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The boy could feel the air heating up, the sun would soon rise. Yawning he stands up grudgingly. Gyutaro grumbled. Waking up early every day was a pain, but it was the only way he could find money. Since he and Ume left the district to start a new life, nothing was easy and yet they had a more dignified start. In addition to being safer for both of them, Ume could marry and have a happy family. He watched his sister as she slept. Ume still had orders later. Washing and sewing clothes weren't what she had in mind, but had no other choice.
Taking the scythe he left the hut, or rather what could be said of a hut. They couldn't buy a house with the few coins they could find or steal. A few boards in the holes here and there and the two of them could live well.
The sun had barely risen, but could already feel a little heat. Until now the day started well. He also looked at the ground looking for anything valuable like coins and even fruit to take home or sell.
And he found nothing. As usual.
Finally reached the clearing and started working on the logs. His stomach growling, he just had to wait a little longer before he sold the firewood and bought the food.
Continuing to work, the place became brighter as the sun rose higher and higher in the sky. Was so focused he didn't hear any hurried footsteps.
That is, until someone or something grabs him from behind.
"Argh!" almost fell to his knees, but managed to keep his balance. Turning around he glared at his back and found a girl.
He was sure he'd seen her somewhere. Wasn't she the coal man's daughter? Nezuko, maybe? What was she doing in a place like this at a time like this?
"Hey, brat?" he growled
The girl continued clinging and trembling.
"What happened to you?" demanded impatiently
"Help me!" finally she looked to him in the eyes and whimpered
Confused looked over his shoulder from where she had come. And noticed four dogs growling at them and with foam falling into their mouths.
Rabies.
They should have followed the girl there, no wonder she ran to him. One bite and you had no future.
"Stay behind me!" he ordered and the girl obeyed.
Gyutaro took a few steps forward in full alert. The dogs approached a meter.
With tension building in the air, the first of them leapt toward the young woodcutter. Gyutaro dodged and beat the animal with one of the logs.
The other two ran towards him and without thinking twice he cut them with the scythe. Taking advantage he threw a sickle towards the last dog and with luck he hit the head.
One of his rare abilities is that he could fight well, beacuse of it managed to save Ume several times from the clutches of disgusting old men and bullies. A pity this is the reason that they had to flee the district.
"Careful, behind you!" Nezuko shouted
And in the blink of an eye Gyutaro dodged the first dog's bite. A knock on the head wasn't enough to put it out. Without delay he plunged the sickle into the beast's skull.
What a fright, he almost contracted a terrible disease. He didn't even want to think about leaving Ume alone in this rotten world.
Catching his breath she noticed a shadow close to him.
"Thank you very much, you saved me!" the girl kept her head on the floor in gratitude
"It was nothing! But what did you come here to do at this time?"
"Oh, my brother got sick and couldn't make deliveries today, so I went to his place! However, on the way I encountered this pack. I tried to avoid them, but they followed me and I had to run until founding someone. I'm sorry about what happened earlier."
"Oh, okay then! Be more careful!"
"Thank you again, see you later!" the girl was leaving until Gyutaro noticed that she left the coal basket on the floor. She should have taken it off when it was time to give the thanks.
"You're not forgetting anything, aren't you?" called her
Confused, Nezuko thought for a while and realized.
"Oh, that's right!" Nezuko took some coins from the bag she had hidden in her obi and placed them in her savior's hands.
"I wasn't referring to that." he put the coins in his obi, wouldn't be stupid to return them. He and Ume needed money, what she had given was little, but at the same time a lot.
"Ah." she looked embarrassed "Alright, just a moment."
She took a few deep breaths as if getting ready for something, then she approached the boy. Gyutaro found it strange and without saying anything else the coal man's daughter approached her face to his.
And out of nowhere she kissed his cheek.
Gyutaro never thought that anyone could kiss him, let alone approach him. For a few seconds he didn't understand what had happened. Shocked he took his hand to his face and looked at Nezuko, she looked at him embarrassed.
"I was talkingabout the coal basket!" murmured pointing to the bag.
Realizing the stupidity she made the girl's face reddened with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" the brunette knelt down "Please don't tell anyone about this!"
"It's okay, it wasn't your fault!" His voice had no emotion "I should have spoken before."
"Thanks again! So I'm going, my family must being worried for my right now !" Gyutaro watched her as he quickly grabbed the basket and ran, disappearing from her clearly embarrassed sight.
He didn't care. Took his sickles from the carcasses of dogs, went back to job and tried to live his day.
He smiled a little. He'd gotten a kiss from a pretty girl, even if it had been on the cheek. Unfortunately couldn't tell anyone, as no one would believe him if he told. Not even Ume.
It was a special morning today.