Greetings earthlings! I apologize this took so long but i didnt no wat 2 write. Thankfully Luiz4200 came up with a brilliant idea that inspired me to write this chapter. So yeah. I guess ill dedicate this chapter to them THANK YOU LUIZ YOU ROCK! So here guys go i hope you enjoy it. I needed a filler otherwise it would've been like Shen Gon Wu every chapter and it was annoying me.
Disclaimer: It's not mine! Why must i write these stupid things? They hurt my feelings...

Chapter 9:
Midnight Moments

Kimiko walked down a long dimly lit corridor with her father. Toshiro was smartly dressed in a suit. Kimiko was looking splendid in a blood red ball gown. Her blue eyes were slightly confused.

"Why do I have to go to this party again papa?" she asked.

"All of my business partners are here and, as my heiress, you must represent my company," he explained.

Kimiko nodded her head. She desperately missed Rai and the boys and wished they were here now. She had gone home to celebrate her fourteenth birthday with her dad, but she longed to be with her friends. Kimiko took a deep breath and stepped into the ballroom. She blinked at the bright lights. The roomwas filledwith people her father's age and, to her surprise, young men her age and two or three years old. Kim looked around nervously. She was getting a bad feeling about this party.

"Kimiko this is Haroki Aomori. He owns Game Market. He's one of my biggest buyers," Toshiro explained.

"Please to meet you, sir," Kimiko curtsied.

"The pleasure is all mine and this is my son Akio," Mr. Aomori introduced. Akio was tall and muscular. He had wavy black hair and gorgeous green eyes.

"Hi," Kimiko said cheerfully.

"Hello," he replied stiffly. Kimiko raised her eyebrows. This was going to be awkward.

Kimiko was leaning against the balcony letting the wind blow all around her. She had just escaped the "party." So much for having fun on her birthday. She felt like she was the only one with a personality in there. Seriously, all the sons looked like they had been brainwashed by their fathers. She was having an awful time and just wanted to go to bed. Her heels were starting to hurt her feet and the dress weighed her down. Once again she wished she was back at the temple with Raimundo, Clay, and Omi.

She had figured out why her presence was required here tonight. This wasn't an ordinary party, it was a gathering of her suitors. Kimiko couldn't believe this. She had just turned fourteen and her father was already thinking about her marrying for the good of his business. What was this the 1800s?

Kimiko sighed angrily. Suddenly, she felt as though she wasn't alone. She wiped around and found herself face to face with a young American man. He was sixteen at least with ruffled reddish brown hair. His black eyes were friendly enough and his smile dazzled her.

"I'm sorry. Did I startle you?" He didn't sound sorry at all.

"No, I didn't think anyone knew about this balcony. It's pretty well hidden." She was referring, of course, to the fact that the doors were cleverly hidden behind several large plants. No one knew about it but her. Kimiko knew that the only way he would've been able to find it was if he followed her out here. And that unnerved her.

"I tend to notice the little things. I saw the door and it made me curious. I didn't expect to find a beautiful maiden behind it," he sweet talked her.

Kimiko looked away as she blushed. This guy was a total flirt.

"Thank you, but I think I'll be going in now," she excused herself.

He stepped in front of the doorway. "Please don't go yet. Can't we at least talk?"

Kimiko backed up until her back was pressed against the railing. "Ok what's your name?"

"Dane Walker."

"Walker as in Walker Electronics? The largest game company in America?" Kimiko asked, astonished.

"Yeah. Dad started it years ago. He wants me to run it some day," he explained.

"Wow that's amazing."

"Yeah, but not as impressive as you. You're the sole heiress to the Tohomiko Electronics company. You're company's larger than ours, but don't tell my dad I said that," he praised.

"Thank you. I'm glad you think highly of my father."

"I think of you just as highly. You are a beautiful woman," he told her.

Kimiko shifted uncomfortably. She didn't like where this conversation was going.

"Well thank you for the compliment, but I think I'd better go inside. I'm chilled," she excused herself again.

Once again he stopped her. "Do you want my coat?"

"No thank you I'd rather just go in."

She pushed past him and almost made it to the door. But she was yanked backwards. She glared at the spot where he had grabbed her arm.

"Let go," she threatened.

He pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

"I don't think so," he growled. She was stuck. "You do realize that a marriage between the two of us would greatly benefit the two companies."

