Minato couldn't keep himself from looking at Nyx while they were walking. Her beauty was so eye catching and he was latched onto it like a fish to line and sinker. What was it that he saw when he looked at her? He wasn't sure. Maybe it had something to do with what she was wearing… But she was pretty all the time.
…did he actually just think that?
"Where are we going?" Nyx asked as they kept their ways through the forest.
"Just… I dunno, I wanted to show you around the closest town here," Minato said slowly, almost as if he wasn't sure what to say. "And pass by the jyomon-cedar tree…"
"Jyomon-cedar tree?" Nyx raised an eyebrow. "What makes it any different to normal cedar trees?"
"It's super old, which is why it has 'jyomon' at the beginning. It's almost like a title," Minato answered. "It's also the main reason why this place is a big tourist attraction, so there are also a lot of foreigners around here."
"Interesting…" Nyx nodded.
"Yeah," Minato said as he rubbed the back of his head. "That's basically it over there…" he pointed out to the towering monolith of a tree, which was surrounded by people in what seemed to be hiker clothing.
"…it just looks like a tree," Nyx said after a few moments of deliberation.
"Yeah. But I guess it's important because it's like a living relic, if ya know what I mean. It's kinda like the same reason why gods and traditions around here are still revered," Minato shrugged. "I think people just value things like this because they feel like they can cast their eyes over the past, and the present at the same time."
"I guess it makes some sense… People don't want to let go of what made them what they are today," Nyx commented.
"I probably couldn't have put that better myself," Minato chuckled. "Anyways, the town's over this way."
After a while of walking through the forest path, the dirt turned sandier once they got closer to the nearest town.
"Is that a deer?" Nyx asked.
"Yeah, they live around here," Minato smiled a little. "But… I dunno, I wouldn't approach them."
"Why?"
"…I dunno," Minato shrugged as a doe walked over to him.
"Too late for that Minato," Nyx smirked as she experimentally patted the doe.
"Yeah, I realise," he groaned.
"Actually, I've been wondering something," Nyx began as the deer walked away.
"What would that be?" Minato asked as he shot a deadpan at the deer's back.
"Why did you choose to show me around the island when you could've been…" Nyx cleared her throat. "Frolicking in the water with your friends?" she asked.
"I…" Minato blinked as he tried to think about any good reason.
…why DID he choose to show Nyx around the island when he could've been frolicking in the water with his friends?
"Well, whatever reason you may or may not have, thank you," Nyx smiled a little.
"N-No problem," Minato stammered. "So uh… yeah…"
"Let's keep going," Nyx laughed a little before walking ahead.
Minato stared a little at Nyx's back, wondering why he was stumbling over his words so much around her. Seriously, what was it? "What is with me?" he mumbled before catching up to Nyx.
…
For the remainder of the afternoon until sunset, Minato showed Nyx around.
"Minato, look," Nyx requested.
"At what?" Minato asked as he turned around to look at Nyx. Again, he blinked and he shook his head. Why was Nyx wearing those sunglasses? They were black aviators that she had on, but despite the tint on the sunglasses, he could easily see her strikingly blue eyes. "Oh wow… You look cute with them on."
"Do I?" Nyx asked as she looked once again in the mirror. "I didn't really think that…"
"I'm serious, you look cute with them on," Minato said immediately.
"Uh… if you say so?" Nyx said with a questioning tone. "Do you think I should get them?"
"Why're you asking me?" Minato rubbed the back of his head.
Nyx blinked in surprise and she looked down at the ground. "It… I don't know," she shrugged. "A-Anyways, you seem to think they're okay so I'll go get them…"
"Okay then," Minato nodded slowly.
After the two left the store, Nyx began to wear her new (and thankfully cheap) sunglasses. "It's pretty hot out, and sunny…" she mumbled. "Good thing that I have these…"
"Um yeah," Minato agreed. "Say, since it's hot you wanna get something cold?"
"Like what?" Nyx asked.
"Ice cream I guess?" Minato chuckled nervously.
"Hm… alright. I could go for some ice cream," Nyx nodded.
"Hey, you're changing the way you talk," Minato noted.
"I am?" Nyx blinked, placing her hand on her lips. "I didn't think I was…"
"I think so," Minato shrugged.
"Um… okay," she nodded. "Do you like more if I… talk like that?"
"Uh sure," he said slowly, wondering why Nyx was asking him something like that.
"Alright then," Nyx sighed.
"We still gonna get that ice cream?" Minato chuckled.
"Yeah," Nyx said quickly before walking ahead a little. Minato smiled slightly and caught up with her, and they walked at a slow pace, idly talking about the shops and things that they saw.
"Everyone's staring at me," Nyx noticed as she walked side by side with Minato. And she was right, every man and woman was staring at her. She couldn't tell whether it was out of jealousy or lust, but it was starting to unnerve her of all things. Why was she getting nervous!?
"Yeah…" Minato rolled his eyes. "Get lost, this isn't a show!" he growled at everyone, uncaring of the fish-like looks he was getting. The crowd flinched and went back to their business.
"Hey, that's usually my job," Nyx said.
Minato chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head. "I-I know, it's just…"
"If this happens again will you do something about it then too?" Nyx asked, running her hands through her hair.
Minato answered with an immediate, "Yes."
Nyx looked at him incredulously before looking away, her hair covering her face. "W-Wait, I mean like…" Minato stuttered.
"N-No, it's fine," Nyx said quietly. "I-I-Ice cream," she mumbled.
