Breaking the monotony of their usual routine. Rin and Leon were walking around the town looking over some of the market stalls. It didn't take long for Rin to figure out a new hobby that gripped her heart. Haggling.
Leon was watching bemusedly as the shopkeep was flinching from the outrageous prices that Rin was proposing.
"There's no way four skewers are worth a silver" Rin roared at the man, slapping her hand on the booth to emphasise the point.
"But I'll tell you what. Mrs. Ben has been by lately for some supplements. With a baby on the way I'm sure you want some more sent over" Rin said in a suggestive tone. Leon tried with his utmost effort not to burst out laughing at the clear carrot and stick treatment the man had gotten himself into involuntarily. The man sighed has he handed over a couple skewers of roasting meat. Rin complied and passed a small earthenware jar, giving instructions for the man to prepare the supplements for his wife. Truly his wife would be a lot happier then if he earnt that one silver. Rin was already beaming as she devoured the salted vegetables. In the forest she rarely seen such ones and the flavourings were very distinct along with the vegitables colouring.
"The way that you're acting you think I've been starving you" Leon commented as he watched Rin hold her cheek in joy over the taste.
"I don't think that's an issue considering you don't even cook" Rin said in a heavily condescending voice.
"If it wasn't because you're food had such great taste would ever need to cook anymore" Leon said with a shrug.rin scowled as she wolfed down the food, the distress at missing out on the skewers was quite plain on Leon's face. Rin felt very satisfied from Leon's suffering so she didn't push him too much.
Within a few minutes Rin had spotted something that interested her and was already haggling again. Leon's face twitch a little at the sight, living in the forest and yet you fell for the most common human trait. The want of wealth. If he didn't know better Rin could easily have passed of as a greedy merchant. Leon made himself a mental note to reduce how much time Rin and Ernesto could spend together. He knew that if those two were left to their own devices anything that isn't bolted down would somehow end up into their hands.
As the pair walked down the street, Leon noticed Rin froze a little.
"What's wrong?" Leon asked puzzled. Following the girls gaze Leon looked over at the crowds of people and saw the priest they accompanied earlier. Leon also stiffened as he knew this man was just oozing trouble. Unfortunately the priest had noticed them and already was making his way towards them. Leon grabbed Rin's hand and walked off in a different direction hoping to lose their pursuers trailer. Rin trusted Leon's judgement when it came to people but she didn't fully understand why they were avoiding the man so blatantly. Although she hated dealing with arrogant people it didn't call for public shaming.
Leon could almost tell what Rin was thinking and wanted to put her doubts to rest.
"A number of priest's earlier tried to destroy some of your medicines." Leon said calmly while he was navigating through the crowd. His grip on Rin's hand tightened. Rin was definitely surprised, although she couldn't understand why someone wouldn't need medicine it made less sense to her that someone would destroy them.
"The church is quite unforgiven for those that stood out. Unfortunately as a medicine lady it seems you were too good. Enough so they accused you of witchcraft and devilry" Rin could tell that these were bad but she didn't know where to begin in what they actually meant, focusing on keeping his hand in hers she became quite distracted from their initial reason to flee. Dragging Rin along Leon quickly had them hide in a narrow alley, barely big enough to fit one person. The size had the two if them squeezed up against each other watching on as they saw the priest rush past them not giving a second glance. Leon exhaled from losing his pursuer the feeling of soft flesh pushing against caused him to freeze. Rin was panting slightly from being pulled and her cheeks were rosey, their breaths were so close that Leon felt intoxicated. He had realised throughout the trip the girl he was with was very much a woman that had just begun to blossom. Her chest was crushed ever so slightly causing a ravine that was hard for him to ignore. Rin felt an intense gaze on her, the hairs on neck were heckled from the fire she could feel from it. Turning to look at Leon she was sucked into the deep pools that were his eyes. For a moment they both stopped and stared as their breaths intermingled. Rin blushed heavily, even though she had gotten used to having this Hunter close to her so often these past days but bring this close was. Suffocating.
"I think he's gone" Rin said trying to divert the conversation away from their current predicament. Leon however smiled, a tint of an evil thought was veiled behind his eyes.
"Knowing how hard that darn priest was pursuing us I'm sure it would be safer here"
"What in your arms?" Rin said sarcastically. The warmth coming off his body had already made her face feel flushed. Her breathing was slowly becoming ragged from how close together they were.
"And if I agreed?" Leon said with a smirk. Rin was shocked at how flirtatious he had become. Did he hit his head when they hid away or had this man simply hid his intentions from the start. Leon watched as she squirmed under his intense gaze. Letting a hearty chuckle he eased back from the chest to chest. Leon pulled himself back onto the main street. Rin looking dishevelled glared daggers at Leon. It was hard for him to wipe off the smirk on his face. Rin however was not so pleased, stomping away Leon still had his smile plastered on his face. It wouldn't be far fetched to say that she was much like kitten, with its fur puffed up in irritation.
Rin however kept running away from Leon, feeling that this Hunter had much more in mind for his prey. Leon tried to follow after her but the crowds started to swallow up the last sight of her. Looking around he released he had lost her causing panic to well up in him.
"Rin!" Leon called out but no heads turned at the mention of the name. A huge worry settled on Leon's heart as he searched for her. Had he taken it to far?
Rin however had without purpose wandered into the crowd and had lost sight of Leon. She had felt a slight panic as she was now alone in the waves of people. Looking around she couldn't see that familiar top of hair that Leon always had. However something even worse appeared. The priest that had been following them had caught sight of her. Determined not to lose her again he strode forward and made a beeline for her. Rin try to runaway but her wrist was caught in his steeler grasp.