It took a while for things to cool down after that accident with the wolf-man and Leon, but it's been two months since that accident happened and I still feel his memories within me. I would sometimes wake up in the middle of the night because I had a flashback of his past. Back to the present, it's been 3 hours ago since Kira and I woke up. We were walking when we spotted a poster.

"Hmm...the poster says that there's going to be a tournament next week." Kira said as she was reading the poster.

I pushed her aside gently, "Sounds interesting. It says you need a partner. It'll be held at..." My eyes widen as I read the name of the place. "Death Mountain…" I haven't heard of that place, but it didn't sound like a good place.

"How does Mr. Tall expect us to get there? Hardly anyone survives going through Death Mountain." Kira said. I can tell she knows a lot about this Death Mountain.

I slowly turned around to Kira, "Gee, thanks, that makes me feel loads better." Although it did seem interesting. "Want to enter?" I asked Kira, taking my chances.

"Sure, sounds fun." Kira said, sounding confident. Kira and I had been best friends ever since I moved into the Cirque Du Freak.

We went to see if Darren and Evra were going to enter. We got to their tent and they were inside, just relaxing.

"Oh hey Ella, Kira." Darren said as he sat up.

"Hey." we both said in unison.

"Hi sis, Ella." Evra said, sitting up as well.

"Hi." I said, smiling.

"Hey, did you two see the poster for the tournament?" Kira asked.

"Ya, sure did. Evra and I are going to enter." Darren said, also sounding confident.

"Good luck, you two." I said, smiling.

"You'll need it when Ella and I kick your butts!" Kira said, laughing.

"Not in a million years." Evra said, laughing also.

I couldn't help but letting out a little giggle and Darren noticed. He got up and went to me and grinned, "Good luck."

"Ya, ok you two lovebirds." Kira said coming and separating us.

I couldn't help but blush at that comment. As my friendship with Darren grew, my feelings for him grew. I wonder if he feels the same…I did catch a glimpse of Darren blushing also. Then I remembered Kira and I were going to get something to eat, "Hey Evra, Darren, want to come with Kira and I to get breakfast?"

"Sure." Darren said. "We're starving."

"Yup, let's go." Evra said, getting up also and they both walked out with Kira and I following behind them. When we got to the food area, I didn't eat much even though I was starving, but my hunger passed. I was thinking too much about how the tournament would be.

It was the day of the tournament. Kira and I woke up early to do our chores, since the tournament rules were in the morning. When we finished, we went back to the tent and washed up. We then heard a lot of talking coming from outside and I had a feeling people were gathering for the tournament rules already. Kira and I finished up then went outside and saw everybody from the Cirque Du Freak gathered around and there were also some other magical creatures I haven't seen before that were probably from the forest nearby.

"Wow..that sure is a lot of people." I said in astonishment.

"Ya, I know. We'll have to get used to it." Kira said as she spotted Evra and her sisters. "Hey!" Kira called them over and they came to us.

"Hey Ella." Darren said as I blushed a little.

"Hey Darren, Evra. Kristy, Krystal…I didn't know you two were entering also."

"Ya, it was a last minute thing. We wish you the best of luck, you four." Kristy said.

"Thanks. We wish you luck, don't we Kira?"

"Yup, good luck sisters Evra and Darren."

"When are they going to announce the rules?" Krystal asked.

"I don't know, it should be…" I was interrupted by the loudspeakers. "There you go." I smiled.

Mr. Tall was up there with some other people I didn't recognize, "Silence please!" The crowd became silent minutes later, "Thank you and welcome to the Cirque Du Freak tournament! This is the first time we've done this in a while because the last time we tried this, well..you don't want to know. Anyways, as you all have read on those posters, you will need a partner, you are allowed to bring your mentors if you like, this mostly applies to the children. Your first task of this tournament is to get past Death Mountain. It's not as easy as it sounds or looks for that matter. There are different obstacles to avoid, keep on the lookout. There are different check-in points, since Death Mountain would take around 3 days or even longer to get through. You have to check-in at all the points, if you don't then you will be disqualified. There are 5 check-ins total. It's for your own safety to check-in with our judges, the ones behind me, there will also be other people to be at the check-in points. You then have to check-out when you're ready to leave. Think of it as a short hotel break except you'll be in the woods instead. The journey to Dark Mountain doesn't start till tomorrow morning, you are free to leave whenever you like. As for our tents, we will pack them up as soon as everyone has left. We do not guarantee all of you will live through this journey. You are welcome to back down anytime you like. We are not forcing any of you to join this tournament, it's just a small event we would like to try again to see which one of you are well skilled. After you get to Death Mountain, you will get a couple days worth of rest until the real tournament starts. Again, we wish you all the best of luck and a safe journey and we hope we will see all of you there…alive. Now, if you would like to sign up, please sign up at those tables over there. You will then get a number. Oh, and as for us, we will see you all at Death Mountain. One more thing before I withdraw, you can take anything you like, most of your things will be at Death Mountain already, so travel light. Get enough things to last you. As for the prize, well, that won't be announced till during the real tournament. Don't worry too much about the prize and the real tournament. Good luck to all." After Mr. Tall finished, people started to scatter to sign up. The 6 of us lined up to sign up for the tournament and for what seemed lie hours, I finally got up to the front. I signed up on the clipboard and there were at least 3 pages already filled. Kira then had to sign next to my name since she was my partner.

