Goodnight Kiss

Tsukasa: Yeah! Finally a Golden Sun fanfiction!

Karen: Since when do you-

Tsukasa: I've been a Golden Sun fan since it first came out! I was ecstatic when I heard of Dark Dawn coming out!

Karen: So what do we have here today?

Tsukasa: My favorite pairing in Dark Dawn: Dawnshipping!

Karen: Isn't Spiritshipping more popular?

Tsukasa: Pfft I like Karis so much better than Sveta... Not bashing her or anything! I just like Karis more ^-^'''

Karen: Uh huh... let's get to it then?

Tsukasa: I don't own Golden Sun! Just this idea!

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A calm warm night gently nudged by a cool ocean breeze blessed a small camp with sleep. Nestled inside a forest just against the great sea, a group of five adepts slept peacefully, awaiting the sun to rise so they can resume their quest.

Yet two of these young warriors were restless in their sleep, rousing every few minutes only to notice the other one asleep. Both were blushing each time they stared at the other's resting body, wondering what they were dreaming about while they themselves couldn't stay asleep. All the while unaware of the other's inability to sleep as well.

Finally Matthew, the Venus adept as well as leader of the group rose to his feet. He slept in his traveling clothes in case they were attacked at night, making it easy for him to stretch and go for a walk into the night. He slung his sword over his shoulder just in case and made his way into the darkness.

The sound of the nearby waves and the salty sea air kept him calm against the anger screaming to release. He wanted to sleep desperately. He knew that he would need all the rest he could get to keep his mind sharp. Being the leader sucked at times.

He kicked a rock out of his way as he stormed through the forest. He didn't know what to do right now. Every time he woke up, he stared across the campsite towards the lone girl of the party, Karis. He wondered what she was dreaming... while he continued to wake. Her green hair shined under the moonlight, causing her face to have an alluring glow to it.

It was in these small instances that he realized how much he was attracted to the girl, and he often felt for her, realizing in a group of men she was all alone. It made him want to comfort her, hold her in his arms as she slept to let her know that he was there for her.

His thoughts were broken as his hand reached for his sword, spinning to face the sound of a twig cracking. Before him stood a surprised girl... "Karis..." Matthew sighed, relaxing.

"Matthew... What are you doing up so late?" the girl asked him, stepping forward, not surprised that the young man didn't retreat at her approach. He was so strong around her, something none of the other boys could accomplish.

"I could ask the same of you" He chuckled before looking up towards the moonlight, not waiting for a response as he continued, "I couldn't sleep, so I figured a walk on the beach would calm me down."

Karis stood next to him, gazing up at the moon as well, "How odd... every time I woke up, you were sleeping peacefully..."

"So you couldn't sleep either, huh?" He shrugged, a smile etched into his features.

"I guess we just woke up and fell asleep in sequence, huh?" Karis laughed, beginning to walk in the direction of the beach.

"Aren't I the leader?" Matthew teased, leading Karis to turn to face him curiously, "You're going ahead of me. I'm supposed to lead, right?"

Karis couldn't help a giggle as she stepped out of the way, holding her arms out towards the beach in a mocking manner, "Lead on, oh grand leader of mine"

The young man smiled to his friend, signaling that she wasn't out of line as he took a few steps forward, though he hesitated for a moment. Was he really meant to be a leader if he couldn't even get the required sleep at night?

Karis awaited his continued movement, yet he remained frozen to the spot, his brows furrowed and his eyes trained to the ground, deep in thought. "What's wrong, Matthew?"

Her voice, like a requiem of return, woke him from his thoughts. He looked at her for a moment, letting the sound of her beautiful voice ring through his mind before he shook his head, chuckling nervously, "Nothing." He resumed his walk, leading the way to the open beach.

Both stood in awe at the shining light that emanated from the sea. A green glow hummed from the sea, edging at the shore gently. Matthew stared in awe, "Wow..."

"Do you know why it's glowing, Matthew?" Karis asked, leading Matthew to stare at her in wonder, "It's algae. The light of the moon is absorbed and reflects through the algae into the sea, creating the glow you see now."

"Bookworm." Matthew scoffed, though he was intrigued by the idea.

"Actually Reif explained it the first time we saw an ocean. Weren't you listening?"

"Do I ever really listen to him?" Matthew snickered before beginning to walk along the beach, waving his hand to hint that Karis should follow him.

"I should've figured you didn't. You and Tyrell are always barking at him for talking too much about his studies."

"On a merrier topic" Matthew called back, "What did you think when you first saw the ocean, Karis?"

