Chapter 36: Coming of Age

Hannah being the light sleeper she was when she was nervous got up and joined her in all her blackshort-shorts and tank-top glory before I also joined the group, slipping on my Irish flag jacket over my ankle length dark blue night dress. "Hey hun, everything alright?" Hannah asked, sitting next to her as I wrapped my arms around her middle, putting my chin on her shoulder, my nose burried in her neck. "Yeah, you okay?"

Ryah didn't respond for a moment, but answered indirectly, "It feels so surreal, like this is alos some figment of my imagination. LIke I'm a kid again playing make believe with my half siblings. WIth dragons, knights princesses of far away kingdom and such. BUt it's not...this is the real deal, not some play pretend or some medieval video game, or even a tale from a story book, this is reality and it's happening to me, to us. Honestly, I don't know if I'm okay anymore. This is altering my entire life! Everything that I thought could never happen. When i was a kid, I wanted more than anything to believe I was someone or something special. BUt nothing ever happened so I began to believe that like everyone else, I'd be normal. Not someone to stand out from the crowd like I'd always wanted...and now...my dreams have come true. I've found out so much within the past year, and so much has happened it's just a lot to process...you know? By the end of spring break, I'm going to be a princess and..." She didn't dare finish the sentence as she looked out into the sky and saw her Gilbert, winking at her.

Hannah sighed and patted her head. "Things never go the way we think they will. I never thought I could travel to a place not many knew about but here I am. A place I NEVER heard of, and i'm talking to a princess. That's huge." I nodded and pulled away to lean against the rail on the other un-occupied side of Ryah. "It seemed sureal, I never though i'd get better. I had never thought I could so easily be happy like this and truly smile so this is all something big for me also. Ryah, you've opened me up to alot of new things I never thought of before and because of that i'm glad to have met you. Even if this is all a crazy mess, and shit hits the fan we're here for you forever. If it's 'That', that is bothering you; you need to remember it's your life no one can change that and if someone makes you, tries to make you tell them; 'Screw this world I have my buddies, I am one of the Striking Seven, I will not let anyone mess with me, I will be forever loyal to the buds and if ever in trouble I will not turn my back on them.' Because that is who you...no thats who we are. Sure we've expanded a little," "By a little she means alot" "As I was saying," "Sorry." "Anything and Everything that happens here won't make us hate you because I love you, they love you. So put some faith in us and use us to lean on because even the strong need to be weak sometime." I said with a light heart grin, tears collecting in my eyes as I thought of my father and how this somehow reminded me of not only him but my mother as well.

Ryah burst into tears and hugged them both, "Thanks you guys, you know, and I think I'm ready for this now. You're the best, not to mention only girlfriends I've really ever had. I'm so glad to have you both in my life, and I'm happy to have been a part of your life, even in the influential ways." They stood looking at the sky for sometime enjoying the silent company, and then it was time to start heading out. So Ryah got ready, and awoke the others telling them it was time to leave.

I stood there, yawning in all my black t-shirt with rainbow paint splatters, my black denim jeans that were rolled up to my knees, a pair of knee length raibow striped socks and a pair of white high-tops glory. Hannah had just came out of the bathroom wearing a pink tank-top, a pair of light blue denim bell bottoms, white and black sneakers and her italian flag jacket that she was given to by moi when I bought my irish flag one. "Good morning my sleepys." She said with a light yawn, going to sit next to the still half asleep Feli.

Ryah wore a pair of dark grey skinny jeans and a long sleeve red shirt, a light grey hoodie and black socks and white tennis shoes with silver marks. They all stood outside a forest, the girls and several other teens of thier age. "Do not be frightened my children, you will be seperated, but your spirit guide will lead you back home. Trust in your spirit guide and trust in yourself. Now go forth." Ryah turned to her girl friends and then to her grandmother and then to the forest and waved to the boys, knowing that when she came out, she'd be a little different inside. So she began her journey. For a while she stayed with her friends then she began to drift away, something began to call to her, her heart beat fast and she began to run, jumping over logs in the direction that called to her. Many hours later she found it, a tall volcano, and she kneeled as she looked at it, understanding what life meant to and for her. She stook some tree sap and as if in a trance, she maked it on her abdomen, "I am a leader who must overcome my anger, if I explode, my people will fear me, but if I stay calm I shall rule well. My strength comes from my abdomen. Thank you my spirit, I shall follow you now." Many hours later when it was nightfall she returned. During this time...

