Another wave of guilt washed over Ronin as he looked around the outskirts of the ninja's tea shop. Nya was nowhere to be seen. He had been looking for her for a while now, and he was growing impatient.

Ronin sighed. He already apologized to the ninja, and now he needed to apologize to Nya. It had been weighing him down ever since he betrayed them.

Wondering where the water master was, he caught a glimpse of the little creek that ran through the woods. He got an idea and followed the creek.

She must have been out in the woods if she wasn't with the ninja. He jogged along until he saw a blob of red and blue near the bank. He stepped towards her.

She stood and turned towards him, her blue eyes sparkling like the crystal, baby blue water in the stream. Her dark, black hair was a little meesy, but it looked perfect to Ronin. A smile lit itself on her lips.

"Well," she began, "look who decided to show his face."

Ronin resisted a smile. He welcomed her into his arms as she leaned into him, hugging him.

"That was because I missed you." she started, then stepped back. She curled her fingers into a fist and slammed it into his cheek. Ronin grunted at the force of the punch.

"That's for not listening to me and betraying us!" She exclaimed.

"I deserved that." Ronin mumbled.

"And this," she began. Ronin braced himself for Overlord knows what, but she only leaned in and pecked his cheek, her soft lips brushing his rough stubble and dry skin, "is just because."

Ronin smirked as her eyes shot him a suspicious gaze.

"You really tried to kiss me." She recalled, lightly punching his arm with a smile on her face.

Ronin chuckled lightly. He felt his cheeks warm, then instantly scolded himself for acting like a teenage boy again.

"Guess I did," he admitted, slightly embarrassed.

That mischievous twinkle in her eyes was back. She seemed to be debating on whether or not she should say something.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

"Oh, um..." Damn! Ronin was never at a loss for words! "I just...just wanted to apologize. You were right, I should have listened to you."

He almost rolled his eye at the sight of her smug look.

"You're forgiven." she stated, then went silent for a moment.

Ronin shifted uncomfortably onto the balls of his feet, then he folded his arms against his chest. Nya tilted her head in thought.

"Did you really mean it?" She asked absent-mindedly.

Ronin raised an eyebrow. "Mean what?"

"That...that you care." A distant cloud settled in Nya's eyes.

The former thief, caught completely off guard, stuttered words that didn't exist and blushed to no end. Nya glanced up at him, slightly amused at the former thief. Instead, Ronin took a moment to collect himself.

"Yeah," he answered, stepping over to her and brushing a thick strand of her dark hair behind her ear, "I care about you more than...anything else in this goddamned world."

Her head turned to him, her cheeks slightly pink. "R-really?"

He nodded. "You're definitely something, sweetheart. There's..." He took a deep breath, then forced it out, "there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

She collided into him, quickly coiling her arms around his torso. Ronin barely refrained from gasping, his face as red as her suit. Awkwardly, he returned the embrace. This was not the reaction he had expected.

"That is so sweet!" She said, looking up at him.

Finally, Ronin snapped out of his teenage daze and smirked. "I have my moments," he declared.

Nya giggled and poked him in the ribs.

"Under all that armor, you're just a big softie!" She squealed, "I knew it!"

Ronin wrinkled his nose and folded his arms. "I know. I need to ride solo for a while."

Her smile faded. "There's nothing wrong with being soft."

Ronin set his lips into a straight line. "I...I know. I just don't like talking about my feelings." He sighed. "You...you're the only one I really care about."

He could sense her grin from a mile away. Her demeanor brightened up again and she hugged him again.

He hugged her and set his chin on her shoulder. Should he tell her? Or wait?

'Fuck it,' he thought, jerking the negative thoughts to the side.

"Sweetheart?" He asked, his voice quiet.

"Yes?" Her voice rang in his ears, her sweet, fragile, innocent voice...

"I...I love you," he told her, his heart pounding in his ears.

She shifted in his arms, then positioned her head so she was looking up at him. He couldn't quite read the emotion in her eyes.

"I love you too, Ronin," she responded, absorbing every detail of his face.

He had never really loved anyone in his lifetime until now. All of his life, he thought love made people weak, that it made people make idiotic decisions. He had never been so wrong in all of his life, and he was reminded of this when Nya hooked her arms around his neck. He studied her gaze, trying to sort out what she was feeling. Her eyes were swarmed with happiness, drenched in nervousness, and...laced with...overlord, was that lust?

He shook his head at Nya, chuckling.

"What?" She demanded.

"You're a mess, sweetheart." He said.

She laughed. "I know. And I know you like it. Now," she wiggled her eyebrows mischievously at him, "are you ever going to give me that kiss you owe me?"

A new kind of grin soared across his face. She boosted herself up to him, then he set his hands on her waist. Her sweet lips claimed his. His prickly stubble poked at her face, but she didn't mind. She kissed him harder as his tongue slipped past her crumbled defenses.

Nya moaned when his hands moved under her shirt and up her sides. He pushed her up against a tree and continued kissing her.

"God, you are beautiful!" He whispered, his warm breath hitting her skin and sending a chill down her spine.

"I...I should get back," she whispered in shaky breaths, "we can...continue this later."

He nodded briskly, picking up his hat from off of the ground. Nya kissed him one last time before she scurried off.

I know, I suck at writing make out scenes. Constructive criticism is appreciated!

This will be around 5 chapters long, I'm guessing.

Review pleeeeeeeeease! *stares at you in a creepy way*