"Too bad. I'm not going to marry anyone that lays their hands on me without my permission," she shot back.

The next thing she knew she was shoved against a wall. His arms were on either side of her, trapping her. His body was pressed up against hers. Kimiko had never felt so terrified in her entire life. Rai help me, she wanted to scream. Unfortunately, she knew he wouldn't be able to hear her all the way in China. She knew she had to get out of this herself, which would be hard wearing this ridiculous dress.

"Too bad you don't have a choice," he told her.

"That's what you think," she snarled.

She kneed him between the legs as hard as she could. He went down like the Titanic. She turned and fled for the door, but her legs got caught in her dress and she tripped. Kimiko stared up in horror at a seriously pissed off Dane. He was leaning over her with a twisted smile on his face.

Kimiko sat up in bed, drenched in sweat. As storm raged outside. Lightning flashed while thunder boomed. She looked around at her cubicle. It was only a nightmare. Well, actually it was a memory, a very bad memory that she had tried to forget about. She didn't want to tell Rai about the suitors, but she absolutely refused to let him know about Dane. She had escaped by a sheer stroke of luck. Keiko had walked in on them and raised the alarm. Apparently she had been looking for Kim and guessed that she had retreated to the secret balcony.

Kimiko burst into tears, crying softly. She had repressed that memory well, but the phone call that she had had with her father before she went to sleep had caused it to resurface. Toshiro was pressing her to break up with Raimundo and date someone well…richer. He had even threatened to pull her out of the temple and take her back home. She hung up on him after that. However, she was obviously still upset.

She felt so scared sitting there, so alone. She didn't want to be alone so she stood up. The tears were still dripping down her face. Kimiko walked quietly into the room next to hers.

"Rai?" she asked softly.

"Hmm? Who is it?" Rai mumbled half asleep.

"It's me."

"Kimi?" He was wide awake now. He saw the tears. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"I had a nightmare," she told him.

"Oh," he breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?" He cursed himself for asking such a stupid question. Of course she wasn't okay. If she was she wouldn't be here, crying and trembling. That dream must've really scared her. "Do you want to stay here tonight?" he asked.

Kimiko nodded her head fiercely. Raimundo moved over and she crawled onto his mat. He tucked his blanket around her and pulled her close to him. She blushed when she realized that he was shirtless. All he wore were a pair of boxers. Still she felt a lot safer with him. Soon she was breathing deep and even. Raimundo looked at her. He hated the fact that he could protect her from any evil and every villain, but when it came to the evil inside her head he was helpless. He kissed her forehead and hugged her closer to him. Still he would try to protect her. And with that he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Little did they know that they weren't the only ones still awake. Across the hall Aelia was wide awake. She was watching the storm. She always thought that they were more beautiful than any theater production or any play that Shakespeare wrote. To her they were nature's form of entertainment with the flashing lights and the booming sounds.

She waited until Rai and Kim had gone back to sleep then she crawled over to her chest and unlocked it. She pulled out a tunic. It had once been beautiful, but the fabric had been worn out with age. You could tell that she had wore it many times. It was no longer the pure white it once had been, but a light gray color. Still, she hugged it close to her. It was one of her few connections to her old life. Quietly, she dressed then crept outside.

The rain was pouring down, refreshing the earth. It hadn't rained like this in a while. Aelia took a deep breath then stepped into the rain. She walked until she stood at the edge of the garden. The rain poured on her, soaking her thoroughly. She yanked at her braid pulling it loose. Her hair flowed out behind her. She held her arms out and tilted her face skyward and let the water glide over her body. She felt as though all the fear, all the anxiety, was being washed away.

"Are you sure it's safe for you to be out here alone?" a voice asked.

Aelia whipped around. Leaning against the porch, arms crossed and smirking, was Ash.

"Nice pajamas," he remarked.

Aelia looked down at her drenched tunic. "They're not my pajamas."

"Ah."

"What are you doing out here?" she demanded.

"Making sure you don't get kidnapped again," he replied.

"I won't," she promised. "Go away your interrupting my peace." Lightning flashed behind her. Thunder exploded.

"Aelia this is ridiculous. Come inside before you get struck by lightning," he said.

"No," she replied stubbornly. "You come out here."

"Hell no it's raining cats and dogs out there," he told her.

