AN:Here we go.. this is where everything starts getting goooood! I L.O.V.E Hitomi's reaction to Nawaki's threat... I though It was amazing if I do say so myself. Anyways, here's chapter three.

He dumped water on the fires embers as he poked at the pieces that still smoldered and hissed before dieing finally. He was cranky, having not slept all night he glared at the dead fire pit, before getting up and walking over to Hitomi. He looked down at her sleeping figure before squatting down next to her and nudging her to wake up. " f you don't get up now I'm leaving you here!" He said in a annoyed tone before leaving her side and grabbing his bag.

"WAFFLES!!" Hitomi's eyes shot open as she looked around and finally her eyes settled on Nawaki. "Huh?" she nodded suddenly. "Right. Leaving now. Got it." She stood and grabbed her bag.

"Stop yelling stupid crap and hurry up!" He yelled back at her. Already a few yards ahead of her. Adjusting his bag he began walking further ahead. He was cranky. Not being to sleep well, the pain already coming back in the more major area's that didn't heal completely... Nawaki wasn't in a good mood; and the quicker this damn information gathering mission ended, the faster he can return to the village and drop off miss 'I want to come to!', and he can be on his happy way to solitude. Though as he thought this over the more he wasn't sure he wanted Hitomi to go back. He rubbed his temples; already getting a headache.

"Sorry..." Her voice was soft. She brushed herself off and began to follow without a word. Maybe this wasn't a good idea to come. She sighed softly. She really should think before she did things, but this really did make her happy. If only she knew where Kohaku was.

He walked in complete silence through out the morning. Ever so often looking back at her to see where she was. By midday he sighed as they came to a deeper area of the river they would have to cross. Setting his back down he took his vest, shirt, and shoes off as Hitomi came into view of the clearing. Standing he rotated his arm a bit. Lately he had been stiffening since the injury. "Fish sound good?"

She smiled softly. "Sounds great." She paused and looked around. "We... We're not going to... Cross that. Are we?" Her eyes narrowed somewhat.

"Yeah... We are." Nawaki said this as he waded into the water. There was no need to walk above it. He had to get wet to get the first. "Unless you want to spend another day and a half traveling down river to the bridge." He yelled over the sound of the water before diving under in a deeper area. Coming back up after a few moments with four fish in hand. He walked back over to Hitomi. His body glistening in the suns rays. His hair soaked and fell into his face a bit.

"Oh... okay." She nodded a few times. It wasn't going to kill her. Not if she walked over it. At the sound of barking she turned. "Kohaku there you are!" She smiled and hugged him close to her. "You're not hurt are you?" Meanwhile, Kun slowly made his way closer to Nawaki and the fish panting once more. Hungry compelling him to eat the fish.

Nawaki eyed Hitomi through his hair as he gutted and clean the fish before stabbing them through with a long stick. He looked over at Kun and picked come of the innards up throwing them to him. "Eat up." he muttered to the dog before getting up to wash his hands and knife in the river. "Watch the fish. I'll be right back."

Kun quickly ate the guts up, licking his lips to make sure that he'd gotten it all.

"Got it." She watched him take off again. 'Why is he always going off by himself?'

He wasn't gone long, just enough to think and to collect the fire wood for their short resting time. The other reason was his paranoia getting the best of him. He wanted to make sure no one was following. Especially with this type of mission. Returning back he silently built a fire between the two before sticking the fish there. Leaning back he closed his eyes and relaxed. Through out the time not once did he bother Hitomi.

The female sighed. Is this what he had been doing the past four years? Living on the road? That had to be tough and maybe even lonely. She found herself staring at him. She knew that his father had done this as well, but still. She sighed softly.

Opening one of his eyes he looked back at her. His facial features never changing. "Something wrong?" Why was she watching him. What was she thinking. Questions began plaguing his mind. Sitting up he looked back at her, an eyebrow raised.

"Huh?" she blinked and then paused. "Oh... no. Just thinking." She smiled softly. "Are you always doing this? Traveling. Staying on the road?"

"If you want to call it that..." He said this casually more than usual and laid back down. " I gotta travel. It's something I came accustomed to. If not, then my mine wonders."

