Wow, sorry about the super long update guys, and thanks for all the reviews! Today I have two chapters to update so yay! Honestly they've been collecting dust on my computer 4 quite some time but as I have so horribly been busy with uni stuff I totally forgot there were even there until I dug them up only moments ago .
Anyway, enough of my rambling, on with the story =]
Chapter 8 – Thoughts
Shit, this is why I didn't want to speak.' Kaiyou thought. 'And get off me before she gets the wrong idea.' Grudgingly, Hao complied and got up, stepping away from her and towards his small companion.
"It's not my fault you have a big mouth. You didn't have to yell." He said, stopping in front of Opacho and looking over his shoulder at kaiyou.
'I wouldn't have yelled if you hadn't provoked me!'
"Sorry Hao-Sama. Opacho didn't know Hao-sama was with kaiyou-chan." The little girl said. For a moment a look of shock crossed Hao's face, but then his trademark smirk curved into the corner of his mouth, while Kaiyou simply stared at her in confusion and complete disbelief. How did she know who she was? Kaiyou was certain that she had never been carless and shown her human form to the girl; had Hao told her?
Hao ignored her accusing thoughts and set his attention onto Opacho, he too was curious as to how the little girl knew someone who should have been a total stranger to her was kaiyou. He knelt down to her level and smiled at her, watching as she smiled innocently back.
"Opacho, how do you know that she is kaiyou?" he asked.
"Kaiyou-Chan has the same heart as kaiyou-Chan foxy." Opacho explained. The two stared at her for a moment. Until Hao's lips broke into a wide smirk.
"Interesting" he said, more to himself than the two girls as he stood up.
'Wait, what does that mean?' Kaiyou asked, a confused frown set on her face.
"It means that Opacho can also read minds." Hao explained, looking down at the small African girl, obviously pleased by the news.
'...so she can hear me too?'
"Yes"
'...no friggin way. Is my mind safe from anyone? Next you're going to tell me that fat ass Billy can read my thoughts too! Does anyone know the meaning of privacy around here?' she screamed in outrage, being careful not to let her voice slip through her anger like before. She didn't need anyone else seeing her true form, hell she thought that she might as well go running around outside yelling "I'm a shape shifter, I'm the fennec fox!" at the top of her lungs, and then transform in front of a news reporter live on television. How many more people were going to find out? As her thoughts raced through her mind Hao and Opacho couldn't help but listen to the girl silent ranting. Even though Kaiyou knew that they both could hear her, she couldn't help the way her thoughts blabbered on, and for a moment she forgot about them, until she heard Opacho sniff. Kaiyou looked down at her and saw that the little girl was looking back at her, her eyes all big and watery, and her lip quivering as she sniffled.
'...Shit.'
"kaiyou-Chan is mad at Opacho?" she mumbled, holding back her tears.
'...Double shit.'
Kaiyou smiled weakly, crouching down to Opacho.
"I'm not mad at you Opacho," Kaiyou said quietly, unintentionally dazzling the little girl with her voice, "It's just that I don't like people knowing too much about me. I don't normally have people close to me." She explained, watching the little girl's eyes sparkle, and a large smile spread across her face.
"So, Opacho is close to Kaiyou-Chan?" she asked, catching Kaiyou off guard.
"Uhh..." she didn't know how to answer, because she didn't know herself. After all she had only been with the group for a few days, and she had never been around people long enough to get close to them. But then she would be lying if she said they weren't at least growing on her. Unfortunately her lone wolf personality would never let her admit that. Hao smiled, Liking the idea that they were getting to her, even if he knew she would never tell them straight out. Instead of leaving her to ponder over her thoughts however, he changed the subject.
"Opacho, it's late and we all need some sleep." He said. Opacho smiled and nodded, knowing just as well as Hao what Kaiyou had been thinking.
"Okay!" she chimed, taking it as her cue to leave and skipping to the entrance of the tent. "Goodnight Hao-sama, Kaiyou-Chan"
"Goodnight, Opacho." Hao answered with a smile.
"Yeah...goodnight." Kaiyou mumbled awkwardly, watching the little girl skip out of the tent and leaving her alone with Hao. He turned to her, grinning smugly.
