Alright, this is it! The last chapter of this little tale has come. It's really better this way, since after three chapters my attention span kind of switches to something else, and I would be really guilty if I had to put this on hiatus. It's already been prolonged long enough. Anyways, this is back to Kai, I seem to do better with her perspective. I hope you like this as well as the previous chapters, and thank you so much to all who reviewed. They were the bright points of my day that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

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Part 3

I sat lazily in my wolf form outside of the Poncle village, leaning against one of the slim cherry trees. It had been about four hours since Oki and I had arrived. I didn't really feel like heading inside the village, though I had made sure to say hello to Issun. I rarely got to see him after he took over from his grandfather in teaching the young Poncles to draw and to believe in the gods. Oki had just nodded to me before he was shrunken by the magical hammer that Issun had received from Amaterasu, and I made myself comfortable out here, ready to wait.

I had been trying to avoid thinking about what had happened on the way here, but it was too bizarre to ignore it. Not only had I had a spurt of bravery that allowed me to ask Oki what had made us become so distant after he became a swordsman, but I had kissed a man I have known since I was two. I was shocked at Oki's behavior, too. He was so honest and open with me, it felt like he had been thinking the same thing I was. Which was ridiculous, but I couldn't help but notice the amount of emotion he had displayed in his eyes and voice, especially after I kissed him.

I gave a small huff and shifted under the tree, drawing the glance of a young deer grazing in the meadow. I had no idea what had prompted me to do such a thing, even now. When I was little I had a huge crush on Oki, but as I got older I thought it had just evolved into an admiration for his swordsmanship and strength that made me believe in him even after he stole the sacred sword. Remembering how I had defended Oki's actions to Samickle, the Elder, and even Amaterasu, I couldn't help but wonder if the crush had just matured along with me, became more subtle.

I stood up and shook the small layer of snow of my fur that had fallen from the trees and started pacing in a circle around the clearing. The other animals scattered at first, scared of a wolf, but eventually settled down as I paid them no mind. The girlish side of me wanted to say I was in love, that Oki loved me too, and that we could just go from there and live happily ever after. And yet, it seemed so girlish and imaginary that I had an image of me running up to Oki, arms open, and he stepping aside and asking me if I was drunk or something.

A small whine escaped my jaws and I decided to transition to a human, even though my fur was warmer than clothing. But being a wolf also gives us Oina some of the more instinctual thoughts and feelings of wolves, and thinking of Oki as a mate to breed with was not helping right now. I headed back to the cherry tree I had been sitting under earlier and just leaned against the rough bark, staring at the stump that is Ponc'tan as I tried to quench thoughts of me and Oki living together, being married… it all seemed so farfetched. Oki likes solitude and lives outside the village so he can easily train. I live with Lika, who is my first responsibility, and stay in the village where it's safe and my fellow Oina are. But, if I loved Oki, I would find a way to overcome all of this.

This made me wonder if that old crush was now love, or still a crush for a handsome face and strong body. But if that was the case I could easily have fallen for Samickle. I frowned and looked up at the cloudy sky that I could see through the ancient pine trees. It's not as if it's totally ridiculous for me to fall in love with Oki.

A loud crunch of snow in front of me made my head jerk down to see Oki standing up, apparently done talking to Issun. I immediately felt elated to see him, and my heart raced while I felt a small blush stain my cheeks. It almost felt like the one time I had tried sake when I younger, giddy and lightheaded. And I figured that I must love Oki; I definitely didn't feel this way when I saw any of the other young men in the village. I was thankful that my mask was back in place as I moved forward.

"Are you ready to go back Oki?" And now I wished my mask was off, because then his would be too, and I could see his face. I knew I had taken off my mask in front of him earlier, but the courage I had then was gone. He looked at me for a few moments, long enough that I felt uncomfortable and started to fidget under his gaze, looking behind him at the young deer who was warily watching the new addition to the meadow with its mother.

"No, I'm not. I want to talk to you first." My gaze instantly snapped back to his face, surprised. He sounded nervous. Oki was never nervous, not when he had dashed past all of us to open the shrine leading got the twin demons, and not even he returned the sacred sword to face punishment. I cleared my throat and took a step back to lean against the tree again.

