WELL HELLO! My Doc Manager is being idiotic so I can't really type this right. Please forgive me for the rather bad writing, this is my first thing on FictionPress. This takes place in pre-modern times. Or something!
Important: The one-liners with italics and ' near the end are Sayako's narrative. You know, like those little boxes mangas usually have? Since this is, of course, in the Manga section, I have to make it be at least a little like a manga!

CHAPTER I.
Bring Me an Eggplant!

Imaginary Manga Cover:
Kotone in front of a stall, slipping stolen food into a sack behind his back.

Adsaho Manor

Whispers scattered through the air, audible only to people close by.

"That Sayako.. I think she's getting clumsier and clumsier each passing day.."

"That is very true.. Might as well lay her off?"

"Yes."

"No! What- Why would you say-"

"This isn't your place to speak, Coralei."

"But-"

"At any rate, we will write a letter of recommendation for her, alright?"

"And give her a sum of money so she can take care."

"We've been needing a better maid, so this will be good."

"But.."

A girl, who looked no older than thirteen, stood stock still outside the room where the quiet conversation was being held. She clenched a dark green duster tightly, listening as her only defendant trailed off and became silent through the rest of the conversation. Tears slowly welled in her eyes, her throat tightening. She started walking away, stiffly.

The wooden door, the one she had been standing right in front of moments before, burst open. A troubled-looking blonde girl stepped out quickly. She looked around, and her green gaze settled on the other girl in unhappy surprise. "Sayako?" she called, timid and remorseful. She tried to look.. anything but guilty. She tried in vain, though. Eyes were the gateway to the soul, and her eyes were brimming with dirty, dark guilt. She set her mouth in a determined straight line. Maybe sloppily.

Sayako turned around, wiping her cloudy grey eyes with the hand that wasn't gripping the duster. It wasn't very clean. "Yes, Mistress Coralei?" she said, trying to keep herself upbeat. Her voice was only slightly above a mumble, as she didn't dare to be louder in fear of making her voice crack. She stepped closer to her Mistress.

"Umm.." Coralei hesitated, looking down at her black, shiny leather flats. She made the mistake of glancing at Sayako's dirty cloth sandals. Cloth sandals.. Weren't those bought three years ago- She shook her head, trying to shake off the thoughts that were threatening to make her feel bleak. She looked at the sandals again and breathed in quickly, shakily. I can't do this! It's too cruel! She looked back up at Sayako, her eyes wide in fear. Fear for her dear maid. I have to tell her..

"Ahmm..! Would.. Would you buy.. eggplants for the cook?" she faltered, and felt like slapping herself afterwards. Repeatedly. She clutched the sides her skirt tightly.

Sayako looked at her, slightly surprised. "Um.. Eggplants..?" Her Mistress hated eggplants very, very much. It was a very well-known fact; she had a small fit whenever she thought she tasted the purple vegetable in her meal.

"Ah! Y-Yes, please! I would like to eat stew, a-and.." Coralei shut her eyes tightly. Coward.

Sayako looked fondly at the stuttering girl. "Sure. Can I have the money?"

"Um! Yes!" Coralei darted inside the room and came out moments later. She thrust out some silver coins, not meeting Sayako's eyes. "Just buy one, and one only! You-You know how it doesn't taste that good, I'm just trying it out!"

Sayako gave a small smile and nodded. "Bye.. Mistress!" She walked away.

A few heartbeats passed.

Coralei stared after her, horrified. What is wrong with me? Her light blue eyes could hardly retain her tears, and it made her vision hazy. Her view of the figure of her maid, her best friend, the only person in the Manor that was her age, blurred. She blinked, teardrops falling.

Her smaller brother stepped swiftly behind her, having listened from the doorway. "Are you really that weak, sister?" he asked softly. He had seen his bigger sister do braver things, that's for sure.

Coralei wiped her eyes with her silken sleeve, feeling worse for it was bad manners to do so. "I can't tell her she's getting.. I just can't!"

He responded with only a light touch on her arm. She already might know.

Town Marketplace

Sayako held the bag carrying the eggplant. Her auburn hair blinked gently in the sunlight. She was walking back to the Manor, still deep inside the marketplace. She had probed every stall that held eggplants until she found the smallest eggplant she had ever encountered. Although she hadn't encountered many eggplants. She considered it as a favor for her obviously reluctant Mistress. A going away present, she called it bleakly.

"I hope I get a nice new Mistress. Or Master," she mumbled to herself. "I hope they would be as nice as the Adsaho family.." She slapped her hand on the side of her head and stomped faster. "I should just be grateful they're writing a letter of recommendation!"