"Makes sense." Her voice was soft. She ran her hands through Li's fur. She laughed softly. She leaned down and seemed to whisper something to Li.

He listened closely to the sound of the water, and other things around him. The sound of the fire, the panting of the dogs, birds, the breeze. "Yeah... makes sense." He sounded groggy and soon found himself drifting off to sleep. A slight smile pulled at his lips. " I'm glad you came..." He muttered allowed, just enough to where Hitomi might hear.

Hitomi's ears perked up. She stopped and looked straight at him. "Wh-What did you say?" She crawled closer to him to better hear.

He was sound asleep by the time she came over to him. His chest rising and lowering with every breath. The same smile still on his face. He was peaceful, able to finally sleep. The sun warming his body.

Hitomi pouted. She sighed and dropped her head. He was just talking in his sleep. He probably didn't mean it. She smiled as she watched him for some time, then moved closer once more, leaning her head on his shoulder gently and closing her eyes. "Just for a moment." She muttered to herself.

Nawaki turned, his arm coming across Hitomi's body as thought to hold her. He had no idea he was doing this until waking up to a burning smell. Blinking a few times he looked at what he was doing,. He head foggy from sleeping and a puzzled look on his face before the smell finally got to him. Moving quickly he half dropped Hitomi as he scrambled to the fish. "Shit!" He blew on the burning fish he had caught earlier. "Damn it!"

Hitomi grunted as she hit the ground her nose twitched as the smoke pinched it. Her eyes opened. Moving to the fire she snatched up the other fish and patted them down putting out the fire with her bare hands. "Damn. I'm sorry. I didn't think. Gah!" She muttered to herself. "If nothing else, the dogs will eat it." She laughed gently.

Nawaki sighed and looked and the burnt fish. It still smoked a bit. "... Might as well. We'll just get something in town." Sighing once more he got up and looked at her. Seeing her hands still in the embers of the fire. "What the hell are you doing! Get your hand out of there." Walking over he grabbed her by the arm and rose her to stand turning her hands over to see how bad the burns were. He had thrown the chard fish in the direction of the dogs.

Fear was clear in her eyes as she was quickly pulled to her feet. "Ow! Nawaki... Let go! I'm fine" she winced slightly. Her hand were red, and hot to the touch, but there were no burn. No signed of being hurt. She looked to her hands then back to him. She wasn't she why he was so upset.

His face was that of fear, upset and puzzlement. He really did though she was hurt, though why was he scared for. Why did he suddenly do that? Why... when he looked up at her his face reddened. Dropping her hand he looked away. Of course she wouldn't be hurt by fire! 'Stupid, Stupid man!' He said to himself before walking over to his things. Putting his shoes, shirt, and jacket on before grabbing his bag... "Common... we already wasted almost a full day."

She stood there watching him. Why did he acted out like that. She shook her head and grabbed her things as well. She gave a short sharp whistle and the canines lined up behind her. She walked over to him and fell into step beside him. "Did you mean what you said earlier?"

He glanced down at her while they walked. "Said what?" What did he say, did he say something to offend her? Make her worry? If it was of importance he would have though of remembering it...

"That you -" she paused. "Never mind. I'm just being stupid." She shook her head and continued on. She sighed softly. Of course he didn't remember. He'd been asleep. He hadn't meant it.

His arched an eyebrow at her. "What did I say Hitomi?" Nawaki had stopped for a moment before continuing.

She didn't stop. "It's nothing. You were just mumbling in your sleep." She ran a hand though her long locks.

"What did I say?" He grabbed her suddenly and turned her towards him. Grabbing onto her shoulders and held her firmly she should would move as easily. "It's obviously bothering you, so tell me!"

"You said that you were glad that I came along..." She paused. "I just was wondering if you meant it." She pulled away. "But it doesn't really matter does it?" she tried to laugh to lighten the mood. She didn't want him to get mad at her again.

He pulled her back, this time closer as he peered into her eyes for a moment. Why the hell did he want to kiss her so badly for. Without even knowing it, he was hovering inches from her face. There lips almost touching. He could feel her shallow breaths against his own. When he did realize it he stopped and moved away. Letting her down easily as he stood up straight again. Looking away from her he let her go softly. His hand falling to his sides balled up into fists. What was he thinking. He moved around her and looked in the direction they were headed. "Common, there should be a shallower area up ahead with something you can walk on..." His voice was stern but soft.

