Random A/N: I've noticed that the Marisa's POV chapters are longer than Joshua's… I guess it's cause I relate to her more cause I'm an antisocial girl like her. Jk, I'm not… THAT antisocial.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7


What should I do next? I'll make him wear that pink dress. …Yes, he should wear it when he gives that speech next week.

Marisa was having too much fun planning out what her prize would be if she won their daily spar again. The result from last night was uproarious. She couldn't remember ever laughing that hard at anything (or even laughing at all).

Her conscience told her that she may be having a little too much fun, but she couldn't just let anyone, especially Joshua, take advantage of her the way he had the night they arrived home from the wedding.

I'll teach that jerk. Last night was just the beginning of her torturing.

The whole day was unintentionally dedicated to plot against Joshua. She hadn't realize of her doing until one of the guards she was training with commented on how deep in thought she was in.

This was an embarrassing disruption of her. Never had she ever thought so long about something so unimportant to her. Perhaps she was taking this out of hand.

That's when she came to a startling conclusion. What if Joshua had planned something to get back at her for making him reveal his nude body to everyone in the castle? Without a doubt, Joshua probably had something twice as worst then what she had done to him. Would he dare make her strip in front of the castle? Paranoia swept over her, although she kept her cool in front of the guards. She refused to let herself be fearful over something so silly. But at the same time, she couldn't let the red-haired King win.

Then, she continued to fight quite ruthlessly with the guards. She could see their distraught every time she stroke her sword towards them. She needed to train so that it would be a guarantee that she would win today's match.

Sunset came, and Marisa hurriedly paced herself towards the garden. Opposite from her down the hallway, she saw Joshua making his way to the Garden. She stared at the slim man as his boots thumped every time it hit the stone floors.

She could feel his crimson eyes stare into her eyes as the two got nearer.

They finally reached the garden where the two stood by the entrance, and continue to stare into each other's faces.

"Joshua." Marisa addressed coolly

"Marisa." Joshua replied in the same manner.

It was as if both were having an intense staring contest game. For Marisa, it felt awkward. But she continued to stare to respond Joshua's seemingly threatening eyes.

"Shall we?" Joshua finally said, and thank goodness. Marisa couldn't take any more of the staring.

She walked into the garden first. She could hear Joshua's boots pounding onto the floor behind her.

She turned around and unsheathed her sword, Joshua doing the same. She wanted to know what he had planned for her without her having to lose the spar. But she couldn't bring herself to simply ask him.

Joshua made the first unsuspecting move. She was quick to dodge his fast slashes at her. She noticed how quickly and fiercely he swung his sword at her. He was eager and desperate. She knew how badly he wanted to win, just like she did.

Her sword was up and ready, ready to strike at any opening. But Joshua was smart to keep his distance from her. His body was like elastic, his long arm reaching over with his blade at hand. She had no chance at striking.

Joshua jabbed his sword forward at her, she dodged to the left. She saw his body was falling towards her from having to miss the target. She saw this as an opportunity to approach him from behind.

As she did, she felt the warmth of his hand tightly grip her sword hand.

Marisa gasped at the impact and dropped her sword. And in one quick move, Joshua had twirled her body into his body. His arm held her back against his chest to prevent her from escaping as he held onto her wrist and his other hand with the sword to her throat.

Her body motioned with the rise and fall of Joshua's chest as he breathed heavily and she felt his hot breath against the back of her head. She felt his heart beat against her back. Strangely as it seemed, she felt her heart beat in unison with his. Her body was held closely to his, just like at the wedding.

She shook her head of such thoughts.

Damn it. He tricked me.

After Joshua caught his breath, he twirled Marisa once more to release her. She picked up her sword and then faced him, fearing for the worse.

"What… What do want?" She tried to keep her tone calm.

She looked up at Joshua's face, expecting to see his famous mischievous grin, but instead, his face was motionless.

What is he thinking?

She waited for a response from him, but he only continued to stare. Marisa felt uncomfortable under the watchful eyes of Joshua.

"If you don't have anything…" She began, full of hope.

"Oh, I have something." Joshua said confidently.

She waited for unfortunate loss, but Joshua continued to stare at her.

"What is it?" She said irritably. Her patience was wearing out.

Joshua took a couple of steps towards her, so that he was inches away from her.

"Wha-What are you doing?" She lowered her voice as he got closer. Joshua placed a finger and his thumb under her chin, and lifted her face upward to his.

"I want to kiss you." He said softly.

She heard a small gasp escape from her lips. She stepped back, away from him.

