Brainwashing program.

[Deleted]

Yugure slunk off to one side, dragging Hikari with, not even bothering to see if Eugen followed. "That man's still there," she hissed. "I could feel him watching us."

"You and me?" Hikari asked in a hushed tone.

"No, well, yes." Her eyes darted about, tail flicking nervously. "I think he was watching all the slaves, but, I felt as though he were watching us in particular," she shuddered and Hikari turned her head to look at the Imperator's servant.

[tuo]

When Yugure looked back at where the Imperator's servant was, she could no longer see him.

Eugen hurried after them and heard there short conversation. "But..why would he be watching us? We aren't anything that special are we..?"

[Deleted]

Hikari glanced behind her at Eugen. "I don't know. I don't think. I mean, there are a ton of us here so..." Yugure shushed her with an intense look.

"Look," she said to Eugen. "There is something going on, that's for sure. Who knows what, but all I know is that I don't want to find out."

[tuo]

Eugen chewed on his lower lip a moment before nodding. "all right, but are you sure you two can get out of here alone..?" He asks in a worried whisper.

[Deleted]

"Yeah, I think so," was all she said before walking away with a slight sniff, Hikari trailing nervously behind her.

[tuo]

Eugen continued to follow them while wringing his hands. "But what about the other slaves? We can't just leave them here by themselves can we?"

[Deleted]

"How would you suggest we do that? Every slave is under a different person, or nearly every one. I mean, think about it. We could release the slaves that are in each others group but the others...? I don't know that some would really want to leave."

Yugure snorted.

[tuo]

Eugen took a deep breath. "Well..if we are gonna leave we better go before anybody catches us then."

[Deleted]

"Then come on!" Yugure scurried into the thickening crowds of people, looking this way and that.

Hikari groaned quietly but grabbed Eugen's hand and pulled him with her. "I doubt she would leave us behind, but, she really wants to go, so we had best kept up."

[tuo]

Eugen stumbled a little before scurrying to catch up. "all right, Forces watch over us.."

As they approached a gateway out of Morilanta, it was being patrolled by guards almost everywhere you look.

[Deleted]

Hikari huddled with Yugure as they watched the gate. "Maybe...yes, maybe we can slip by them by saying that we have messages to deliver to one of the outside settlements?" Yugure asked, looking at the other two.

But before they could answer, she slipped back into the crowd and headed for the gate; Hikari quickly followed, her ears lowered and plastered to her head.

[tuo]

Eugen swore under his breath lightly before scurrying after them.

As Yugure approached the gate, the guards readies themselves and one challenges the group. "You slaves had better have a good excuse for this."

[Deleted]

Yugure hauled up short causing Hikari to run into her and then both of them to tumble to the ground in front of the guards.

"We do!" she said, standing up as though nothing had happened. "We were told to deliver a message to one of the...the Lords outside the gates!"

[tuo]

Eugen quickly went down to kneel as well and began to silently murmur to himself.

The guards didn't seem to believe this and one of them spoke out. "Yeah right! Since when do they let slaves walk around outside without there leash?"

Suddenly Eugen raised his head. "They are under my supervision sir, my master did not want to bother delivering this message himself."

The guards snorted and still seemed skeptical. "Yeah? We're supposed to believe you why?"

[Deleted]

Both of the fox affinity girls craned their heads around to look at him, startled. "Eugen?" Hikari asked softly, approaching him. I don't think..." she started and then stopped when her sister spoke up.

"What he said," she jerked her head at Eugen.