Linn and Tomodachi run through the field as they run, Linn thinks. He had many questions running through his head. Where is he? What is this place? Who took Erica into this world? Where did Kaila go? Why is Tomodachi human? And many more. As he was thinking, he could hear Tomodachi calling from behind.
''Master...'' Tomodachi said, panting. ''Where are we going?''
''I don't know, Tomo' 'Linn said, not looking back. ''But we're sure to run into something or someone. We have to find Kaila and Erica and bring them back home.'' At the mention of Erica's name, Tomodachi's ears perk up.
''Are you saying Erica's here too?'' Tomodachi said, surprised. Linn looked back at Tomo, puzzled.
''Well yea'' Linn said. ''Didn't you already know that?"
''All I saw was you and Kaila jumping into the portal thingy. I didn't see Erica there,'' Tomodachi said. Linn then remembered. 'Right,' Linn thought. 'Tomodachi wasn't there when Erica got kidnapped.'
''Well, it's a long story.'' Linn began explaining to Tomodachi how they ran into that gang, and a gust of wind knocked them away, how they came across the portal, and how Erica was grabbed and dragged into the portal.
''Wow," Tomodachi said, amazed.
''And that's why we must find the girls,'' Linn finished.
''Okay,'' said Tomodachi with renewed vigor. '' Let's find Erica so we can return home,'' Linn sweatdropped.
''We have to find Kaila too,'' Linn reminded.
''Do we have to?'' Tomodachi questioned.
''Tomodachi…'' Linn frowned with a scolding look.
''Fine fine…'' Tomodachi pouted.
The two of them were still running across the field. After a few minutes, they stopped to catch their breath.
''This field runs forever! ''Linn complained, sitting down.
''I'm so tired…''Tomodachi said, falling on his back.
''Let's take a break,'' Linn said.
''Yes, master'' Tomodachi said. Linn raised his eyebrows.
''You know Tomo, you don't have to call me master every time.''
''But you are my master, master,'' Tomodachi said, sitting up.
''It sounds weird to hear someone calling me that,'' Linn said. ''Besides, I always considered you my friend or family member, so you can just call me Linn, OK?'' Tomodachi looked at Linn with stars in his eyes.
''Ok, master Linn!'' Tomodachi said happily.
Linn sweatdropped and sighed. 'I don't think he understood,' Linn thought.
''kyahh!''
Linn and Tomodachi hurried up to their feet.
''What was that?!'' Linn looked around.
''Over there, master!'' Tomodachi pointed. Linn looked in the direction Tomodachi pointed to and saw quite a sight. It was a girl running away from a group of men.
''She looks like she's in trouble,'' Linn observed.
''What should we do, master?'' Tomodachi asked.
''What else?'' Linn rushed to the scene, and Tomodachi followed behind. Meanwhile, the girl kept running until she tripped and landed on the ground. ''Ow'' said the girl.
''We got you now.'' The men that were chasing her were now forming a circle around her. ''There's nowhere left to run, sweetheart,'' one of the men, presumably the leader, said with a sinister grin.
''Please, I'll do anything. Just let me go.'' the girl begged.
''Hmm, tempting. What should I do?'' The leader sarcastically ponders this before readying his men to attack.
''Please, no!'' The girl cried, tears in her eyes.
''You brought this on yourself, girlie,'' the leader sneered. ''You should've known better; now let's go!'' The man reached out to grab the girl, but his arm was grabbed instead.
''What?'' the leader said, startled. The men were surprised to find a little boy in underwear glaring at them.
''Shame on you, picking on a girl like that,'' the boy said.
''What? Who are you?'' The leader said, trying to get out of the boy's grip.
''Linn Tsukiyomi, the hero!'' Linn introduced himself as he lifted the man by his arm and threw him clear across the field. A man ran up to Linn and threw a punch, but Linn blocked it with his arm and landed a quick punch to the man's stomach, followed by a high kick to the chin. Two men came rushing to Linn's side. Linn performed a jumping roundhouse kick, knocking one man into the other. A rather pudgy man swung from the back, aiming for his head. Linn dodged the blow at the last second and struck the pudgy man's jaw with a right hook.
''That's all of them,'' Linn said, dusting his hands. '
''Lookout,'' the girl screamed.
Suddenly, Linn turned his head to see the man he threw charging at him with a knife. ''I got you now!'' The man roared, his blade inches away from Linn. Linn just took a deep breath and caught the man's hand.
''What?'' the leader said, shocked. Linn smirked.
''No, I got you.'' Linn used his free hands to snap his fingers three times.
''Huh?" the leader said, confused, before he felt a sharp pain in his ankle where Tomodachi had just bit him.
''Ow!'' The leader knelt from the pain, dropping the knife. Linn then moved his free hand back to straighten it out. He pulled the man in and clotheslined him! The man was turned inside out and landed with a thud.
Linn took another deep breath and sighed. ''Ok, now that all of them,'' Linn said.
''You did it, master Linn! "Tomodachi jumped on Linn and began licking him.
''Haha, ok, boy down' 'Linn chuckled. ''That's all in a day's work for the hero Linn.'' Linn did his heroic pose while Tomodachi ran around him in circles.
The girl stares at the two. Linn goes up to the girl and asks, ''Are you alright, miss?'' The girl stares blankly at him. ''Um, miss?'' Linn says, slightly confused. The girl continues to stare until she speaks.
''That….was…..AWESOME!!"
Linn and Tomodachi were startled by her sudden shout. ''You were all like haa, and they were all like grr and...'' the girl continued excitedly.
Linn and his dog sweatdropped. '''I'm glad you liked it.'' Linn chuckled nervously.
''Master, I think she has a few screws loose,'' Tomodachi deadpanned.
''Don't be mean, Tomo,'' Linn scolded.
