" she asked starting to take it off." "it's a bit wet...i could wash it for you if you like."

Chase shook his head. "No, it's okay," he said, putting his hand on her arm and shaking his head again. "You can wear it. I'm fine. Got plenty more of them at home." He smiled, and then started walking. After a minute, he realized that he didn't know where he was going. Turning back around sheepishly, he said, "Uh...you wanna...lead the way?"

Kazu closed her eyes and smiled. she slipped the sweatshirt back on. "yes!" she said happily. She danced on ahead, humming merrily to herself. Kazu was Kazu again. Only a bit more joyful than usual. absentmindedly, she started to sing to herself. It had been a while since kazu had sung in front of anybody. Her voice was still just as pretty as before. It was a bouncy and happy song. Although it also sounded like nonsencse.

Chase chuckled as he watched Kazu, well, bounce her way to the cemetery. He thought about how strange that statement sounded as he shoved his hands back into his pockets, hooking his thumbs on the belt loops of his worn, still soaked jeans. "Feeling better?" he called out to Kazumi, brushing a mess of hair out of his eyes as he watched for her response.

"just awosme!" kazu said giving the thumbs up. She continued humming to herself. She picked some flowers on the way. At one point, she even stopped when a buttler landed on her finger. She giggled and then it flew away. "hey, Chase-kun." she said not looking back at him. "thanks again...for everything." "it gets lonley..visitng papa alone..that is.'

Chase nodded, now solemn. His mouth pressed together in a tight line. As they walked, he bent down and scooped up a handful of flowers, as well. When they arrived at the graveyard, he sighed softly, shaking off the memories that suddenly flooded his thoughts. He stood back, smiled quickly at Kazu, and said, "After you." He extended his arm to the side to let her pass, pushing open the gate to the cemetery as he did so.

The mood was somber--well, it was a cemetery, after all. What else could he expect? He bit his lip, waiting to see how Kazumi acted.

Kazu seemed to calm down for a second. A sad smile crossed her afce. "g'morning, papa." she said walking over to her fathers grave. she kneeld down and set the flowers on his grave. she gentley ran her fingers over the stone, her expression sadder than before. "i brought soemone along with me.' "i understand it's a very speical day for you." "so even if i'm all tierd, i know you'd want me to sleep...but it's your birthday, fater all." "i wouldn't miss it for the world." tears formed in kazu's eyes. "happy birthday, daddy."some tears escaped her eyes and ran down her face. "wish you were here." "i miss you alot, y'know." kazu seemed to have forgotten chase's presence there. "thing's arn't as easy as they used to be when you were aroun, but i make it through ok." "so there's no need, to worry, ok?" then, kazu broke down crying. She covered her face with her hands.

Chase walked over to the grave Kazumi had practically floated over to; he attributed that to her familiarity and repeat visits to the gravesite. She was talking quietly to the headstone, and he stood--rather awkwardly---behind her, just waiting for her to finish up. His mind started to wander a bit.

He snapped back to reality when he heard sobs. Looking down at Kazu, who had covered her face with her hands, he frowned. Kneeling down on the ground next to her, he put a hand between her shoulderblades, not saying a word.

Kazu then seemed to remeber chase was there. She blushed from embarresment. She quickly whiped awsay her tears and smiled. "s-sorry.' she said not meeting his gaze. "it's pretty dumb for me to ge tlike this..when i vists so often, huh..." kazu's voice trailed off. she rubbed the marble grave stone one more time and stood up. He rbangs covere dher face.

Chase shook his head. "Please, don't apologize," he said, looking at Kazumi and raising his eyebrows. "It's perfectly understandable. You cry all you want to." Watching her stand up, he reached out and touched the gravestone with the tips of his fingers, and then stood up as well.

"You want to go back to the Inn now?" he asked after a moment of silence.