CS: Sorry this took a while. I was trying to write all the chapters and having to post these every day, that sort of thing, but that is not working out. Also the chapter name was the only thing I could think up. So…. here is ch.9.

Lovey Dovey

After May got the guys out of prison, the main villain was sitting at his desk, impatiently.

"Why?" He gritted his teeth.

"I'm sorry, sir." The head ninja, Kasumimaru said, "My men will catch up to them-"

"I'm not talking about that!" He slammed his fist onto the desk.

"Then... what's the problem?"

"The problem is I have gotten little screen time!" He yelled, "I'm the big bad guy! I'm suppose to have a bigger role then this!"

"Maybe the author is trying to make you more mysterious-"

"No! She's just forgotten about me!" He sagged in his chair, "She's too busy with the relationship stuff to go back to the plot!"

"Don't worry. Once my men find the princess, you will have a bigger role."

He thought a moment. "No."

"No?"

"I'm not waiting that long." Harumoto stood up, "I'm going after her."

"Sir-"

"Don't stop me!" Harumoto took large strides , "I will kill the princess with my own hands and prove that I can make the story much better than any goopy romance."

"Yes, sir." The ninja bowed, "Shall I tell your brother where you are going?"

"No," he shook his head, "Nobumasa is coming with me."

After earning enough money to last them over a week, they set off.

The group walked for days with no trouble at all. Except for the occasion fights between May and Ittosai and Ittosai and Jin... actually most of the fights were involved with Ittosai. Bo had to keep intervening and giving them a time out. There were only a few events during these days that should be mentioned.

On the first day. Jin and Hatsuhime got some alone time. This was all planed of coarse by the cunning May... with some help with Bo. They all decided to get some rest; Jin, Ittosai, and Muneshige were on look out. May suggested to Hatsuhime that they go to the riverside, where Jin was standing look out, and get some water. After giving Bo a grin to message her plan was commencing, while he gave a small nod.

Hatsuhime was shocked to see Jin there, standing bravely near the river, his muscular chest covered in sweat (1). She turned many shades of red and she looked to May to say they should go back to only find May was gone.

"What the-"

"Princess?" She froze.

"Yes?" She turned slowly to face him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I-I um.. was thirsty." Which was true, "May was with me just awhile ago."

"Was she?" He came over making her heart beat fast, "I don't see her."

"Yeah, I guess she forgot something." She knew that was a huge fat lie. She was sure May planed this so the two would be alone together. Hatsuhime didn't know if she wanted to hug or kill her.

"Well since you're here, why not get something to drink," he smiled, sending her a shiver down her spine.

"O-ok."

Jin watched as she knelled down at the water's edge, taking her small soft hands into the cold water. He watched as those said hands lift up to her face and watched her perfect pink lips open as she swallowed the clear water. He felt his ears flame up and his heart pound as a trick of water rolled down her chin, down her throat and down-

"Ah. Princess!" Jin blurted out.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Um..." He didn't mean to blurt her name out. what was he going to do? "How are you today?"

"Um, fine thank you."

'stupid, stupid!' Jin yelled in his head.

"Are you alright Jin?"

"uh, yeah... just hot! yeah! It's a pretty hot day!" He quickly went to the water's edge as well and splashed water on his face.

"Yes it is." Hatsuhime giggled as she watched him splash more water on his red face.

"You look hot too princess." She blushed at the double meaning, "you should cool off as well."

Suddenly She was splashed with water. she looked to see Jin grinning.

"why you!" she splashed him right back. He laughed as he splashed her again. They soon began walking in the water, which went past their knees. They laughed as they tried to get each other wet. they did not seem to care their clothes were getting soaked. Hatsuhime tried to get closer to him to attack, but ended up slipping on a rock and falling.

"Hatsuhime!"

Jin dashed forward to try and catch her, only ending with them both in the water. Jin laid in the water, now completely soaked. He opened his eyes as he saw the princess laying on top of him. Her wet clothes stuck to every curve in her body and her hair managed to undo it's self. Her eyes open slowly and looked straight into his. His face went to the darkest red anyone has ever seen. His brain was about to explode; the princess was lying wet on top of him in between his legs.

"um, are we interrupting?" The two looked up to see the rest of the gang staring at them. May had a smug look and Bo was trying hard not to laugh. Muneshige was looking like he was about to blow, while Ittosai just rolled his eyes. Yo was trying to see what was going on while Mon- Mon pretended like it was something the kid couldn't see by covering the boys eyes.

"I just leave for a few minutes-" May said smiling."It's not like that!"