"R-Right," Minato nodded vigorously before starting off in the direction of the nearest ice cream stand. Argh, what was with him? What was it that was changing?
The two of them bought their ice cream and for a while, Minato and Nyx were silent. It was almost as if they were thinking about the same things while they ate, and neither of them was sure what was happening. Inkling doubt was creeping into both of their minds about the reasons why they were talking so strangely around each other and being so awkward.
"Should we go back?" Nyx asked as the sun was starting to touch the surface of the ocean.
"…yeah, I think we should," Minato answered with a slight nod, although his mind was still wandering off on other things as they walked.
The two of them walked back to the beach, and by the time they got back, the sun was already half covered by the ocean, and its orange light was dimming. "Minato, look," Nyx said as she stopped near the beginning of a pier and walked across it to its edge.
Minato looked over the amber water and sky, nodding silently. "It looks… beautiful," Nyx mumbled. "It reminds me of Port Island somehow…"
"Hm, which do you like better?" Minato asked.
"I… I like it here better," Nyx said quietly. "The wind is only cool."
Minato understood. It was colder in the city because of the intensity of the winds that passed through the streets. But here, it was calm. "I see," he nodded. "I never thought you'd like this kinda stuff."
"What do you mean?" Nyx asked.
"Because this sunset over the water kinda scene on the beach has a pretty romantic connotation," Minato answered immediately, but he stopped himself when he realised what he was saying. "U-Um…"
"Romantic? Why?"
Minato blinked and rubbed the back of his head. "Because… in most media nowadays, it's a cliché when a couple watches a sunset at a beach together, and then they usually kiss or something like that."
"O-Oh," Nyx nodded stiffly. "Why did you say that?"
"What do you mean?" Minato asked. "I mean, I just pointed it out, that's all…" he said slowly.
"You know that we're pretty much the only ones here," Nyx mumbled.
Minato's eyes widened and he looked around the beach. She was right. For that moment there wasn't any other person besides the two of them. "I… I don't know," Minato bit his lip.
Nyx looked at Minato with a questioning gaze, and sighed. "I don't either."
For a moment, the two were in silence as they thought. And thought. And thought. But there wasn't anything they could say to justify why they were acting the way that they did around each other; At least, nothing that they couldn't accept, and nothing that that they wouldn't allow to come into their minds.
They looked back at each other, still thinking. Minato's grey eyes met Nyx's blue, and they were trapped in each other's gazes.
Minato almost found himself trying to hold himself back from bending down, and staring at Nyx's face. Nyx couldn't help but expect something to happen, but nothing did, and she finally pulled away from his look.
The sun was starting to disappear beyond the horizon, and it was getting darker as tints of blue, purple and pink were thrown across the sky. "Let's go," Nyx sighed, slowly walking back.
"Yeah…" Minato rubbed the back of his head and started walking however he didn't catch up with Nyx this time as he was lost in his thoughts.
"What's happening?" he muttered, looking down at the ground.
Nyx too was lost in thoughts and questions, doubt creeping into her mind. "What is it that I'm feeling?" she asked herself, clenching her fists. "My heart aches, but for what, and why?"
…
"Where've you been?" Akihiko asked when Nyx and Minato came back to the house.
"We were out," Nyx said simply before walking on back to her room to change.
"What she said," Minato sighed.
Akihiko blinked in surprise.
"Wow Nyx, you look hot!"
SMACK! "Shut up Junpei."
Minato facepalmed.
AN: Why is it that I am taking joy in teasing you guys?
Plz box me yo thoughts and imma see ya guys later.
Anakin: No, not really. But… I'd recommend that you read Days of Snow, by Second City Saint if you haven't already. You might find something… interesting. Many interesting things in fact.
Yoshikunitsu: No problem. I dunno if I'll update again in the next couple of days, but I should at least update soon. And yeah, I've been putting in a few more fluffy momaents. It's fine. (I'm kinda expecting something big to happen with my review count for some reason… Dunno why.)
Raidou: Yes. And yes. I really need to get to some more action… otherwise nothing's going to move.
Eivexst: Awww. XD
Yes, there will be more. They're going to keep getting closer from now on, so keep tuned! I'm glad you are!
Nights (49 and 50): Indeed, and yes. Fluff.
Yes. Makes sense that the guy whose Persona is primarily Fire based is scared of water… Yeah. And mean.
Yes. Yes he is. Hahahahahaha *rofls*
Sure will.
Guest: *facepalm*
Q/A SECTION
(Aigis) Convo 1: To Technodude.
Aigis: One angel-like side of me would answer: I am not a human. I am an android. My mind is human-like, but my body will always stay the same; a machine. Or I could say according to my troller side, no, I have no reproductive organs as I am an android. Also, I suggest you stop browsing the net for hentai since I'm pretty sure you're asking this question after watching some.
(Nyx) Convo 2: To Technodude.
Nyx: Happy about what?
(Nyx) Convo 3: To Yoshikunitsu.
Nyx: I'm well aware of that, but… I suppose that I trust Minato enough to let him protect me if he wants to. Not that I really need it, but the sentiment is there.
I should.
It was enjoyable. But I admit even I was tired out after meeting with her.
Starfire: I also just haven't written a chapter when she gathers her thoughts again yet. I probably will soon since this is more of an interlude until the action comes back in and I start everything rolling again.
(Minato and Nyx) Convo 4: To Anakin.
Minato: … *rubs back of head sheepishly*
Nyx: Hm… I really should talk to your other friends… interesting point. *walks off*
Minato: Nyx, wai, wai, waaaait- *runs after her* You don't need to!