Hannah and I walked for a while when Ryah had left but soon she heard something and decided she was going to check it out. Hannah strayed toward the sound, smiling when she saw the calm looking stream. Up stream it was a little rougher but for some reason it made her calm. she went the edge of the stream and slipped out of her tank-top, dipping her fingers in the water before putting it in the dirt, reaching behind her she placed three fingers to her spine, moving them in a slight zig-zag motion. "I am a head-strong leader who needs to calm down if I wish to lead my comrads in the right direction during war." She said almost breathlessly, before adding a small. "I will follow you my spirit so guide me well." She soon returned, Ryah following soon after. As the sky darkened I started to wonder if i'd find what I was looking for, but soon I found myself running through the darkness. I could still see some light but most of it had faded away leaving me to my worst fear. Stopping suddenly I stared at a large willow tree surrounded by red spider lilys. My eyes widened slightly as I stared at them. "N-no way!" I said in disbelief, this flower was only suppose to be found in asian countries so how did they manage to grow here? "This climate is nothing like that of Japan so how'd they manage to grow these?" Then it hit me, it hit me like a pound of bricks. This was it, it was my spirit. I smiled blissfully almost to the point of tears. I sat down infront of the flowers and took one in my hands, crumbling the pollen between my fingers before lifting up my shirt with one hand, making a small flower design between my breast where my heart lied. "I have a soul tempted by death, but now i'm a survivor and a healer who can save lives but only if I can heal mine completely first." I stated simply, wiping my eyes with the back of my sleeve before standing. "Thank you my spirit. I understand. Lead me to a good life, kay?" I asked the air with a giggle. I soon returned way later that night with puffy red eyes and a smile. "I hate the dark, I really really hate it." I said with a soft giggle.

Ryah hugged her when she returned. "That last child has returned!" The Grandmother announced. "Now let's get you marked, I've already done everyone else." As everyone made their way inside, the girls went into a secluded room and the shaman queen looked at the mark and smiled deeply, "This is a rare, but very powerful makr. It's not worse nor better than anyone else, but it is very powerful. I can see that you're path has both hardships and joys coming to you will jerk you around. BUt with friends like these girls, I'm sure you'll be fine. But you must trust them with your life, much like they must do so with you."

I nodded in understanding, hugging Ryah and Hannah's arms when she was finished. "I will and already do, and hopefully I always will." I said with a small smile.

Soon they were able to go to bed, too tired to eat, and they slept like babies. By the next morning a large feast was set out for them.

By morning both me and Hannah were so hungry we could eat a house so when we got to the feast we coldn't help but eat till we probably wouldn't be able to for many days to come.

Ryah ate herself till she felt like she was going to die, "That was amazing...I slept like a rock and then ate till I waws stuffed. What's next?" She asked her grandparents. "Well tonight we'll have a bonfire and you will dance to the Dance of Ellechim. But first you must learn how to dance it, and that comes after you digest your food."

Hannah nodded. "That might take a while though so what do we do before then?" She asked kindly, rubbing her now slightly extended stomach.

"Enjoy each other's company." She said, "You can speak with your friends until then. Talk about it feels to know your purpose in life." Then the king and queen left to go do things.

"Talk about what?" Hannah asked. I thought for a moment before smiling. "I kind of want to talk about how it seems the stricking seven has expanding. You know what that means don't you?" I asked Ryah with mischevious eyes and a smirk.

Ryah laughed, "You can't mean...well...let's see, there's You, me, Feli, Lovi, Luddy, Gil, Francis, Ivan, Yao, Kiku, amd Hannah. Cus Alfred doesn't count, and nor does Scotty and Walace really they're just tag alongs. So that's eleven of us. Holy crap that's a group."

I nodded. "That also means if they're part of the group, the contract is still valid." I sang making everyone look at me weird.

"Absolutely true my dear. The best part is no one knows what we're talking about!" Ryah giggled, and then said, "So...Eccentric Eleven or Electrifying Eleven?"

"Eccentric for sure." I said with a whole hearted laugh. "So it's settled during spring break we're all going to be playing a game. And that means EVERYBODY'S GAME." I said with a devious smirk

"Everybody's Game; that sounds like the perfect name for it too." Ryah chuckled evily. "What are you talking about?" Yao asked suspiciously. "Just a little contract we made together before we talked to the fetal five in the beginning of the year," Ryah said giving Elizabeth the knowing smile.

"Yes, and I quote; 'No matter gender, age or whom we are dating we will make out with each and every member of the group before deciding whom we will date. However, seeing as how we are dating we decided to make it a game so that everybody's wel... Game." I said a giggle as hannah stared at me like I was crazy then smirked. "This would be a good time to test out the taste of another female."-end

Ryah snickered, "You; Hannah, Yao, Ivan and Kiku are our newest crew members, and since i'm sure Ivan and Elizabeth have already made out she has three to go. Whereas I have four, and you have a butt load to work on."

Hannah giggled. "Wow~ it's like i've died and gone to sex god heaven." I nodded. "I know right." "Too bad Francis doesn't own a yacht." "Oh on the contray Hannah, i'm pretty sure Francis has a yacht and judging by the way Lovino sounds at nigt, i'm sure it's huge 3~" Hannah blushed and looked at Francis with a grin. "I might just need to test my theory, however, what do the guys think?" Hannah asked blinking as she looked over at the guys in question along with me. "Yeah what is your theory on this?" I asked with a small innocent smile.

Ryah grinned mischieveously at them, the boys exchanged glances. "Well I've made out with a couple already." Francis shrugged, "I'm all for it." "Then i am too." Lovino agreed. "It might be fun." Ivan said with a nod, "I never got to play games like this because of my sister." Yao and kiku both agreed, "We're bi, so it's good with us." Yao answered. Feli nodded, "Ve~ if Hannah's doing it, I will too. Ludwig and Gilbert agreed as well, "Ve have to get used to anythibng since ve've been vith you guys this long." Ludwig said. "Jah, and the awesome me isn't going to back dovn."

