Day 5 (I know, I skipped the days. Explanation coming up.)

As well as Hiruma claimed he was, Mamori did not allow him to leave the tent for the next three days. Throughout those days, everyone relaxed and lazed around the campsite.

"I'm telling you, I'm fine!" said Hiruma, irritated beyond words. "Lie down and let me check your condition," Mamori said calmly, practically pushing him down. With him muttering curses under his breath. Mamori undid his bandages and checked the wounds. They were clean and had healed well over the few days. "Well, I don't see anything wrong with them. But that doesn't mean you can start jungle trekking again, maybe a few more days," she said, wrapping him up again with new bandages.

"Fine. Take the lot night walking, they've been gathering fat long enough," Hiruma said, still sour. "No, I'll tell Musashi-kun to do that. I'm staying here with you," she said, not looking at him. "I can look after my--," he started. "Yes, I've seen proof of that," she snapped. 'What's with her?' he wondered to himself, frowning as Mamori left him alone in the tent.

'Why am I treating him this way?' she wondered to herself, leaning against a tree. "It was that locket! It's not my fault!" she said to herself, squeezing her eyes shut. The rest of the team had started their walk and she was alone with Hiruma. She couldn't make herself feel comfortable with him anymore. She looked up at the sky and stared at the stars.


"Ne, Musashi?" "What is it Sena?"

They were walking around with torchlights, marking the trees so they wouldn't lose their way.

"Is something going on between Mamori-neechan and Hiruma-san?" Musashi smiled to himself. "What makes you think so?" he asked, pretending to be clueless. "Well..." he started, looking back at the group to make sure no one was listening, "for one thing, she keeps disappearing with him in the morning, she's the only one who knows where to look for him, she seemed really, really worried when he got hurt, and she spends a lot of time in the tent alone with him..." 'Man, this kid's sharper than he seems...' thought Musashi with a smile. "Well, let's just say there is something, but they both don't seem to realize it yet. Don't let anyone else know, okay?" he whispered to Sena.


Hiruma opened the tent flap and peered out, his emerald eyes scanning the campsite. He caught sight of Mamori sitting on a log by the fire. She seemed somewhat troubled and kept twiddling with something. He couldn't see what it was, so he went out of the tent and crept up to her; it was the fish bone locket.

He reached down and caressed her brunette head, making her spin around in surprise. No words were said, and Hiruma walked back to the tent. Lying down and staring at the sky through the fishnet top of the tent.


Musashi and the rest came back a while later, chatting excitedly about the things they had seen. "What's wrong, Anezaki-san? You're looking down. Did you have a fight with Hiruma-kun or something?" Kurita asked. She smiled at him and said, "No, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something... Did you guys have fun? Well, I'm going to get some shut-eye, goodnight everyone!"


Day 6

"Okay shrimps! Pack up! We're moving!" Hiruma ordered. Mamori had allowed him to move the campsite on the condition that he didn't strain himself during the excavation. He was gonna move them to a place near a lake and waterfall.

The hike wasn't as bad as the one they had on day two because they followed a faint forest path. They arrived a couple of hours later, then spent time pitching up the tents, gathering firewood, fetching water and making the fire.

"Hey, Hiruma!" shouted Jyumonji from the trees. He had been out collecting firewood with Yukimitsu. "There's not much firewood in these parts," he said, dropping a handful onto the ground. "That's enough to start the fire. You and fucking baldy start the fire, I'll go scouting with someone else," he said, scanning the site for someone who wasn't doing anything. To his annoyance, the only one not busy was none other than Anezaki Mamori.

"Tch! Oi! Damn manager!" he called out. "What is it?" she asked, facing him with a slight frown. "I need you to follow me. I'm going scouting for more firewood," he said. Mamori looked around nervously, as if hoping would give her a reason to not go, but there wasn't , so the two went on their way. After almost an hour searching, the had two armfuls of wood and where about to start going back to camp. When a drop of rain landed on Hiruma's shoulder.

"Hey! Manager! Find shelter, its gonna start raining!" he shouted straight away. "Can't we run back to camp?" she asked, almost desperate, even though it was impossible. "No, I think I saw a cave somewhere nearby," and they started running, Hiruma in the lead. By the time they got there, the two were drenched. Mamori gave a sigh of relief as she dropped the wood and started squeezing the water out of her hair.

Hiruma shook his head like a dog, showering his surroundings with little droplets of water. He went to the mouth of the cave and peered at the sky. "It looks like a storm, we'll be stuck here throughout the night. Those idiots better look after themselves," he said, and Mamori groaned. "The last thing I need now is to be stuck somewhere with him," she muttered to herself.

He must have heard her, because the next thing she knew, she was being pinned against the wall of the cave, closing any escape routes with his arms on either side. Her breath came in short breaths as she struggled to look anywhere but his eyes, which never left her face. "What is your problem?! Why have you been avoiding me??" he asked, a tone of anger in his voice. "What is it that you're upset about?? The game I made up?? And I giving you too much trouble or something?! Look at me, Anezaki!" he yelled over the thunder.

"Please! Leave me alone! I don't want to talk about it!" she screamed, covering her face and cowering under his intense stare. "What is it?! If you have a problem with me, tell me what the fuck it is!!" "It's your locket!!" she blurted. His was terrifying and if he didn't stop, she was going to go crazy. Mamori could feel his eyes burning onto her head, his hot breath on her face. Hot tears ran down her face as silence enveloped both of them. The only sound was the rain.

"My... locket??" he asked, in a quiet voice. "I saw it when I went to get your clothes, I... I..." and she started sobbing. He backed away from her and went to the other side of the cave, a hand on his face, covering his eyes. Mamori's knees couldn't hold her trembling weight and she sank to the ground. The two of them stayed in their positions for quite some time until Hiruma turned around.

Mamori had stopped crying, but she was shivering and even in the dark, he could see that she was pale. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, Hiruma walked up to Mamori and sat beside her, closing the gap between them. Then, hesitating for a moment, he put his right arm over her shoulders. Mamori peeked at him through her hair before looking down again. Hiruma let silence fall upon them for a few moments before asking, "Did you... open it?" and she gave a small nod in reply.

He had been afraid someone would discover it, which was why he had chosen to pitch his tent somewhere a little isolated. Taking a deep breath, he faced Mamori and said, "Look at me Mamori." She raised her head a little, but he knew she wasn't facing him. Using the index finger and thumb of his left hand, he tilted her chin upward and turned it towards him. Then, with her watery eyes gazing into his, he kissed her.


KYAAAAA!!! I don't care if it was crappy! Me likey! XD Hoping you is also liking!! (Ignore the stupid English...)