I DO NOT OWN ZATCH BELL

"Zatch, Zatch!" Tia ran after Zatch, laughing. Zatch continued to run, moving his legs elusively through the forest. Finally, Zatch felt Tia's soft hand on his lower arm. "TAG!" Zatch skidded to a stop.

"Aww, Tia that's not fair." Zatch whined playfully. But it was too late, as Tia bolted away from him. He had a small smile on his face. "Here I come, Tia!" The two could be heard throughout the park, playing, laughing, and, for a little while, behaving like human children instead of powerful mamodos that were constantly in battle.

Tia heard Zatch coming up behind her. He was gaining speed quickly. uh oh, she thought. I may not be able to outrun him. The pounding feet stopped abruptly. She slowed down then stopped. "Huh," She said. "Where did he go?" She looked around her, only it was too late to defend herself from Zatch jumping on top of her from a tree she was under.

"Got you Tia. TAG!" Zatch hollered excitedly. He was on top of Tia, pinning her down on the grass.

"ZATCH! GET OFF ME!" She screamed. He sighed, then got off her. He offered his hand to help her up, like a gentleman. Tia, however, rejected the hand blushing furiously, trying desperately to hide a smile.

"What do you want to play now, Tia?" Zatch bobbed up and down, his grin not faltering for a second. Tia suppressed a love-struck sigh.

He's so cute! She thought.

"Tia, are you daydreaming?" Tia shot out of her trance. She looked over at him, blushing. "You were staring at me like this." Zatch looked at her with a puppy-like love face. His eyes sparkled and drooped, his eyebrows rose, and his smile relaxed. Tia blushed a deeper pink then before.

"I just, was thinking of my favorite color. That's all." Her face turned and she crossed her arms, her tone defensive.

"What is your favorite color, Tia?" Zatch asked with the utmost curiousity.

"Yellow." Tia answered automatically. Her eyes opened wide. Why oh why did I answer yellow? She kicked herself in her mind. Because it is the color of his flawless hair, the tints in his fierce yet beautiful eyes, and the powerful lightning that saves me every time we fight..

"Huh, I thought it was pink." Zatch said, examining her clothes and hair.

"Shut up." She said quickly and meanly. She faced him. "What's your favorite color?" Zatch thought for a moment.

"Green. " Now she was interested.

"Why?"

"Because it is the color of…" He jumped up excitedly, stars in his eyes. "PRAYING MANTIS JOE!"

Zatch isn't exactly deep. She groaned in her thoughts. "We should go home, Zatch. It's getting late."

"Okay."

Tia was walking Zatch home. They were in comfortable silence, until Zatch spoke. "Hey Tia?"

"Hmm?" Tia faced him.

"Why is your favorite color yellow?" Tia turned away, red.

What do I say? It is his hair, his eyes, his power? No, he would just laugh. Or push further. She faced him again. "It reminds me of …my past book owner!" She lied unconvincingly.

"Your past bookowner?"

"Yeah, her name was Deborah. Shee had blonde hair. Very nice woman." They kept walking in awkward silence till they reached Zatch's house.

"Thanks for walking me home Tia." He beamed at her.

"No problem!" She smiled back. He ran inside. "No problem." She whispered, as she walked away.

Her mind was too busy thinking about Zatch to notice a look-a-like snake this arms around her throat. She gasped desperately for air and tried to get him off her. She heard a mechanical laugh, then a faint "Zaker." She felt excruciating pain, and saw no more.