"You!" Muneshige was ready to blow, "Get away from the princess!"

Hatsuhime and Jin got up and watched as he walked closer to the river.

"I never would have thought, you, Jin, would so such a vulgar thing-"

"Oh, cool down," May said as she pushed him into the river.

Hatsumhime quickly covered her mouth to stop the giggle that almost came out. Muneshige quickly got up, wet from head to toe.

"Why you!" His anger face quickly changed into a smile, "I think you need to cool off as well, miss may."

"No! don't even think-Ah!" She was grabbed and pulled in forcefully sending her into the water.

Yo quickly jumped in, splashing Jin and Hatsuhime. Mon-Mon fallowed right behind.

"Morons." Ittosai shook his head.

"Come on, Ittosai." Bo said as he walked towards the water, "It will be fun."

"I'll pass."

"Are you sure? You'll get a better view getting in."

"Better view?" Ittosai was confused, "Better view of what?"

May stood up from the water, her clothes clinging to her body. May tried to ring out the water, but only gave Ittosai a good view of her cleavage.

"That view." Bo smiled as he walked into the water to join them.

Ittosai huffed. Why would he want to see "that". She had no sex appeal anyway.

"So glad that you have joined us."

Ittosai got out of his thoughts to notice he was standing in the river. 'when did this happen!'

Water hit his face and was not surprised to find that May was the culprit.

"This is childish." He said whipping water droplets from his glasses. May got close to him while he was preoccupied and pulled him in. He fell, but not without taking May with him. They both landed side by side in the water. When his head arose from the water he was splashed again. He growled and tackled her. The two rolled in the water, one trying to dominate the other. Ittosai finally got a hold of her and placed her face close to his.

"Don't do that again." He threatened.

No one really knew what he didn't want her to do again. Was it pushing him in the water? Was it ruining his glasses? If you asked Bo he would say not jumping in the river and giving everyone a good view of her… body.

It was after he said this that he noticed May's cheeks were puffed out. Water soon sprout out of her mouth onto his face. He glared at her and she just smiled.

The thought of drowning her did cross his mind. Actually it crossed his mind at least seven times since he fell into the water, but for some reason he just couldn't. It annoyed him greatly. He was sure he was sick. Some sort of parasite that made him act like this. It was making him fall for the plain, small, worthless… spirited… feisty… soft skinned… small but round breas- not again! And he was sure Bo has noticed. In fact, Ittosai was sure the long haired man was taunting him.

Finally the group got out of the river and dried off. Ittosai gave the evil eye to Mon-mon when he got to close to May and offered to "warm her up". Mon-mon had a good sense and could feel a strong negative force. Bo quickly took the Monk away from May to have the feeling of negativity gone. Bo smiled at the monks confused face and went up ahead.

Day three consist of them walking. No surprise there. Nothing really eventful really happen. It was then that May noticed Ittosai constant stare. She was use to him glaring at her but this was different. There was no emotion showing when he stared at her. He looked actually… calm. It scared her. She asked Bo about it, but he only laughed. She asked what was so funny, but it only made him laugh harder. She finally decided to take the bull by the horns and get at it by the source.

"Why do you keep staring at me?"

Ittosai looked at her as if she was the one who was crazy and kept walking. Though he was starting to think this was not some sort of disease he was infected with and was getting closer to accepting he may (just maybe) not completely hate the girl. But he wasn't going to let her know that.

"Why would I want to stare at you?" he then smirked, "Does someone have a crush on me?"

"You wish."

He chuckled as he picked up his pace, with May right behind him.

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"What questioned?"

May yelled in frustration. "You're insufferable!"

"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me." Ittosai pretended to be flattered.

May just wanted to rip that smile of his face. Ittosai just knew how to annoy her. With a huff she stormed up ahead. Ittosai chucked as he couldn't help but stare at her form. It was hard to believe that delicate looking body held a fiery soul. He watched as she walked behind Muneshige and flung herself on to his back- wait, WHAT!

Ever since the river insistent, Muneshige has kept a close eye on Hatsuhime and made sure Jin was kept a good three feet away from her. The two love birds weren't the only ones who were annoyed by the man's actions. May wasn't going to let the over protective bodyguard destroy her plans.

Muneshige was walking in between the Hatsuhime and Jin. Every time Jin tried to talk to the princess, he received a glare from the man in the middle. He just wished someone would get Muneshige out of his hair so he could speak to her, let alone look at her beautiful face.

His prayer was answered when May jumped on the guard's back, smiling.

