Part two is up, it's a bit of a filler chapter, the final part will be up by next week :)
"What is it you want, Cilan?" Iris's anger at Cilan hadn't quite evaporated yet but it was a bit hard to maintain resentment when they were sitting so close together in the chilly cave.
"I wanted to apologise, iris, for frightening you today, it was unacceptable of me, I knew you too didn't blend together well, please forgive me." Cilan's bright green eyes stared into Iris's as he asked for her apology, so much so that her anger subsided. "Iris?" he asked again.
"Wha...I mean...I'm sorry too Cilan, I'm sorry for overreacting, it's just when you're around I tend to get a bit...I mean, I get...well, never mind." Iris inwardly cursed herself for being so stupid. Even in the dim light of the cave she was sure Cilan would be able to see the blush seeping into her cheeks. She turned her head away and pretended to be absorbed by an oddly shaped rock.
"Iris...what's the matter?" Cilan put his hand on her arm and, although she jerked it slightly, she let it lay there. "Iris what did you mean? When I'm around? Is it something I've said?" He leant closer to her, close enough to see the sun light hitting off her hair, the shadows it made on her throat...
Iris kept her back turned. "It's not your fault Cilan, I'm sorry I've been treating you badly recently, I swear I won't do it again." Even in her head she knew they wouldn't be enough but she had to say something in the silence before the tension snapped. She could feel Cilan slowly move closer to her, to comfort her, which made her feel even worse.
"Iris, if you don't want me around I understand, some people aren't meant to mix, if you feel that way." Even as Cilan said it he could feel the lump in his throat, he didn't think he could bear the thought of not being with her, to see her laugh and battle, her spirit.
"Cilan." Iris smiled slightly but was still staring intently at the rock. "It's not that at all, it's...it's..."
"It's what?" Cilan interrupted.
"Stop pushing me!" Cilan felt some relief when he heard her old personality resurface. "Cilan, it's not that I don't want to be with you it's the complete opposite."
The silence seemed to echo through the cave, as if Iris had shouted it from the top of the mountain.
"You...you like me?" Cilan's genuine puzzlement at the idea helped Iris turn around and face him and she nodded, although her eyes still did not meet his again. Cilan leant closer into her, his lips brushing the top of her ear. "What if I said I liked you too?" He stroked her cheek in his hand gently as she tilted her head up to kiss him.
Iris's first thought in her distorted mind was how soft Cilan's lips were. He was tentative, unobtrusive. It wasn't a long kiss, but enough for her to feel light-headed. Enough for her to want more. "Cilan...I don't want to do this unless it's real."
"Real?"
"I don't want this to be a one-off, I don't think I could handle it" as she spoke, her hand gripped his tightly, and she didn't want to let go.
Cilan blushed whenever he looked at her, he did so know as he looked at her. "Iris I don't want to be on my journey if you're not along with it." He bent towards her once more, still new to the feel of her lips, her taste...his tongue was shy but he gently kissed her with a growing confidence, moulding her body to his as they pressed closer together. His hands led gentle trails down her back as she shivered. Her arms were wrapped around him, in his hair, on his back...Cilan felt her hands further down and didn't resist it, her let her caress him as they continued to kiss and kiss. Soon, he followed her, his own hands reaching further down as the kissed with a growing intensity.
"Are you sure about me?" the question broke through Cilan's lips as their foreheads touched. In response, Iris pulled him closer and undid the buttons on his waistcoat, one by one. Then, slowly, he reached over to her and gently removed her top. He smiled at her "You're beauty astounds me". Iris felt her eyes fill with tears "thank you Cilan, I've always wanted this, wanted you, thank you." He took her in his arms once more, just as she began his shirt buttons.
"Iris? Cilan?" Ash's voice didn't sound too far away and it echoed around the cave
"Ash?" Iri's voice sounded an unnatural pitch as she dragged her top back over her head and Cilan fumbled over his buttons. She reached out and flattened his hair, just as Unfezant, with Ash hanging on her legs, came into view. It was getting dark, the sun just beginning to sink behind the horizon.
"Guys!" Where've you been? Has Cilan apologised yet?" Ash laughed playfully jumping onto the mountain ledge.
"Of course I have Ash, I couldn't have Iris in a bad mood with me, that would be disastrous!" Cilan fell so easily back into his old self, like he had put his mask back on as Iris followed confusedly out of the cave.
"So did you find any good dragon pokémon Iris?" Ash asked "Iris?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah, I was feeding a...deino some food" Iris managed, which was difficult because Cilan had his hand on her back.
"Awesome!" Ash said "I'd still like to catch one of those someday, right Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Said Ash's partner, who was, as always, perched on his shoulder. Ash peered over the cliff edge "it looks pretty dangerous to climb down; we can take it in turns on Unfezant!"
"Excellent idea Ash, a good mix!" Cilan beamed. "Iris, do you want to go first?" He bowed her to where the big bird pokémon stood waiting.
"Er...I guess so?" Iris looked at him quizzically before Unfezant flew her down the mountain.
Once all three were on the ground hey set off back up the rocky path towards the pokémon centre, where they planned to stay the night. "After all" said Cilan, "it is getting colder now". As he looked out, he could see the first of the nights stars slunk out from behind the wispy clouds. The other two agreed with him as they entered the centre and sat down for their supper.
"This is quite a delightful soup" Cilan remarked whom, Iris noticed, was sitting much too close to her for her to be able to concentrate. "An interesting vegetable blend, I'll have to try it sometime."
"That'd be awesome!" Ash mumbled, through a mouthful of bread as he quickly cleaned his bowl. "Mmm that was good!" he patted his stomach and yawned.
"Ash, you ate your food that quickly?" Iris tried, disdainfully, although her voice still didn't sound right to her.
"Yeah Iris, it's good, try it! You've barley touched it!" Ash seemed very concerned with Iris's soup. She pushed it across the wooden table to him.
"Here, I'm not really hungry for soup."
"Wow if you insist" said Ash as he quickly made headway into another bowl. Wonder what's up with Iris, he thought briefly. He dismissed it as her anger with Cilan earlier- girls, he thought.
Cilan laughed easily "I think two bowls is enough Ash! I'm going to bed; we'll be up early in the morning if you want to visit Dragonspiral Tower!"
Ash sighed "yeah, you're right Cilan, I guess I'll go to bed too. I've heard there's some really cool pokémon there."
"Not to mention the interesting historical background!" Cilan smiled.
The two of them stood up, yawning. "Iris? You coming?" Ash asked over his shoulder.
She looked up at Ash and smiled, "Yeah, Cilan's right, we should turn in. Goodnight, I'll see you both tomorrow!"
"Night!" Ash called, heading down the hallway.
"Maybe we don't have to say goodbye quite yet" Cilan smiled at her as he headed down the corridor to follow Ash.
END OF PART TWO