"You can't be serious. Is this your way of getting back at me? That's pathetic." She scoffed. Was this truly his way of getting back at her? What would a kiss do? Besides shred her dignity.

"I'm not getting back at ya." Joshua said simply. His face was still motionless.

The skeptical look worn on her face subsided as she saw he was serious.

Marisa cleared her throat. "Why?" She asked.

"Why not? When two people are attracted to each other… They should embrace each other." Joshua slowly walked towards her as she slowly backed up.

"Attracted? I-I'm not attracted to anybody! And neither are you!" She didn't understand why he had suggested there was such thing going on between the two.

"Don't deny it." He assured soothingly.

Marisa thought back to the night before, when she had seen him naked. Perhaps he got the idea when she said she was impressed with his body. She was merely teasing him. Although… She did like what she saw.

"I'm not denying anything!" She squeaked. The shrill of her voice surprised her.

"So you're saying…" Joshua began. he crossed his arms across his chest, with one hand to his chin.

"You're saying that you don't feel this burning sensation between us? A special connection? A powerful force that pulls us together? What about the urge of lust? None of that?"

What is he saying?

Marisa shook her head in disagreement as she slowly back away from Joshua's inching steps.

"That's too bad." He said.

And surely enough, Marisa had found herself backed up into one of the garden's wall. She was done for.

Marisa knew her sword was by her side. She could hold out her sword to him to prevent him from getting any closer.

Take it out, fool!

But she couldn't. She found herself numb, paralyzed… But from what? Joshua's sudden burst of words? She didn't know.

Joshua again, tilted her head upwards to face his.

"That's too bad, because that's how I feel about you." He said softly, then moved in closer.

Marisa figured she could only embrace accept what was coming at her, no matter how much she detested it. She shut her eyes tightly and loosened her lips.

She waited.

She felt nothing on her lips. Had it already happened?

She opened her eyes.

Anger toiled within her when she saw a laughing Joshua nearly crouched to the ground.

"HAHA!" Joshua was now rolling on the ground, his arms to his stomach.

He continued to cackle as Marisa turned her numbed hands into a tight fist. How dare he? How dare he mess about with her feelings? As if it were a ragged doll, he could freely pull on the strands of its hair and its legs.

"YOU-! YOUR FACE! OH MY GOODNESS!" Marisa couldn't make out his words from all his laughter. But she didn't care, all she wanted to do was cut the man in half.

She couldn't take any more of the King's guffawing, then lurched at him with her clenched fists.

She wanted a clean punch to his devilish face, but she couldn't do so because of how much he was moving. She sat on top of his torso, took his shoulders in both hands, and then began to harshly tremble him. He violently swung back and forth as Marisa thrashed him around. She didn't care if the two guards by the entrance saw what she was doing.

Despite the shaking, Joshua continued to laugh.

"You! You-!" Marisa couldn't find the right insult to call him. He was far much worse than a jerk. "You asshole! You bastard!" She screamed, and she continued to shout about all the profanities she could think of.

Finally, he calmed down, but was still laughing. He vibrated underneath her from his laughing. She had a clear shot of his smiling face.

She raised her left first, tightly clenched. She was about to bring it down onto his left cheek, when a guard shouted something.

"King Joshua! Lady Marisol has just arrived!" The guard announced. They were not too far, she could hear their running footstep echo in the hallway.

"Oh! Woo-hoo…" Joshua let out the last of his chuckle, as he wiped away a tear from his right eye. He sat up, pushing Marisa off of him. The two got up. She glared angrily as Joshua redeemed himself from the laughing fit.

"Pathetic? I think I got you good." He said. His eyes were still glossy from his tears of laughter.

"I hate you." Marisa said bitterly.

"Ouch." Joshua held his hands to his left chest as he made a pained face.

"King Joshua!" The guard announced again. He stood at the entrance. "Lady Marisol is here!"

"Alright!" Joshua called back. He was still facing Marisa. "I have to tell ya, it was hard trying to keep a straight face."

"I'll make that straight face a bruised one." Marisa countered.

Joshua didn't react to this, instead, a smirk grew to his face. "But the hardest part was actually to restrain myself from actually kissing you." And with that, he left before Marisa could say anything back.

Was that part of his joke?

Marisa stood in her place. Anger was still boiling within her. It slowly subsided and was overwhelmed with another emotion as her clenched fists slowly released itself.

What a tease. She thought herself as the dark night grew around her.


A/N: Ohohoho! Who's this Lady Marisol? Well, you'll just have to read to find out! :) hope you've enjoyed this chapter.