Path Through the Forest

Chapter three

Shun and Julie stayed in that position for about half an hour. Julie started to calm down and her tears began to cease. Her crying was turning into sniffling and soft whimpering. Shun lifted his head off of hers and looked down at the girl beside him.

"Are you feeling better now?" Shun asked gently, a small compassionate smile forming on his lips. Julie looked up at his face and gave a delicate nod, though she was barely meaning it. The young girl was still very frightened; Shun could see it in her eyes. The male wanted to make his friend feel comfortable, make her feel better. He wanted to see the sixteen year-old's beautiful smile, but he knew that it would take a while. Julie was still very timid; and Shun knew that she wouldn't smile until she talked for… probably about a week, at least; and she wouldn't talk until she could mumble. He knew Julie wouldn't mumble, or whisper, until she could manage a sentence, with or without stuttering (but most likely she would be stammering). And that wouldn't happen until she felt at ease, at least slightly.

Julie placed her head on Shun's shoulder once more. After a few minutes, Shun got an idea. He looked down at her and suggested they go into the kitchen and have some ice cream. Julie nodded faintly in agreement. Shun stood up and offered Julie his hand; she took it and stood up. Her face still bore a frown, and her eyes still showed her blank fear. Shun wanted to sigh, but he didn't want Julie to think she was bothering him, because she wasn't. He was just worried about his friend.

Julie latched onto his arm once more, still unable to walk alone; she needed reassurance. Shun gave Julie a slight smile and led her to the kitchen.

~J.T.J.T.J.T.J.T.J.T.J.T.~

Once the two teenagers were in the ninja's kitchen, Shun had Julie sit on a stool near the island. He went to the freezer and took out a few, out of the many flavors he had stored, and placed them on the isolated, unmovable table in the middle of the enormous kitchen; in front of the female. He didn't put all of the flavors because, well, he had too many and it would take too long, also, most of them were his grandfather's; instead he took out five choices: Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies 'n' Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Strawberry.

"Which one would you like, Julie?" Shun asked softly. Julie, hesitantly, pointed to the Cookies 'n' Cream. Shun nodded in reply; he chose the Vanilla.

Shun walked over to the cabinet and took out two bowls. He, then, went to one of the many drawers and pulled out two spoons and an ice-cream scooper. He opened the two containers and asked Julie how many 'scoops' she would like.

Her face did not show any emotion. It held a frown and eyes mixed with blankness and fear. Julie didn't give an answer. Shun sighed inwardly.

"Still not ready to say anything. Who could have done this to her…" he thought to himself. Julie's behavior was really worrying him. How much fright could someone have inflicted on Julie to make her act so… anguished? What could they have possibly done to affect her in this way; to destroy such life, such joy, that only Julie could possess? Who could have donethis?

The seventeen year-old thought that three scoops would be good for the girl. He filled the bowls, both with three scoops, and put the ice cream away. He asked Julie if she would like whipped cream. She shook her head slightly; Shun nodded. He walked back over to the island and sat down across from Julie. After a few minutes, Shun broke the silence that was lingering in the air.

"Do you like your ice cream, Julie?" Said teenager nodded faintly. Shun sighed inwardly once more. Julie still wasn't comfortable enough to even manage a stutter. Not even ice cream worked on her! Julie loved ice cream! Why didn't she, at least, make a sound. Shun glanced at Julie; she ate silently and well-mannered. But she just stared at the bowl, while eating. The frown stayed in place. Her eyes have yet to change.

"-wait a minute!" Shun noticed something else… off about her face. Her face not only had marks, or, bruises, like her arms, but also, she looked like she had a black eye. Julie had been tortured. Shun knew that now, for sure, and it just made the fury inside of him grow stronger. But, yet again, the young ninja had forced the anger back down. He couldn't show rage right now. Julie was way too tentative at the moment. She was scared enough already; and seeing an enraged Shun wouldn't help. If anything, it would just make her run away, thinking that she could trust no one, in the entire world.

Shun sighed to himself once more. He had lost track of how many times he had sighed already, and he had only been awake for about six or seven hours. It was about ten A.M. He looked at the clock on the wall; once more, he exhaled a breath.

After a few more minutes of silence, the two youths had finished their bowls of the frozen treat. Shun got up and brought the bowls to the kitchen sink. He turned on the water and started washing the two dishes. He stole a glance at the young female sitting behind him. Julie had placed her hands in her lap and was sitting the diligently; she was blankly staring at the counter-top. Her eyes still showed fear, but not as much as before. That brought Shun's anger down a bit, but not nearly enough. Looking at Julie's face only made Shun angrier; Julie had a black eye and her arms were bruised, badly! Who knows what other marks could be on her body!

Shun turned back around and tried focusing on the bowls that needed washing, but he couldn't stop thinking of what might have happened to his friend. Once again, Shun sighed inwardly.

Needless to say, the young man was at a loss. He wanted to find these monsters that did this to Julie. He wanted to hurt them, maybe even kill them; but he would never do that, of course, but they would pay for what they have done. Shun wanted to just run out of this dojo and go all through the woods, looking for any sign of where these… creatures kept Julie… but he couldn't. He needed to stay in this dojo and help the young, beautiful female sitting on a stool behind him. But he really wanted, right now, more than anything… to protect Julie. He promised her, mentally, that he would protect her; even if it cost him his life.

Author's Note:hihi! how'd you like it; I know it wasn't much, it was kinda just like a filler type thing you know, sharing some more information but not really meaning that much to story. It, honestly, was just telling you more of what Shun thought about these people and that Julie was still really scared and not ready to talk... but you know that, you read the chapter. Anyway, chap 4 is done! yay! haha i've already started chapter five so.. 4 should be up soon, sorry if it's not though.

I would like to thank those of you who have reviewed, i'm glad you like/love it and thanks SO MUCH for reviewing, it means so much to me and it's very encourageing. so thank you very much.

also, if you have any ideas on who the 'kidnapper/s' should be, i don't really know yet, and i would gladly give you credit for them. so as not to spoil it for anyone, if you please PM me, I would really appreciate it and thanks so much. ( if u are anonynous than you may review if you have any ideas, thank you I will give you credit as well.) all of this is if i use your idea. but i will thank you all for your ideas, just saying.

i believe that is all i wanted to say, so

I OWN NOTHING

THANKS FOR READING! :)

LUV Y'ALL 3

GOD BLESS!