Saruhiko sighed in frustration.

Every time Sceptar 4 ran out of supplies, he was always the one to go out into the village market and get more. It wasn't like there were others to do it, no, it had to be him. Despite the fact they had servants for tasks just like this. Reisi always told him it was because he had probably done something to warrant the terrible trip, but Saruhiko had a sneaking suspicion that he just liked making the troublesome knight miserable. He smirked way to much for it to be any other thing.

But Reisi was his superior and he was forced to listen to the bastard. So he snatched the list out of the Head Knight's fingers and dressed in his "commoner clothes". If he wore his knight uniform, people would most likely either be terrified of him or would avoid him like the plague was back in town. While he normally relished in their fear, today he just wasn't in the mood.

So he donned his blue cloth top with gold trim- slightly extravagant, but only enough to let them know he had wealth and power so they wouldn't disrespect him- and black trousers and boots and made his way towards the village.

The castle slowly disappeared from his view as he got closer to the market. As he predicted, people made it a point to try and not bump into him, and the few who did apologized profusely. He just ignored them and ventured further into the crowd.

The castle had a stockpile of supplies, but Reisi had somewhat of an obsession with commoner things. He said the food was healthier than the slop they shipped in for the rest of the castle's occupants and that there was much to learn from the villagers. The others under his command simply nodded and turned their backs before commenting on how he was insane.

Saruhiko had to admit, although begrudgingly, that the food did taste better when it came from the market. But he said nothing to the Head Knight, of course.

He hastily gathered up the fruits and vegetables from stands, throwing the gold coins on the counter before moving on to another stand. Bread was collected and he had a short argument about the price of some of the spices he needed, but eventually just rolled his eyes and practically took the man's head off with how hard he threw the coins at him. Garlic in his basket and thoroughly annoyed, he headed to the center plaza. On the other side was the meat and fish, but Saruhiko found himself stopping as he looked at the solid wall of people there. They were looking at the stage in the middle of the square, which usually held some sort of band playing amateur but lively music. Instead, however, Saruhiko found himself freezing at the sight on the wooden platform.

It was a gypsy. They weren't too uncommon, but they normally kept to the alleys and shadows- never had anyone other than the band members or official people from the castle stood on that stage. Yet here the gypsy was, standing center of attention and seeming to revel in it.

Saruhiko found himself breathless at the beauty of the male nomad. His tan torso was bare other than an open red vest. He could see a faint henna tattoo over his heart, slightly covered by the vest. Gold bracelets jangled on his left wrist, matching the gold embroidery on his vest. He had loose red pants that hung low on his hips, which held multiple gold belts that jingled when he moved. He was barefoot, and had one single gold anklet.

He blinked and looked at the gypsy's face. He had a broad smile on his face, gazing into the crowd with no sign of fear on his face- despite the cruel muttering of the villagers. The gypsy had shocking amber eyes and red, unkempt hair that hung to his shoulders. There was a single ear pierced with a hooped golden earring, beautifully complementing his tanned skin.

Saruhiko sucked in a breath when those captivating eyes locked on him. The gypsy looked shocked, as if he had never seen a noble at the market before, but he then smirked and jutted his chin out.

"Get out of here!" a man screeched from the crowd. "Your kind isn't welcome here!"

"Well isn't that just rude?" the wanderer asked in a smooth voice. "I haven't done anything."

"Your kind is nothing but thieves!" a woman shouted.

"Me?" the man asked in fake disbelief, hand over his chest and a pout on his face. "I would never steal."

"Liar!"

There were a few other outbursts, but the gypsy took them all in stride, effectively evading and brushing off insults. Saruhiko found himself snorting in amusement as each word rolled off the redhead's tongue.

"Hey, I know you! You're from Homra!"

The gypsy suddenly stiffened, but never let the easy-going grin slide from his face. "Well, looks like that's my queue to leave!"

With a graceful backflip, the man suddenly dropped through a hole in the stage. A few men ran up there and looking into the hole, but from their confused faces Saruhiko guessed that the gypsy had disappeared.

Saruhiko snorted and continued on his way, shaking the amber eyes out of his mind. He had meat to buy, plus if he wasn't back at the castle before sunset, the Head Knight would be annoyed. They need the supplies to prepare dinner, and the guards who had night shifts would be incredibly angry with him.

So he bought the rest of the items on the list and started making his way back to the castle, wondering what Homra was and who the gypsy was. In order for him to get back faster, he cut through a few alleys and was only about five minutes from the castle gates when a throat was cleared behind him.

"Nice to see a noble come out to play with the commoners."

Saruhiko turned easily and smiled at the gypsy, who was standing about five feet from him. "Just needed to buy some things!" he chirped. "Help the economy, you know."

The gypsy scowled and crossed his arms, acting completely different from when he was on stage. "You people are nothing but crooks who steal from those who have nothing to give."

"Isn't that what you supposedly do?" he said simply.

This only seemed to ignite the other's temper, because the scowl deepened and his fists clenched. "You think I control the stereotypes about my people?"

"You think I do?"

The redhead seemed to calm down at that slightly, though grudgingly. "Fine. I guess you're right."

"What's your name?" Saruhiko asked suddenly.

"My name?" the nomad seemed surprised. "Why?"

"Well, we seem to be having a lovely conversation. Just thought it would be nice to ask," he shrugged.

The nomad blushed faintly, making the knight smirk. "Misaki."

"No last name?"

"I'm a gypsy, what do you expect?" the smaller male smirked. "What about you?"

"Fushimi Saruhiko, at your service," he said, bowing mockingly.

"You're a piece of work," Misaki laughed, gracefully approaching the knight. He inched his way closer and the knight just rose a brow.

"You have no idea, Mi-sa-ki~"

The redhead just smiled sweetly, laid a hand on his chest, and whispered in his ear. "Hopefully I can see you again and find out."

The pressure was gone and so was the gypsy, because when Saruhiko turned around, Misaki had disappeared like he had on stage. Saruhiko blinked and smirked, adjusting his grip on the basket and continuing back to the castle as though nothing had happened. He would have to come out to the village more often.

It wasn't until he was handing his things to Reisi when he realized that the vast majority of his remaining gold coins were gone, along with an apple. He got an earful from Reisi for misplacing his things.

As he walked down the street, Misaki smiled and bit into an apple, tossing the gold coins in the air.