Chapter 6

The group arrived at stage two and took the only available seats in the back. The group enjoyed watching Chimako's performance as Kaguya. This performance was simpler than last night's with just a few characters and little dancing. The performance had more songs though. Chimako's strong voice filled the room when she got to her solo. It could be compared to a satin.

"Do you mind waiting until the end so I can talk to her? She was worried when I left the house this morning." Aruna request at the standing ovation.

"Of course." Misoka replied. "You live together?" He asked after a second.

"Yes, that's a long story but I'll leave it as not everyone is blessed with a wonderful birth family." Aruna answered quietly.

"You guys don't have to wait for me." Aruna said as she walked up the stage to go backstage.

"We don't mind, Chimako was a lot of fun last night?" Akira said as he sat down in a chair in the front row of the theater.

"Speak for yourself, mutt. Let's go Mahiru." Mitsuru grumbled heading towards the exit.

"But I really like her too, I want to see her again." Mahiru said as she sat next to Akira. Mitsuru huffed but sat next to her.

He crossed his arms over his chest as he muttered "This is so stupid."

Aruna went backstage and knocked on the dressing room door. Chimako quickly the door and pulled Aruna inside so no one else would see her half naked.

"I knew you would come. I was worried when I didn't see you. You look exhausted has been that rough?" Chimako asked as she locked the door. They had the entire dressing room to themselves.

"Sorry the place was packed by the time we got here so we sat in the back. Rough is one way to put it. I wanted to know if you were serious about tonight? I could really use it." Aruna asked propping herself up against the door.

"Of course silly. You said we so he's here with you?" Chimako asked as she went to the mirror to remove the rest of her makeup.

"Not just him but the whole Bandit group. We kept getting stopped on the short way over here so it took forever to get here. It didn't happen this morning when it was just the two of us but when it's the whole group they attract so much attention." Aruna whined.

"Do I need to rescue you early, you don't look like you'll last much longer." Chimako asked as she finished stripping out of her costume.

"No I think I can manage it. But I won't say no if you invite yourself to join us for dinner. It might stop some of these women from basically throwing themselves at the guys." Aruna said.

"It's not inviting myself when you put it like that and I doubt even my evil glare could scary so of these fame chasers." Chimako retorted as she put on her yellow yukata with a daisy print. "Did you come in here just to help me with the bow?" Chimako asked as Aruna swiftly began to tie the red obi.

"You know you're hopeless when it comes to tying it on yourself. You'll just make yourself dizzy trying." Aruna joked as she finished the bow. "Come on let's go face the wolves together." Aruna said as Chimako grabbed her purse.

"Hey I take offense to that. There's only one wolf and he seems nice." Chimako teased as she opened the door.

"He is nice, so is the princess." Aruna said as Chimako closed the door behind them.

"But not the finance?" Chimako asked as they headed back towards the stage.

"I'll tell you about it tonight." Aruna whispered quickly.

They appeared on stage and everyone stood up. "Thanks for waiting everyone but sadly it's in vain. I'm going to burrow your new friend for the rest of the night." Chimako said wrapping her arm around a shocked Aruna.

"After all that!?" Mitsuru snapped as headed for the exit.

"Oh it's no problem. Please have fun." Mahiru said before yelling after Mitsuru, "quit being so rude to our new friends."

"They're not my friends!" He yelled back over his shoulder.

"Oh that's too bad. Sorry about Mitsuru's bad mood. " Akira said but followed after Mahiru and Mitsuru.

"Um I'm sorry for this." Aruna said bowing to Misoka.

"It's no problem, I understand." Misoka replied returning the bow and heading for the exit as well.

"Have a good night then ladies." Nozomu said coldly and left as well.

"Mh, that didn't seem to go over too well. Let's go home and get you some rest." Chimako said directing Aruna towards the other exit.

Later than night after the festival had stopped for the night Misoka couldn't sleep and decided to go for a walk. Nozomu went with him to give him an ear if he wanted it. They were walking around the far end of the lake when they heard giggling and splashing.

"Who could be out here at this hour?" Nozomu whispered as he stopped to look over at the lake. This part of the lake had a large shore almost like a beach, there wasn't much except the sand, the shore and a twenty foot dock.

"Probably some love birds." Misoka replied as he continued on the path until he heard.

"Aruna grab me another drink." It sounded like Chimako.

"How common is that name?" Nozomu asked quickly ducking down into the reeds that separated the beach from the walking path.

"I'm not sure." Misoka replied copying Nozomu but feeling stupid as he did so.

Aruna pulled herself on to the dock and sat down, she pulled a backpack closer to herself and pulled out a can. She opened it and took a sip then lowered it to Chimako still in the water.

Aruna's blonde hair was down and covered most of her back her, her pale wet skin almost seemed to glow in the low lighting. "That's the last one you lush." Aruna giggled as she stood back up and drove back into the lake.