"I CALL FIRST DIPS ON YAO!" I exclaimed, glomping said male while Hannah rolled her eyes and went to sit in-between the Francis and Lovino. "Then I get Franci-pants first. You can join us also if you want Lo-vi-no~" She said, blowing a breath of cool air on his curl.

Lovino shivered and pulled his brother's girlfriend in and ran his tongue long her lips. Ryah giggled, "Let's see, Yao and Hannah are taken so...Kiku or Ivan? Kiku, I've known you longer of the two." She said and leaned in blushign and sat in his lap and kissed her Japanese friend she had known for quite sometime, letting the gentle kisses deepen. Kiku let the kiss deepen and added to it.

I sat cuddled with Yao while the other two played with their choices. "You guys rush into stuff, ever thought about cuddling and snuggling before surprising the shit out of your male and raping- I mean making out with them later that night in a locked closet, I mean bedroom." I said, slipping up on purpose with a large smirk as Hannah only grinned and took Lovino's head in her hands, taking his tongue in her mouth, sucking, and carassing it with her own before pulling away to stroke his curl. "I'm sorry 'little miss take it slow till the cover of darkness falls' but I have way too little time to wait, plus this is a simple kiss, it will get better through out the day. 3~" Hannah said teassingly making me pout.

Ryah giggled, "Kiku and I have known each other for ages like me and Yao. It's a little weird since I never tried kissing them before. But hey Everybodys' Game has 1 rule, there are no rules."

"Wait, hold up. What if we run out of partners before spring break ends, can we still have play with the others even though we all already made out?" I asked Ryah as Hannah went to give a kiss to Francis, still tugging on Lovino's curl.

Ryah smiled and reached over and pecked Elizabeth on the lips, "Of course, I don't see anything wrong with it."

"Yay~" I giggled and pulled her face back, kissing it softly before pulling away to look at Gilbert. "I've actually have yet to have a real make out session with you, you know that?" I asked him, petting Yao's hair as I slid into his lap.

Gil smirked, "You know I think ve have, but I'm villing to go again." "I was hit for taking advantage of kissing you." Lovino said smirking at Ryah. Ryah laughed, "I was sick."

Hannah and I both blinked. "Well mines on my back, wunna see?" She asked with a grin, ready to pull her shirt off at any moment as to where I wasn't as I became a meek blushing mess in Yao's lap.

"Sure!" Feli said eager to see.

Hannah stood and stripped off her shirt, her hot-pink and white lace trimmed bra comming into veiw she turned around and undid the clip with one hand, holding her chest with the other as to not show off anything unneccisary. "Isn't it cool? It's a river."

Feli grinned, "It is!" He said tracing the marks before turning to the other girls, "What about you guys?" Ryah lifted up her shirt until it touched the bottom of her breasts, "I'm a volcano. Has me written all over it, right?" She said with a grin. Feli then turned to Elizabeth as Ryah let her shirt down.

My face flushed horribly as I shook my head from side to side. "Only two males in this room have seen those parts of my breasts and I would like to keep it that way." I stated firmly.

The others shrugged. Feli nodded, "Ve~ it's okay Elizabeth,i understand." He said with a sweet innocent smile.

I blinked. "That's all? No; 'But Elizabeth i'm sure you have amazing breasts since they're so big~ 3 wouldn't you please just show us? You're always wearing such cute lingerie~ Show us~." I pouted and Hannah only laughed. "Like I said, closet Pervert!" She announced gaining a hard smack upside the head. "I'm not in denial."

Ryah giggled. Feli grinned, "Oh no Elizabeth, I wouldn't beg of it of you. I would just do what Francis does; I could just find it when you're asleep." He said still wiht an innocent smile. "Dang Francis, youre a big influence on him, aren't you?" Francis smiled turning a tinge pink, "Maybe."

I sighed and stood up, stripping out of my t-shirt to show off a brand new dark blue and black lace bra. "Wow, sex really does make you're breast get bigger, i'm actually jealous." I smacked her agaun with a sigh and un-clipped the bra, thankfull it had a clip in the front so I could still cover up the nessicary parts, pulling them apart slightly to show off the flowerdesign. "It's supose to represent a Red Spider Lily." I mummbled before hooking my bra again and sitting in Yao's lap again, not giving any attention to my t-shirt that now laid on the table before me.

Gil quickly grabbed it and stuffed it in his back pocket of his pants, "If you vant it back you're going to have to kiss me for it~" He teased.

Suddenly Berwald walked in and turned bright red, amd turned away, "Oh! Oh! Elizabeth, I'm so sorry!"

I rolled my eyes. "Your hands have been in my pants Berwald, why are you embarrased now?" I asked with a quirked eyebrow making Hannah stare at me in disbelief. "Tell you later." I said waving it off.

"SHH!" He hissed worriedly.

"God berwald you worry way to much. Everyone except these four, and that thing over there that doesn't even know arthur, knows. And they won't tell, right?" I asked the three males sweetly.