"Fine," she walked towards him. "Give me a hand."

When he grabbed her hand she pulled him into the rain.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. She pulled too hard though and he fell. He grabbed her and twisted in midair, taking in the brunt of the impact. Aelia landed on top of him, laughing. She had never felt so carefree in her life.

Their faces were so close together. Were his eyes always that bright? Was his body really this muscular? She had never noticed before. Her hair fell around them in curtains. Ash had never seen her smile this bright. Her silver eyes were laughing. Right now he didn't mind that his clothes were soaked and muddy. Her body was pressed against his and Ash couldn't shake off how right this felt.

Gently, he flipped her over so that he was on top. This moment seemed so romantic, so cliché. There was only one thing that could make this better. Ash closed his eyes and leaned down to kiss her. Below him Aelia's eyes widened. No, she couldn't let this happen.

"Ash stop," she warned. When he didn't stop she pushed him away.

"What?" he seemed confused.

He moved up and she rolled away from him. She sat up and hugged her knees. Ash watched her. That's when he noticed she was crying.

"Aelia?" he said softly. When she didn't move he walked over to her and knelt down beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to go that far…"

She lifted her head to look at him. Tears still ran down her face. "Oh Ash I'm so confused."

"Why? What's so confusing?" he inquired.

"You. Me. This!" she exclaimed.

"Why do you keep fighting us?" he yelled.

"Because I can't fall in love!" she screamed.

"Why the hell not?" he demanded.

"It's too complicated. You don't understand." Her voice cracked. Aelia was desperately trying to hold it together.

He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Try me."

The storm still raged around them, but they were so wet they didn't mind. Ash led her to a bench. He wanted to put his arm around her to comfort her, but Ash didn't want to scare her away. He wanted Aelia to open up to him and help him understand what was going on in her head.

"So, will you fill me in?" Ash asked.

Aelia looked at him. "How much do you know about Artemis?"

"The goddess?" Ash asked. "Not much. Only that she was a hunter."

"Well she is also a maiden. She never got married. She renounced love," Aelia explained. "Her followers are called the Hunters of Artemis. If you join them you become immortal. You can run through the woods, hunting, forever." Hers eyes glowed with longing.

"So what does that have to do with us?" he wanted to know.

She looked at him like he was stupid. "Her followers are also maidens."

She stared at him, watching as it finally sunk in.

"So you want to join them?" he asked hoping that she would say no.

"Of course. It's been my dream since I was very little," she told him.

"And you can't fall in love?" he inquired.

"Yeah," was her reply.

He put his head in his hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Aelia smiled sadly. "I know you didn't." They sat in an awkward silence.

Suddenly, she stood. "I think I'll go inside now. I don't want to get struck by lightning," she winked.

He laughed and watched her walk away. So now he knew why she kept pushing him away. He finally understood the reason she picked that song. Still, he couldn't help but be drawn to her. She was so beautiful and independent. He had never met another girl like her and it was for that reason that he couldn't help but love her.

While Ash was thinking all of this Aelia had stood with her back against the wall. She hugged herself and leaned her head back. Why did she feel this way? Her heart ached and her head hurt. She had never felt this way before. She cursed Ash for being the only one to get passed her carefully built barriers. There was just something special about him and if she wasn't careful enough she might find herself falling in love with him. Aelia sighed. This was all too confusing to her. Stupid Aphrodite. The love goddess loved picking on Artemis' disciples.

Well there you guys go. You get to see what happened between Kim and her suitors... DIE DANE. DONT MESS WITH RAIS GIRLFRIEND EVEN THOUGH THEY WERENT DATING!! Ok im done. ALso in case none of you picked up on why Aelia kept turning Ash down now you should understand. Im so mean i always interrupt the first kiss. I really need to be nicer to my characters. But theyve admitted that they love each other. Not 2 each other and Ash did but Aelias being stubborn... Oh well i got a lot in store 4 them. Oh and btw NO KIM IS NOT A W****...not sure if there r little children reading this. She just slept with Rai cause she was scared and NOT in the dirty sense for all you perverts. Just needed to clear that up. Oh and i realized i forgot to tell you guys. Theres a picture of Aristokles on my profile in case you wanna see what he looks like. So please review though you guys are being so nice that i dont even have to use the 5 review rule anymore. Thx you guys are the best!! Bye for now!