Her body tensed when he pulled her around once more. Her eyes wide. Had she angered him? No. She read no anger in his eyes. They were so close. She didn't move, only watched him. When he looked away, she felt... disappointed. She knew she shouldn't be though. But after a few seconds, a different emotion went through her. 'So he laughs at me for telling him that I care, and then he pulls a stunt like this.' "Will you make up your mind already?"

He was a couple of yards away from her when he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I asked you almost the same thing when I first left..." His eyes were mixed with anger and sadness. He looked back ahead quickly. "So don't ask me something even you can't answer!" He yelled at her as he continued to walk. His head was bent down for a while as he looked towards the ground; his fists still clenched.

She gasped. Narrowing her eyes, she marched towards him. "Couldn't." She stated. "Something I couldn't answer. And even though the question might be somewhat the same, the content is completely different!" She cried. She moved in front of him, making it so that he'd have to move past her. "Don't compare this to that. They're different."

Nawaki had to take a step back when she came around and stood in front of him suddenly. His mood totally changed. His hands relaxed and moved to his pockets. His eyes were distant to her trying to explain the situation that had just happened and how it wasn't the same. "Content or not, it's the same question Hitomi." He chuckled at her before moving to the side and standing there, facing the same direction he was heading in. "Though seeing how you couldn't answer then, can you now?"

"Yes." Her voice was clear and strong. Her shoulders back, her chin raised high. She looked straight forwards. "It was a question that haunted me until I finally could answer it." Her voice didn't falter, not her stance. "But I no longer have that problem." She took a deep breath.

He turned to look at her, his eyebrow arched. 'Yeah... like you can answer even now.' "Right Hitomi... Whatever you say." He took off in the direction. "Don't hold your breath, You'll become light headed and I don't feel like carrying you." He waved her off and began rounding the corner.

She turned to him. Her eyes a lit with anger. She followed him quickly. Grabbing onto his shoulder, she turned him to face her. Without a second though, her hand flew out to strike him across the face. Her hand stung slightly as she stared straight through him. "You are a pompous ass. And you deserved that." She nearly spit out her words. "You're lucky that I can hold myself back enough not to beat you senseless."

His face moved with the slap and he continued to look in that direction. A red outline beginning to appear instantly on the side of his face. His hands balled up into fists again and he slowly turned his attention back to her before. His eyes cold, distant, and his face expressionless. Dropping his bag and grabbing her wrist he whirled her into a tree close by and pinned her there. He had grabbed her other hand before she hit the tree and now held both of them above her. His white hair falling around his shoulders and into his face. His hands tightening on her wrists... "You want me to make up my mind?" He chuckled low. "I can easily take you right now. Is that what you want me to do? HUH?!" He pushed her into the tree more as he looked right into her eyes his voice was trembling slightly. His jaw tense and waited for her reply.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She looked at him without saying a word. Her eyes searching his. "That still doesn't answer my question." Her voice was strong, yet wavered slightly with fear. She couldn't read him well enough to know if he would continue this act. Or even if he was indeed acting. She couldn't tell. And it scared her half to death. She did not show it, or at least, she tried not to.

He stayed silent for a few moments. She was right... it didn't explain his actions just moment's ago. Nawaki had no answer for her. No reason except for acting on impulses alone for those few seconds where they almost kissed... What type of answer was he suppose to give? Closing his eyes for a second he let her go and backed away. He had put so much pressure on her wrists it felt like he was still holding them. Turning around he grabbed his bag, slinging it over one shoulder and began walking once more. Silence was his only answer to her question and to his actions then and now.

She licked her lips in the few moments after he let go of her. Her wrists were numb, and slightly red from the pressure. She trembled slightly as she walked over to grab her own things. Her hands shook, her knees shook. Her entire body felt like it would fall apart. She shuddered before trying to clam her racing heart. She turned and looked to his back. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she wrapped her arms around herself as she walked behind him. Suddenly, she wasn't sure if it was a good idea that she had followed him.