''Anyway, thanks for saving me,'' the girl said, bowing.
''Oh! You're welcome'' Linn bowed back. He straightened up and took in the appearance of the girl. She had short orange hair and orange eyes. She was wearing a simple brown cloak. ''I hate to ask this, but...''Linn trailed off.
''Yes?'' the girl replied.
''Why were those men chasing you, and why are you wearing that?'' Linn asked.
The girl mocked gasped ''what, you don't like the cloak?''
''What? No, I just…''
''I think it makes me look majestic and heroic!'' The girl did the Linn the hero pose. Linn and Tomodachi sweatdropped again.
''Hey Tomo…'' Linn whispered ''Did I always look that stupid when I do that?''
''I always thought you looked cool,'' Tomodachi whispered back.
''Maybe I should stop doing that…''Linn said sadly.
The girl stopped posing and addressed Linn. ''Besides, you have no right to ask how I dress, boxers boy, '' the girl said, pointing at Linn's underwear. Linn looked down and noticed that he was still in his underwear, so he covered himself.
''Wait this is…!''Linn blushed madly.
''I didn't know you were such an exhibitionist hero,'' the girl teased.
Tomodachi sighed at the banter until he remembered something Linn had asked her. He stepped in and glared. ''you didn't answer his question,'' Tomodachi said.
Linn and the girl stopped their exchange and looked at Tomo.
''What?'' the girl said confused.
''I said you didn't answer his question''. Tomodachi repeated.
''I told you silly because it makes me look majestic and heroic,'' The girl laughed.
''No about why those men were chasing after you.''
the girl paled. "W-well…" the girl said as Linn looked curious as well. After a few seconds, the girl answered, "I don't know why. I was walking, and they stopped me and gave me these creepy smiles. I got scared and ran, but then they started chasing me. I-I was so scared..'' she began tearing up at the memory. However, Tomodachi was not buying it.
''Oh please,'' he said, rolling his eyes. ''Who would fall for that?''
''Oh, you poor thing!'' Linn said with comical tears in his eyes. Tomodachi facefaulted.
''M-master! Don't tell me you believe her!?'' Tomodachi said, exasperated. Linn looked at Tomodachi and blinked. ''Of course, I do; why wouldn't I?'' Linn questioned.
''Don't you find it a little weird that a random girl would just be strolling along this huge field and then suddenly be chased by grown men?'' Tomodachi questioned ''And that you just happened to be standing by?'' Tomodachi added.
''I don't see a problem with it,'' Linn said, shrugging his shoulders. ''It happens all the time in manga and anime.''
'This isn't a manga or anime, master,' Tomodachi thought, sweat dropping.
Linn went to the cloaked girl and patted her head. ''There there, it's ok, the big bad men are gone. You're safe now,'' Linn reassured the girl.
The girl looked up and smiled. ''Thank you,'' she said. Linn smiled back.
''You're welcome, miss…uh'' Linn then realized that he didn't know her name. ''I'm sorry, but do you mind me asking your name?'' Linn asked. The girl giggled in response.
"Isn't it a bit rude to ask someone their name before introducing yourself?" the girl winked. Linn blushed and said, "You're right." Linn cleared his throat.
''My name is Linn Tsukiyomi, and this is Tomodachi.'' Linn introduced. Tomodachi merely waved.
''Now it's your turn,'' Tomodachi said. The girl giggled again.
'You can call me Madoka!'' the girl introduced cheerfully.
''Ok, Madoka, I have a few questions,'' Linn said.
'OK, shoot'' Madoka said.
''Where are we? Have you seen two girls around here?'' Linn asked.
''Well, one, you're in Desiro plains, a huge plains on the outskirts of Kido village, and you're gonna have to be more specific about the girls,'' Madoka explained.
''well, there is one girl, about yay tall, blond hair with pigtails wearing a school uniform…''
''She is also rude and very annoying,'' Tomodachi added. Linn elbowed him.
''And then there is one with short raven hair also wearing a school uniform…''
And she is friendly, sweet, caring, cute, lovely, and smells good and nice,'' Tomodachi added cheerfully with stars in his eyes. Linn sweatdropped. Madoka put a finger to her chin.
''Nope,'' she finally said, ''haven't seen any girls matching those descriptions.''
Linn was saddened to hear that ''oh… well, thank you anyway.'' Linn said.
"Sorry, I couldn't be more helpful." Madoka said apologetically, "But if it would help, you can go to Kido Village, just north of here; someone might be able to help you." Linn brightened up a little.
''OK, we'll head there. What are you going to do?'' Linn asked.
''Hmm, I'm just going to explore Desiro plains a little longer since I was interrupted earlier,'' Madoka replied.
''Are you sure you're gonna be ok by yourself?'' Linn asked, worried about her safety.
''I'll be fine!'' Madoka replied cheerfully. ''besides, you have more important matters to tend to.''
''If you say so…'' Linn said unsure. ''It was nice meeting you.''
''You too,'' Madoka said as she ran off, leaving Linn and Tomodachi alone.
''She was nice, don't you think?'' Linn asked Tomodachi.
"I don't know, Master. There's something about her that I don't like.'' Tomodachi snarled in Madoka's direction.
''Well, in any case, we can't stand here all day. We have to find Kaila and Erica.'' Linn said, determined. ''She said there was a village to the north of here. Let's go there.''
''As you wish, master,'' Tomodachi replied. The two headed north.
000
Meanwhile, Madoka was walking through the plains. She looked up at the sun and smiled.
"Linn Tsukiyomi, huh?" she said. What an interesting person. To think that he would help me without knowing the full story." She pulled out a little brown bag and started shaking it, hearing the sounds of coins. "Well, Linn, I do hope our paths will cross again. You might be useful to my cause." She giggled maliciously as she faded out of the plains.