Going home! [Ama --> Hinowa]

Giggling, a bubbling attitude and a sincere smile would be his toll for the gate keeper. The man would smile in return as he opened the gates to let them pass through. Amatstu would then offer a cheerful wave before waving back to Josie, ushering her on. "Come on, Josie! Lets play hide and seek!"

If this wasnt such a critical moment, in their escape plan, Amatsu would have beem giggling much harder that he was. This was going much smoother than he thought it would. They were making good time in thier progress; it wouldnt be long before they could drop the act and move faster.

Josie giggled and smiled, too, and easily passed through the gate without even so much as a second glance from the guards. They were just two children playing; or so that's how it looked. She followed Amatsu, laughing and care free in her attitude. There was no true way to tell that they were up to anything at all: just two children off to play outside of the village gates – to go play Hide and Seek or some other childish game.

“Haha! You count first! I'll hide!”, she called out as she ran ahead, laughing. “You'll never find me!”, she added – her own personal joke of sorts. To anyone else it would seem like nothing more than childish taunt, but in truth it was a taunt towards the village itself – no one was stopping them, no one would have any reason to expect anything at all.

She jumped playfully over a larger rock, and then skipped several yards, before laughing some more and taking off into a run again. She looked around as she went, keeping up this act, and looking as if she were looking for some grand place to hide.

"No fair! Me first!" He would shout, chasing after her. This playful banter, it was perfect. He would follow after Josie, jumping over the rock as well before reaching out to tag Josie. "LAST ONE THERE IS A ROTTEN EGG!"

Another laugh, another jump that would send him sailing ahead. Soon enough, they were out of sight of the village gates, and Amatsu would turn in the direction of Hinowa. No longer concerned that someone would come stop them, he would break out into a light job in order to allow Josie to keep up, and head on home.

-Thread exit-

Josie would feel herself tagged and squeal with laughter and delight as she would take off chasing Amatsu until they were both well away from the village and completely out of sight. It had been so easy, and no one had stopped them. Perfect, truly perfect. She kept up with Amatsu at his jogging pace as the pair headed to Hinowa – and towards Josie's freedom from the hell of her past. She was free, truly free, and she couldn't help but laugh.

-Exit-