She slowed down.

"They.. are so kind.." She released a loud sigh. "This-This.. I'm talking to myself! Oh!" she cried. She walked faster.

"Get him! Now!" A shout came to Sayako's ears. As she turned her head in curiosity, a boy pushed past her and accidentally dropped a heavy sack at her feet. Sayako squeaked as she flailed momentarily for balance, the eggplant bag falling out of her grip. The bag fell with a loud SMACK! and she slammed down onto the ground. She turned her head to see the bag.

Sayako breathed in sharply as she saw the eggplant juice ooze slowly through the bag. The boy pulled up his sack, his ink-black hair falling to his face. He looked at her in worry. "Are you okay-"

"YOU JERK!" she screamed, clenching her hand into a fist. The cook will never accept this stupid vegetable now! "It was for my-"

"Whatever, bye!" he shouted and ran. She's okay!

"N-No wait! I need you to pay for this!" she cried in anger and ran after him, wielding a smushed eggplant. "If you don't pay, how would I explain the missing money!" She would part with the Adsaho family dubbed as a thief!

"Sorry, no can do!" he called back. "Stop following me!"

"No, you can do! You can!" she shouted. The eggplant juice trickled down her arm. Sayako caught up and grabbed hold of the back of his shirt. He stopped suddenly as they approached more shouts, making Sayako slam into him. He pulled her into a niche with him, covering her mouth as she started to speak. She blushed furiously and glared at him as people rushed past. A few seconds passed. He let out a sigh of relief as the shouts disappeared.

Sayako pulled out of his grasp, out of the niche, and held the eggplant in front of her. "D-Don't touch me.. I have an eggplant! And a few questions."

He looked from side to side, seeming to check if the coast was clear. "Okay.."

"Uh.. What did you do? Why were they chasing you?" Sayako asked warily. Was he some sort of criminal?

He smiled. "How do you know they were chasing me?" He got hit with an eggplant. A soggy soggy eggplant. Mushed and sad looking and-

"Don't be an witty idiot! You were hiding from them, you dolt!" she said angrily. "Tell me now or I'll scream and let everyone know you're here! Don't run, either!"

He let out a puff of air. "You'd scream either way. And I have to go.." He widened his eyes as he heard a horn.

"Well, just tell-"

"I'm a pirate!" he exclaimed in impatience, and then he ran. Only to get hit with a fruit car pushed by an old man. He tumbled to the ground with an "Ack! Darn you old man!"

"Oh! I-I'm sorry?" the old man exclaimed. Sayako realized the boy was pretty hurt. "Hey!" she ran up to him, dropping the eggplant. "Pirate-boy, are you okay?" she asked, touching his back. He glanced up at her, his eyes scrunching up in light pain. He held his side. "Do I look like I'm okay to you?" He glanced at her hand. "Dropped your eggplant after exerting much of your effort to chase me?"

She opened her mouth to defensively retort, but people suddenly came from behind, shouting. "Look, look! It's the thief!"

"Catch him!"

"He's with another one! Get a good look at their faces!"

"She's a maid from Adsaho Manor!"

"She's a pirate! A thief!"

Sayako stood up quickly, appalled. Appalled by.. their stupidity? "Me? Thief? What?"

The boy groaned in annoyance, got up, and started running. "Wait!" Sayako called. She stumbled after him, slipping because of her sandals. She pulled them off and ran towards him. "You look hurt, the Manor has a nurse-"

"I can't! Come on!" He grabbed her arm, pulling her to the docks.

"What! No, wait! I can't come with you!" she exclaimed, trying to loosen his grip, stumbling over her own feet.

'Everyone can be paranoid'

"They'll kill you even if you go back because they suspect you're with me now! Your family will be safer this way!" he told her.

'Slight missteps can cause serious misunderstandings'

"No! I don't have a family, I'm a maid! My Mistress will explain everything, it won't-"

'Especially..'

He let go of her and slowed down a little. "If you think they'll handle your problems, go back!" He went ahead.

'When pirates are involved.'

She widened her eyes, staring at his shrinking figure. "My.. problems..?" That's right.. They were going to fire me.. They wouldn't really, really sort out my own problems.. She took a few steps. She turned her head sharply as she heard the shouts coming nearer. She ran after him. He saw her and slowed down. "We're almost there-" he stopped talking when he saw her tears.

"I hate you," she muttered, wiping her eyes. She ran faster.

"The ship's close.." The boy mumbled. He ran after her.

Their feet slapped on the stone floor, mingling with the shouts of the townspeople.

"Get them!"

"They're heading for the docks!"