"Muneshige!" She wrapped her legs around his stomach and arms over his shoulders, "Give me a piggyback ride!"

"What!" He felt his back crack, "Why do you want a piggy- No, I'm sorry but I'm not-"

May pulled his ponytail and whispered darkly into his ear. The man's eyes widen.

"A-alright." He gave a sigh.

"yay!" She smiled, "now lets go up ahead."

"Bu-"

"I said," Her face darkened, "Let's go up ahead."

"Yes, miss." The two quickly walked up ahead with mon-mon and Bo.

Hatsuhime and Jin didn't know what to think of the whole situation. Though that thought disappeared when they realized Muneshige was out of the way. Jin smiled broadly at her, as she smiled back. Both were blushing and didn't know what to do next. The warm atmosphere they brought was enough to make them happy to be near each other. Though the happy atmosphere was in gulfed in horrifying deadly chill that ran down their spin. They turned around when they felt it coming from behind to find Ittosai looking more murderous then they ever saw him before. Most time when this aura appeared he was smiling crazily at his victims. There was no smile on this psychopath's face. He looked close to snapping. The said love birds quicken their pace, feeling that it was best to go up ahead and stay with Muneshie and the others.

'not only is she clinging to him,' Ittosai gritted his teeth, 'she is whispering sweet nothings into his ear!'

Unknown to Ittosai, there was nothing sweet about being blacked mailed by a teenage girl.

On the fourth day since they left the town, May realized she has gone crazy. With Ittosai strange behavior (this includes less insults or weaker ones, staring at her for no reason, and fuming over no apparent reason and being snappy for hours) her old crush on him started to come back. she wanted to slam her head on a tree when she found herself staring and blushing at his Abs. He hated her, why would she fall for him! It made sense (not really) when she started to fall for him when she was playing the game in the real world. Here she was treated worse then dirt by him. He could easily, and would gladly, kill her... but for some reason he didn't try to drown her a few days ago. That really surprised her.

She decided that some higher power was having fun with her emotions to try and get her to lower her guard around Ittosai so he could strike and kill her... this was only partly right.

May decided the best way to ignore her feelings (she used the word curse to describe her predicament) was to focus all her attention on getting Jin and Sayori (not the princess but the teenage girl inside the princess's body) together. She was able to get Bo and Yo to help. She didn't dare ask Muneshige or Ittosai for obvious reasons. she didn't ask mon-mon because he was not the subtle person in the group. She was sure he would just blurt out their plans if he was involved.

May tried small things, so the two "love birds" wouldn't notice. she couldn't believe how two people in love with each other could push away their feelings and not see the other loved them too. (yeah...) She tried to get them alone with each other and getting them to walk together when the group was on the move. May had to keep Muneshige attention away from the princess, which was easier said then done. He was still on edge about the whole river scene and was still a bit pissy about May pushing him in. But by mentioning about a certain thing that happen a few nights ago did help. Lets just say Muneshige talks in his sleep and had a very interesting dream involving the princess.

In the real world Miles awoke and quickly headed to his lab. May had better not have hooked up with the weirdo while he was sleeping.

"Hello Elle," He came in and sat down, "anything eventful happened while I was asleep?"

"….. No."

"Really, now?" He typed something's on the keyboard, "How far are they along on their journey."

A timeline showed up on the screen showing they were past the midway point.

"Elle," Miles looked slightly puzzled, "Didn't we make the game longer then this?"

Elle didn't say anything.

Miles sighed, "Oh, well. I'll be back after I eat something. If something goes wrong, call ok?"

"… Alright brother."

Miles wondered why she was acting so quiet. He shook his head and left the room.

"… I don't like this." Elle said aloud, "I just can't do this."

"Of course you can." came a voice from the shadows, "It's only for a short while."

"I don't like lying to my own brother!"

"You're not lying," The person smiled widely, "You are just not telling him anything."

"Same thing…."

"Now, Now." The figure walked out of the shadows, "You told me you would cooperate. I promise, I'll release you from your digital prison when all of this is over."

"…. You promise?"

The figure gave a big toothy grin, "I promise."

CS: I feel like Ittosai would be someone who would try his hardest to deny he was in love with someone. I also see him as a very possessive person. Even though he is only able to admit he might not complete hate May (saying like or even love was out of the question), he doesn't like other men having any physical contact with her. No one touches his possessions.

(1) to tell you the truth, writing that sentence made me burst into laughter. I just don't like writing stuff like that, it just feels so cheesy and funny. But it needed to be done.