Chapter Ten

Dinner continued and any more problems. The usual picking continued, much to the black haired Priests distaste. Afterwards the young developing couple made their way outside to take another walk. They seemed to enjoy their time together best when they were on walks.

"Ah, young love." Karimu whispered to his brother, when they walked by.

"If only they could admit this to each other." Shadi replied with a smile.

"But if they did that, we wouldn't be allowed to tease them about it."

Karimu chuckled at this while his brother shook his head. The two twins continued their walk in the opposite direction, leaving the couple in privacy.

"Mahaado?" Aishisu whispered out softly, her voice being caught in the wind and blown away.

The magician heard her voice though and turned his gaze to the young woman next to him. He noticed that her gaze was not on him, but the starry sky above them instead.

"Would you like to sit down?" He asked politely, causing her gaze to shift to him. "It might be better than straining your neck, and your less likely to run into things."

She smiled at this and happily agreed.

The pair made their way out of the palace walls and walked over to a nearby hill. They walked to the top of the hill and looked around. The hill, surprisingly, was covered with a thick moss of green grass. The pair sat down at the top of the hill and stared out into the starry sky. The view in front of them consisted of the Nile River and a part of the village and market place.

Aishisu sat down on the grass with her legs neatly tucked to her side. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap and her head was slightly tilted back to stare at the sky. Mahaado sat next to her with his legs propped up and his arms resting on top of them. His head was also tilted back and watching the sky.

"Its so…so…" Aishisu began to whisper.

"Beautiful?" Mahaado supplied curiously.

"And big! It looks like it could go on forever."

"Nothing can go on forever." He replied sadly.

She decided not to reply to this deduction and sighed. The pair silently enjoyed the vast beauty of the view and the relaxing feeling of each other's company. At one point Aishisu gasped and pointed off to the distance.

"Look! Oh look, it's a shooting star!" She cried out in joy.

Mahaado followed her finger and watched as a silver dot sparkled and shined as it went flying across the night sky.

"A shooting star!" She continued excitingly as she began to tug on his sleeve. "Quickly, quickly! Make a wish!"

He watched as she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes tightly. Her face became very serious as she thought hard about her wish. He smiled at this and turned his gaze to the now shooting starless sky.

I wish Aishisu to be forever happy. He thought in his mind with a smile.

He turned his gaze to the woman next to him. She had a dreamy look to her face and her opened eyes held a distant look to them.

"I've never seen a shooting star until tonight. When I was a child, I would stay awake all night long looking for one. I would fall asleep before sun rise and would wake up in my bed, my mother close by." She explained softy. Reaching over, she took his hand in hers and gave it a gently squeeze.

"Thank you…" She whispered softly.

She smiled softly to him and shifted her body so that she was leaning against him. Her head laid on his shoulders and her arms wrapped around his waist. A content sigh escaped her lips as he rested his head on top of hers and wrapped a free arm around her waist. The two enjoyed the tender moment between them.

"Ah, well isn't this a tender moment. A murderer and a fortune teller in love." A cold voice sneered behind them.

Mahaado recognized the voice right away and tensed. Quickly, he released Aishisu and jumped to his feet to face the danger. Burning blue eyes bore into the coldness of green of his enemy.

"Akains, what are you doing here?" He asked dangerously.

The other magician sneered back and his and crossed his arms.

"I was actually taking a walk in the area. I just happened to come upon you two, I'm surprised Mahaado. How can anyone with your past find love?"

Mahaado immanently paled at this and his eyes went to the ground. Aishisu stood up behind him with a look of confusion on her face. When Akains noticed this, he laughed.

"Well I should have known that you wouldn't tell you little lady friend. That little piece of information might put a damper on your lovely dove relationship. But if you're so worried about telling her, than I will."

"No!" Mahaado yelled urgently. Aishisu noticed the fear and shame that crossed his face.

"Well maybe I should. I mean, how old was that little girl? Seven or eight I believe."

"Stop it."

"Do you remember the look on her face when she looked at you? It was complete fear."

"Stop it." He said louder.

"Do you remember the burning village? The screaming people and the dead bodies everywhere. Do you remember you and the little girl?"

"Stop it!"

"The way she begged for forgiveness, with her dead mother at her feet. The older woman covered in her own blood as she tried to protect her child. How she pleaded with you?"

"I said stop it damn it!" Mahaado screamed as his purple aura surrounded his body.

"You cant run from it forever Mahaado." Akains continued calmly. "Sooner or later the young woman behind you will learn of it and you will have to deal with it. I hope you can take the pain."

And with that he turned and began to walk away.

"Until we meet again." He called out one last time before he suddenly disappeared.

There was an eerily silence between Aishisu and the trembling Mahaado. The young woman wanted to walk over and hug the man, comfort him of his fears. However, she knew that his past will always haunt him and there was nothing that she could do to help. This really upset her too.

Mahaado turned and began to make his way down the hill. He would speak a word to her or even look at her in the eyes. The teary eyed woman watched with the saddening feeling that this evening will forever change their lives.