"When I... Where'd this come from?" the girl asked, nearly running into the young man as he suddenly stopped and faced her. She looked up into his gleaming grey eyes. It wasn't odd to her that he had off colored eyes. After all, she had purple eyes, which were far from normal. But his eyes... That cold color despite his warm personality... they drew her in.

Matthew smiled at the dreamy look she sported, curious as to where it came from, but stayed to the point, "We've never seen an ocean in our lifetimes. The first time I saw it on our journey, I was star struck. It was stunning, just like..." Matthew caught himself. He was about to reference her beauty to the ocean, but he felt that now wasn't the right time for flattery.

"Just like what?" Karis hopped closer to him, tilting her head as Matthew once more looked up towards the stars. Despite his strong presence, he was always a dreamer, even awake. How he made such an amazing leader she hadn't the foggiest, but she'd follow him till the world ended if she had to.

She wouldn't follow anyone else.

Slowly Matthew slid to a seat, spreading his legs out on the sand and leaning back, holding himself up with his hands. Karis stared at him for a moment, curious to this sudden action, but she quickly followed him down, though she sat in a more refined way, keeping her back straight and her knees up.

"So what about you?" Matthew finally broke the rather awkward silence, "What did you think when you saw the ocean for the first time?"

Karis had to think about it for a second. Many thoughts had flowed into her head at the time, but the only thing she really thought of was... "How big it was... I couldn't believe how much bigger it was compared to the lake we used to play in as kids."

"Really? That was what our smartest team member thought at the sight of the ocean? How big it was?" Matthew fell onto his back laughing, though he kept the moment of ease short, rolling onto his side to face her again.

She loved that about him. When he talked to someone, he kept them close, and –almost always- kept eye contact with them. Especially with her. Without thinking about it, she finally relaxed, putting her hands into the moist sand. She had taken off her gloves back at the campsite, finding sleeping in gloves rather uncomfortable. She clenched her fingers together, rubbing the dirt through the gaps of her fingers, enjoying the feeling of moisture it granted.

"Well, the memories of our childhoods seemed relevant then..." she giggled, not falling into his lure.

"Well, I have to agree, it was a bit more stunning than that old bog we used to play in."

"Those were fun days, weren't they? We had no cares as our parents watched over the world..." Karis sighed, wishing she could go back to days gone by.

"And then the monsters began attacking again, and they began to teach us how to battle... Our whole world turned upside down..."

"And now here we are on a journey to Hell and back..." Karis's hand drifted out to the side, unconsciously brushing Matthew's hand, leading both adepts to jolt and shuffle away from each other, the two not making eye contact for the first time that night. "S-Sorry..."

"No, no, it's... It's ok..." Matthew chuckled as he scooted closer to her again, leading Karis to blush at the sudden closeness, "You know, it really is a hard time for us... We all need something to hold onto..."

"I... I don't really know what's driving me other than the thought of seeing my parents again..."

"Well" Matthew haphazardly wrapped his arm around Karis's shoulder and brought her in close to look into her shining purple eyes, "You have me to hold onto..." He leaned in closer, his breath tickling her nose, "And I have you..."

Karis didn't fight it. Unlike usual, she didn't predict this situation, but if this is what Matthew wanted –and she couldn't deny she wanted it too- she wasn't going to try to escape his embrace. The young woman did defy him slightly, ducking her head under his to embrace him in a hug, "Yeah..." she whispered, locking her fingers together behind his back, "I do have you... and you have me too..."

Matthew let out a defeated sigh as he returned the hug. He tried so hard to set up the perfect scene to finally show her how he felt, but... for now, he thought, this would have to do. He wrapped his arms around her defensively and closed his eyes, leaning back till they were lying down, with Karis resting on his chest.

For the first time that night, both of them felt truly tired... and truly comfortable. But before she could fall asleep, Karis had one last thing she had to do... She crawled up his body and, slowly, leaned in...

She brushed her lips against his gently, smiling as he grinned, finally getting the victory he wished for as she resumed, pressing against his lips, though she kept it tame. After all, it was just a goodnight kiss. "Goodnight..." She breathed into his ear before resting her head on his chest again.

Matthew adjusted his right arm so that his hand rested on her head, gently caressing it as she fell asleep in his arms, "Goodnight..."

He blinked for a moment, his eyes barely staying open as he debated one last comment... he nodded slowly, realizing from her deeper breathing that she was fully asleep.

"I love you..." she whispered sleepily through her dreams.

Matthew moved his hand to his face, rubbing his temples before lightly chuckling, "Damn it... she beat me to it..." He sighed before continuing, "I love you too" and so he too fell asleep, both of them enjoying the first good rest they'd had in a good many nights.