50 Humanese

Without him knowing the arm that kept him confined moved to his wrist, dragging him forward. He almost tripped while looking at the unusual surroundings.

Just then, Tarou noticed that his senses were not as sharp as usual. He could still catch a whiff of a mixture of herbs but it wasn't as strong as how his sense of smell used to be.

'Did the fall temporarily affect my senses?'

While thinking about the unusual circumstances, Tarou noticed a source of light in the corner close to what appeared like a large tub of water. Through the light from the candle, Tarou could make out the things in the room.

For the first time, the world looked clearer and bigger to the little mouse. Tarou couldn't help but gape at all the things he saw.

'Wow! This looks different!'

Tarou was so amazed by his surroundings that he forgot what happened earlier. He studied everything his eyes laid on. Attracted, he walked faster towards the lighted area where he could observe things in greater detail. To his annoyance, something tugged on his paw, keeping him in place.

'What is wrong with this thing!'

Tarou couldn't help but look back to the object clasping his paw which was barely visible in the shadows. Before he could bite the thing off, he witnessed something more shocking.

The warm thing anchoring him to the same spot was a hand.

'Wait!'

Tarou crouched down to see the thing better and his eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.

'I lost my paw!!!'

Tarou studied the objects again and all he saw were hands.

'What happened? '

Tarou couldn't help but flex what was supposed to be his fingers. Realizing the uniqueness of his situation, Tarou looked up to the person beside him and realized that the human appeared smaller and he was two heads taller than him. He could vaguely see the man's appearance.

"Human?"

Tarou called out tentatively as if trying to test something. The words came out in the human language, not as squeaks which surprised him even more.

Caught off guard, the person clasping what was supposed to be his paw walked closer to him and stepped out of the shadows. With his face illuminated partly by the fading daylight and the candlelight, Tarou could finally see how Barca looked like.

What Tarou saw next knocked of the breath out of him. The man had the most expressive eyes. The candlelight reflecting on those eyes made him look fiercer. Tarou was bewitched, he could stare at the man's eyes forever. As the man returned his gaze, Tarou sense that those eyes wanted to ask him a thousand questions.

Tarou felt the hand around his hand tighten, jolting Tarou back to reality.

'I can speak! I can!'

Realizing his luck, Tarou didn't waste time. Who knows how long he could speak "humanese."

He should take advantage of this situation and ask for help! He could just think about all the unusual things later.

"Human! Human!!!" Tarou shouted with urgency. He looked at the man again who looked more confused as ever.

'I forgot, humans tend to be slow when it comes to shocking things.'

Tarou gave the man a pitiful look before shaking his head.

'What if this man was someone else? Barca couldn't be this stupid, could he?'

Indecisive, Tarou started speaking in a human voice which felt so foreign to him.

"Barca? Is it you?"

Tarou felt the grasp on his wrist loosen and focused on him but his eyes looked as if he was lost. He could see that the man was still in shock and he couldn't help but start to feel annoyed.

'How long will it take him to snap out of it?'

'How do humans get other humans to pay attention?'

'That's it!'

'This thing works every time!'

Tarou pushed Barca towards the wall on the side. Perhaps due to the unexpected shove, Barca was pushed back and Tarou saw him gape like a fish.

'Am I doing this right?'

Tarou gripped his side and felt the soft cloth.

'Am I wearing what humans call clothes?'

Tarou was about to study what clothes he wore but he felt a light tug trying to push him away inside his mind. Realizing that something could happen anytime, Tarou focused on the task ahead. Barca still looked at him as if he could do something magical like fly the way birds do.

Barca needed to focus. Making up his mind, Tarou raised one hand and placed it on the man's cheek, and waited for him to react. Unfortunately, Tarou did not get the reaction he wanted. Barca appeared even more dazed after what he did.

Tarou pouted. It always worked in making humans pay attention. Maybe he needed more force. Usually, when a human's hand lands on another human's face, it was followed by a forceful sound. With renewed vigor, Tarou raised his hand again and this time, his hand landed on Barca's face with a loud Pak!

Barca finally focused. Elated with his success, Tarou was about to question him if he was indeed Barca when he started to feel dizzy. It was as if he would pass out anytime. Alarmed, Tarou launched into full panic mode.

"Listen, Human. Boss, Boss is in danger!"

Tarou noticed Barca appeared confused again and he couldn't help but stomp on the man's feet. He had no time to waste.

"The forest close to the village where the Princess was kidnapped. You must come! You...

'...must save Boss!'

Before Tarou could finish saying everything, he felt as if someone flicked him on the forehead and he lost consciousness.