"Here's your number, you two. Good luck."

"Thank you." Kira and I said to the lady as we took our numbers and got out of line to wait for Darren, Evra, and Kira's two sisters to sign up.

"Hey, lucky number 5." Kira said as she put her number in her pocket.

"Yup, they also gave us the rules, just in case we forgot them probably." I said as I put my number in my pocket also.

"Hey you two." Darren said as he went over to us with Evra.

"Hey to you too." I said, trying to flirt a little, but I was bad at it.

"Hey sis, want to help Krystal and Kristy out with her chores? Darren and I already did ours." Evra asked.

"They are so lazy, it's so typical of them to not do their chores before coming here."

"What did you just say, squirt?" Krystal came over with their sister Kristy.

"You heard what I said." Kira said as they went away from Darren and I. "See you later, Ella and Darren!" The siblings then started to argue a bit as they kept walking.

"You two finished your chores didn't you?" Kira asked.

"Yup." Kristy said.

"You are one evil brother, Evra." Kira said.

"Ya, I know." Evra laughed.

I was so going to kill Kira for leaving us alone, then again, I enjoyed every last minute of it.

"So, Ella, when are you going to leave for Death Mountain?" Darren asked.

"I don't know, I guess I'll let Ms. Okami decide. I wish you the best of luck, Darren. I know you'll get through Death Mountain." I smiled.

"Thanks. Good luck to you too and I'll see you at Death Mountain." Darren smiled. 'Oh, hey! I almost forgot, I have one small chore to do, want to help me?"

"Sure." I then walked beside Darren as we went to his tent. "Ok, what did you need me to help you with?"

"Well, first. I need to change, so please if you don't mind." Darren said.

"Oh, sorry. I blushed a little as I stood outside the tent and waited for Darren to finish changing. I then heard a thumping noise and my eyes widened, "Darren! You alright?" My eyes were still on the scenery outside.

"Ya, sorry. I must have been changing too fast." He laughed a little then came out in a shirt and jeans, a typical outfit for a teenage boy, "Ok, ready. Ok, so today was our turn to serve in the soup kitchen today, well serve lunch to the family. I don't mind doing it with you, if you don't mind."

"Oh, sure. I've never been on lunch duty before. It should be fun." I smiled.

"Ok, it's settled. Come on." I then walked beside Darren and a couple minutes later we arrived at the area where lunch was served. We usually have lunch outside since we're traveling a lot. It would be nice to have lunch inside a real building for once. We then put on an apron and I was in charge of handing out whatever they wanted. Today's lunch was burgers and fries. I thought it looked delicious. There was also salad and some other things I did not recognize. "Here, you go." I said as I handed Truska her burger and fries.

"Thank you, Ella. I see you're dressed for a very special occasion." She winked at me.

"Your welcome and no I'm not, I dress like I do everyday." I laughed a little as Truska went to go get a drink.

After we finished, we got some of our own lunch and we met up with Kristy, Krystal, Kira and Evra. We found a place to sat and ate our lunch.

"I am so going to kill you later." I whispered to Kira.

"Only if you can catch me." She whispered back.

"Oh, don't worry, I will. You guys were in on this too, weren't you?" I said glaring at Kira's family. Darren already went to go get drinks.

"Hey, don't look at me. It's the genius over here that thought of it." Krystal said in a sarcastic voice.

"Evra? Huh, come here Evra." I said while putting a finger geture up to make him lean over.

"Y-You're not going to do anything to me, are you?" Evra stammered.

"Of course not, I would never do that. Closer." Evra then leaned in closer and I hit him on the head. "Hmph! That's what you get!" I laughed as the sisters laughed also.

"Ella really got you there, Evra." Darren chuckled as he handed my drink and he sat down with his.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Darren said as he took a sip. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Ella and I was just talking about how we would get through Death Mountain. Isn't that right, Ella?" Kira said, nudging me a bit.

"Yup." I said while rubbing my arm and smiling nervously.

After we finished out lunch, we just hung out with some of the other members of the Cirque Du Freak, then next thing you know it, it was nightfall. Kira had already gone back to the tent, leaving me alone with Darren, yet again.

"It's almost dark, I better get back."

"Ok, good luck again." Darren said as he turned the other way around then I turned also, but then I was stopped by someone grabbing my wrist and that hand turned me around as our lips met and my heart was beating so fast to even stay inside my body. I closed my eyes and enjoyed every second of that kiss and when I opened my eyes…the lips were Darren's!

"Darren?! What was that for?" I said while Darren was still holding my wrist gently.

"Oh sorry, I shouldn't have done that. How stupid of me…I just thought that if I don't see you again, then our last memory together should be...this."

"Oh…"I was still blushing like mad and my heart was still beating as faster then ever. "No, don't apologize. It's fine." I then leaned up and gave him a small peck on the lips, "Goodnight, Darren." I smiled as I parted from him. I was about to turn when Darren still had his hand on my wrist and he turned me around as our lips met once again with his arm around my wait, pulling me closer to him. I heard someone watching us and I knew it was Ms. Okami, she probably was looking for me. I didn't care because I didn't want this moment to ever end…ever. As the moonlight shone down on us, we enjoyed every last second of our kiss before our journey to Death Mountain tomorrow.