'Holy hell, they're drinking and skinny dipping.' Nozomu thought as he covered his blushing face.

'We shouldn't have come this way.' Misoka thought looking away the lake.

"Five cans of chu-hi between us and we've barely scratched the surface. I wish we could have brought sake with us instead it would have taken away less to get you to start talking. I still can't believe you cried in front of him." Chimako said as she passed the can to Aruna.

"These aren't so bad. I like the pineapple. But I really am sick about talking about my engagement already. Can't we talk about yours?" Aruna asked after taking a chug of the liquor.

" Sorry but there's not much to tell you, it's not as exciting. Kazuma wants to take things as slow as we can and let us enjoy what little youth we have before everyone starts pressuring us to have kids." Chimako said taking the can back to have a sip.

"It must be nice to have such a normal engagement, instead of everyone knows about. You're so lucky to end up with such a great guy." Aruna sighed as she began to float on her back.

"Not everyone know about it, just the palace, and we both know everyone in the palace all the couplings. Yours is just a big deal because it's so unusual. Now that he's a famous bandit doesn't help nor your status in the community. " Chimako said placing the can back on the dock.

"The palace might as well be everyone, it's full of gossips. I personal believe his status is what start this fire all over again not my high standing. Rin told me it was a big deal when he was born. That the palace almost didn't let Mayumi have him here. Oboro had to intervene to ensure a safe birth." Aruna said as she stared up at the stars.

"You're getting your information from Rin? That old batty gossip no wonder everyone knows your business." Chimako laughed slowly swimming up to her friend.

"He's supposedly the only half bred to be born in the palace." Aruna said sighing. 'I know way too much about him. It's probably unhealthy.' She thought.

"Supposedly, that we know of, and now he's a savior of the race but I doubt those bigots learned their lesson." Chimako replied laying on her back too.

The girls were silence for a moment just floating beside each other until Aruna whispered "I'm going to miss this so much."

Chimako gently held Aruna's hand and smiled at her then after a moment pulled her down the water. Chimako was laughing as they surfaced. "Like I'm going to just let you disappear to the Earth, hell no. I'm coming to visit, we got to visit the ocean like we talked about, that, or you're going to drag yourself back here at least once a year."

"You brat! Like I could ever get away from you!" Aruna laughed splashing her. They once again were just giggling and splashing each other.

"We should go before they find us and get the wrong idea." Misoka whispered standing back up. Nozomu nodded and followed. 'She sure is full of surprises.' Misoka thought as he tried to leave quickly without being detected.

"I don't think so." Nozomu said before turning back and running towards the dock. Misoka chased after him tackling him into the sand and exposing them both.

The girls gasped and dropped down to their chins.

"We know you're out there, there's no need to hid to hide." Nozomu said after a moment, he had to wrestled Misoka off of him.

"How did you find this place?" Aruna asked as Chimako swam in front of her.

"We honestly were just out for a walk and found you guys. You're kinda loud." He explained as he started to walk the length of the dock and sitting on the end.

"Does no on come out here anymore?" Misoka asked as he walked up to the dock.
"I told you you were being too loud before." Aruna scolded Chimako. "No, no one really comes out to this part of the lake anymore especially at this hour. We thought we would get some privacy. So if you could please leave." Aruna answered turning her back towards the boys.
"Ah come on, it might be fun if let us join. Don't be so shy. We're going to be family after all." Nozomu teased grinning down at Chimako who was swimming closer to the dock.
"Really? Do you know how to swim?" Chimako asked as she stopped in front Nozomu's dangling legs.
"Well enough." He replied his grin growing larger.
"Then please join us." Chimako said pulling herself up to the dock with one hand and grabbing Nozomu by his shirt and pulling him into the water with her.
Misoka stared stunned at this stunt. Aruna whirled around at the large splash. Chimako just began to laugh as Nozomu surfaced.
"That wasn't very nice of you." Nozomu said as he started to swim back to shore.
"You weren't being very nice neither. We were just here to unwind at least I asked if you could swim first." Chimako retorted as Aruna swam up to her side.
Misoka followed Nozomu to shore as Aruna swam up to the dock. The girls watched them leave and they weren't even out of earshot before Aruna started to laugh hysterical. "Oh my god that was so great. You're so awful."
"He deserved it, so much for relaxing. I'm sorry if I make things awkward between you guys."

Chimako said laying on her back to look at the stars again.

"Oh no I'm relaxed now. I guess I just needed a laugh and not the liquor. It might make things more difficult between us but right now it seems worth it." Aruna said letting go of the dock's leg. She swan towards Chimako and copied her position and staring up at the stars again.

The next morning a servant was sent to both Misoka and Aruna. They each had been sent the same message, Ren Minamino had been found and agreed to a meeting that night.