"So you don't hate being with us after all huh?" he smirked, watching the shock cross her face before she scowled at him.
"I never said that." She denied, crossing her arms against her chest.
"No but you thought it."
"I think a lot of things, it doesn't make them true."
"So you were lying?"
"Yes."
He smiled, knowing full well that she was only defending her pride, rather than telling the truth of what she felt. 'Women' he thought, shaking his head. He never could understand them, but this girl was even more confusing, even thought it was surprising how alike they really were. She may not admit that she was becoming attached to them, but he defiantly knew that he was getting attached to her. But then, he too would never truly admit it out loud. Instead he sat down on his sleeping bag and looked up at her.
"We really should get some sleep" he said, noticing the tiredness in her eyes. She nodded, and just as she was about to leave the tent he grabbed her wrist.
"I didn't say you had to leave."
She stared at him in confusion for a second, but then realized what he meant and glared ice cold daggers at him.
"I am not sleeping with you." She growled.
"I'm not going to do anything if that's what you think."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?" he countered, noticing the pause before she spoke.
"What if someone else came in, how would you explain it?"
"No one will come in." He answered confidently.
"Opacho just did."
"Yes, but she's the only one that would dare to. Everyone else knows not to disturb me."
Kaiyou glared at him sceptically.
"Trust me." He said, letting his voice soften. She wanted to trust him, but after having no one to trust for so long she wasn't sure. After all, what could he gain if she did stay, there had to be something... right? He smiled at her encouragingly, realizing her hesitation, and gently pulled her down beside him. He was pleasantly surprised when she didn't resist and his eyes softened as he lay down. She glanced down at him, still feeling confused.
"You really won't do anything?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
"I promise." He answered, giving her a serious look that showed her he meant it. She hadn't realized how tired she was until that moment, and she forgot all about her worries and doubt. But then she still kept her distance as she lay down beside him in a wave of exhaustion. He chuckled slightly and pulled her closer to the warmth of his body.
"What are you-?"
"You'll get cold if you stay over there." He interrupted. She sighed, feeling too tired to argue. For once in her life she actually felt safe, and if she wasn't so sleepy that probably would have worried her, but since she was she didn't give it a second though as she drifted into slumber. Hao smiled, wrapping an arm around her waist and breathing in the soft, earthy sent of her skin. He loved her smell, like she was as close to nature as he was.
'What am I thinking, she's a human! Or something close to it at least. But she is defiantly not a shaman. What has this woman done to me? ' he frowned to himself, but his face softened when he looked at her sleeping face, so calm and relaxed. His finger traced across her delicate cherry blossom lips and longing slammed into his gut. He wanted her so badly it was unnatural. After all he had only known her for a few days, how could he feel so much for someone he barely knew. But then, he did know her. He had been in her mind enough to know that she was different, not only from her power but in her mind as well. That didn't change the fact that she was human though. Against his better judgment he leaned into her, gently pressing his lips against hers, instantly feeling his stomach flip and a burst of pleasure run through him. It shocked him. He had a few lovers in his previous lives, but not one of them could give him such pleasure in one simple kiss. He groaned as he pulled away. If he stayed there any longer it would be impossible for him to keep his promise, even though by kissing her he had technically broken it, but seeing as he hadn't done anything more he considered it all right. But that didn't change how he so desperately wanted to kiss her again. He shook the thought away. She would defiantly try to kick the crap out of him if she knew what he had done, and he didn't want to risk making her mad. After all, she would never trust him again. He sighed and lay back down away from her, trying to make some sense of his thoughts. Could he really ever have a relationship with her, regardless to the fact that she wasn't a shaman? To him it seemed hypocritical. Why bother trying to destroy humans if he wanted one as his queen? But then, she did think differently... and it wasn't as if she grew up around humans to start behaving like them. In truth she was more animal than human in some ways. And hell, he was sure to become shaman king, and a king didn't have to explain his decisions to anyone.
Kaiyou shivered and subconsciously moved close to him, nuzzling into his chest. Hao smiled, and decided not to dwell on his thoughts any longer as he wrapped an arm around her, hugging her to him. He noticed the light smile curving her lips, before closing his eyes and resisting the urge to kiss her once again.
Well that's it for this chapter, next 1 will be up in a moment =]