"Okay. What about?" He took a few steps forward so he was only a few inches in front of her, and Kai pressed herself as hard as she could into the cherry tree, hoping to gain some space.

"What do you think about me?" I blinked, and then wondered what I should say. If I told him the truth he might be really mad, and I would probably end up extremely embarrassed. But then again, he said he wants to know, and we promised we would try to know each other as well as we used to. That meant no secrets. I took a deep breath to steady myself.

"I think you're incredibly brave, strong, kind, and a great warrior." He nodded and turned away. Somehow it seemed easier to be able to talk to him with his back turned to me, so I opened my mouth and admitted the rest, knowing I would probably regret it.

"Which is why I love you."

The sudden silence seemed claustrophobic to me, and Oki's tense figure made me feel awkward standing there. I figured he was thinking of a kind way to reject me, probably along the lines of going from acquaintances to friends to lovers in on day is ridiculous, so I shifted away from the tree and started to walk as fast as I could to the path that would lead me back to the village. I knew it was running away from the problem, and it seemed horribly cliché like something a weakling damsel would do, but I didn't really care at that moment.

Oki suddenly grabbed me from behind, both arms wrapping around my stomach and holding me against him in a hold I knew it would be futile to try to break. I still tried to shift into a wolf, the smaller form being able to slip through his hold, but he still held me tightly under my rib cage. And now I was uncomfortable, wolves not being meant to be held like that, so I shifted back resignedly.

"You can let go of me." I whispered it quietly, hoping that if I could play the heartbroken young girl maybe I could soften him up and let me make a run for it. And I probably was going to be heartbroken in a moment, so it would a fairly authentic act.

He lowered his head to my ear, and I tried to keep myself from shivering at his breath against my neck. Which made me realize his mask must be off, and I could feel the rational thoughts I had had earlier before Oki appeared quickly melting away. "I can't, because you won't listen to me if I don't keep you right here." I leaned forward, trying to see if I could at least turn my head to see his face. He let me shift so I was facing him, and I blushed at the position we were in. I kept my eyes fixed on the ground, knowing he would still see my embarrassment but at least I wouldn't see his response.

"Kai, I told you that I care about you earlier. And I didn't exactly protest when you kissed me earlier. Though I admit it wasn't much of a kiss." I saw him lift a hand out of the corner of my eye, and I knew my cheeks must be crimson as he pulled my mask off. I was trying to collect my scattered wits, and see what he must be trying to infer, but I was drawing a blank.

Until he suddenly lowered his head more and kissed me. Considering my first kiss was when I gave him that peck on the lips earlier, I had no idea what to do. But I certainly enjoyed the feeling of his lips on mine. It was no fairytale kiss; our lips are both chapped from the cold of Kamui and I think Oki is as experienced in kissing as I am, but it certainly got his point across. He loved me too, and just that thought made the kiss ten times more perfect. As we pulled away I finally looked him in the eye and smiled, blissful in the knowledge that we both felt the same way. He actually smiled back, and let me go.

"Aw, that was just lovely. Always nice to see two people I know having fun on my village doorstep." We both turned to see Issun perched on top of the stump, and both knew him well enough that he probably had a lewd smile on his face. I grabbed my mask and threw it on to hide my expression, mortified that Issun had seen us. Oki also slipped his mask back on, but walked forward to address Issun.

"Yes, and I know that an honorable Poncle such as yourself won't tell a soul about this, right Issun?" The light around him turned red for a moment before returning to its normal green.

"Yeah, yeah, it's not as if I get a stream of visitors here anyway. Jeez Oki, you just kissed a girl! You're supposed to be less of a stiff." He bounced back into his village, and Oki turned to face me.

"It's getting late; we need to head back to Wep'keer." I nodded and shifted to a wolf, trotting into the forest with Oki beside me.

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"Kai, was today interesting like you said it would be?" Lika looked up at me as I handed her a plate for dinner. Smiling, I looked across the fire to where Oki was, already eating. We shared a knowing glance before I looked down at her expectant face.

"Yes, it was."

Uh, yeah… don't kill me please; I'm too young to die. I'm sorry that kiss scenes aren't my specialty, I really am. Review if you like- the green button of love is so neglected these days- but no flames. I like to burn things, not to be burned. Hope you found some enjoyment.