Chapter 2:
Natsuki, half-elf and Ranger, was standing waist deep in a limpid pool. She was unclothed, and she dipped her head in the water, then flung it back, savoring the water's coolness in the heat of the day.
Suddenly, her verdant eyes narrowed, and a sly smile spread across her face.
"Shizuru, you do know that even with an invisibility cloak, you still displace water, right?" Natsuki spoke to the void in the pool just a few feet away from her.
"Ikezu!" Shizuru's voice came from thin air, "I was hoping to have a little fun with my Natsuki!"
"We don't need that brand of fun on a quest!" Haruka called from the shore, "And just what are you doing, bathing out in the middle of the wilderness, anyway? It's shameless!"
"Well, I got covered in six different kinds of goop fighting the revenants in the temple," Natsuki said, "And even though I'm only a half-elf, I prefer not to be covered in undead guts before we continue our quest.
"Besides, Suzushiro, I though you were supposed to tie her up whenever I did stuff like this."
"Yeah, me tying up your girlfriend isn't something that's going to happen," Haruka flushed, turning away.
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"Okay, okay, so Shizuru's attempt to sneak up on a bathing Natsuki fell flat," Midori grumbles, "Can we get back to the quest, now."
"Fine," Natsuki shrugs, "I swim back to shore, now cleansed of zombie guts…"
"Revenant," Midori says.
"Semantics," Natsuki sighs, "And I'm dressed and ready for action."
"Mikoto, those rice crackers are for everyone," Mai chides the younger girl, then, turning to the main group, "Hey, Yukino, you feeling okay?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I was just…a bit distracted, is all."
"Ara, forgive me, Kikukawa," Shizuru bowed her head, "I forget that you are a bit shy as regards my relationship with Natsuki. Kanin na."
"Oh…no…it's fine. I'm…I don't begrudge either of you your happiness. I was just thinking that I'd love to be part of a couple."
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Midori grinned, "We can do something about that in our game, here."
"Hey, aren't we questing to stop an evil Lich from taking over the world?" Haruka said, "And Yukino doesn't need a fake relationship in a game. She can get a real lover if she wants."
"Consider it practice," Midori grinned, "And besides, don't you ever watch the movies? The hero or the heroine always finds their true love as their reward for saving the world!"
Haruka looked confused, "Is that true?"
"Pretty much," Natsuki shrugged, "I have a box of action films over there you can binge if you're curious."
"Well, then, who's going to pretend to be Yukino's love interest. We can't just make someone up whole cloth if we're going to do this properly. Someone's got to act it out."
"Ara, but I am already spoken for," Shizuru leaned against Natsuki, who blushed a bit.
"Uh…Ditto."
"What about you, Suzushiro?" Mai said, "You've known her longer than anyone."
"Oh…!" Yukino flushed, "I…no. I mean, that might make Haruka uncom…"
"I'll do it!" Haruka said boldly, "I mean, I'm playing a holy knight type, anyway, so it wouldn't change my stats to just say my character has been a guy this whole time."
"Well, then," Midori grinned, "Let's get on with it!"
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"P-Paladin Haruka? A moment of your time?" Yukino sidled up to …him! Remember, Yukino, it's him for the game! "May I discuss something with you?"
"Of course, Yukino. I must say that having you as our bard has been a Godsend on this quest."
"Tell me, brave Paladin, is there someone special in your life?" Yukino asked.
The brave and sturdy Paladin reached down, putting thumb and forefinger on Yukino's chin, gently tilting her head up, so that their eyes met, "Dear, humble Yukino, how could there be anyone else, when I am already beside someone as earnest and good as you?"
The two of them leaned forward, their lips parting ever so slightly.
Then there was a loud gurgling, rumbling noise.
"MIKOTO!" Mai chided from the bush she and Mikoto were hiding behind, "Talk about being a moment killer!"
"Sorry, Mai," Mikoto muttered, "I was just so hungry."
"Mikoto, you interrupted such a sweet and romantic scene!" Shizuru sighed.
"I hate to burst everyone's romantic bubbles," Natsuki was leaning up against a tree, her back to them, "But we're surrounded. Wild WatchSpiders."
"Spiders are such troublesome things," Shizuru rose from her hiding place, her eyes half-lidded, their luster dulled by a silent fury.
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"I am actually here, you know," Nao yawned from the couch, where she was watching t.v.
"Why do you come if you're not going to join us in the game?" Natsuki muttered.
"Hey, I brought food. Mama's oden can't be beat. Besides, if I joined in, I'd be afraid of 'friendly fire'," Nao cast a look at Shizuru.
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"Circle formation!" Natsuki shouted, "Watch each other's backs!"
"Which spells are most effective against Watch Spiders?" Mai leaned up beside her and Shizuru.
"When in doubt," Natsuki replied, "Kill it with fire!"
There was a prolonged and protracted battle with five spiders. When it was over, our heroes collapsed in exhaustion.
"We're going to have to stop at a town," Natsuki sighed, "I am completely out of arrows."
"Ara, and I have used up my potions," Shizuru sighed.
"Yukino! Yukino, say something!"
"Spider-bite!" Shizuru said, examining her, "She's going to be paralyzed for a bit. But she should recover."
"Hey, we're in luck. There's a small village a hour's walk that way!" Mikoto pointed.
"Shizuru and I will go replenish our supplies. So write down what you need. Mai, you and Mikoto rest. Haruka, while poisoned, Yukino can't speak or move, but she can see and hear. So, just talk to her and keep her calm."
Shizuru and Natsuki walked off.
"Hey, Yukino, I…I'm sorry we got interrupted, earlier. But…I want you to know that you're very important to me, and I don't want you to ever doubt that for a second.
"I guess it's good that the bubuzuke-onna has walked off. She'd just throw out a sagacious joke. (Haruka, Yukino thought desperately, that's supposed to be "salacious"!) and try to get a rise out of me. But…I want you to be happy. So…never be afraid to tell me what you want to say."
There was a profound silence.
"We were interrupted before, but…" Haruka leaned forward, and Yukino was astonished, but then she felt Haruka's lips touch gently on her forehead, "Get better soon, Yukino, okay. I can give you a proper kiss when you're able to return it, so get better soon."
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"D'awwww!" Everyone around the table squealed (Except Natsuki, who would deny even knowing how to squeal, despite Shizuru later provoking just such a reaction with an ice cold bottle touching the back of her neck), even Nao from the couch.
"Oh, shut up, you people! It's in the game! For practice!" Haruka said.
"Haruka…"
"Shush, Yukino. Poisoned people can't talk."
"Yes, Haruka," she smiled, "But I'll be waiting. For you to keep your promise."
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It was a few days later, and Natsuki was once again bathing at a limpid pool under a waterfall, this time washing the remains of orcs out of her hair. She paused and sighed.
"Shizuru, it was cute the first time, but now you're just being skeezy," Natsuki spoke to the visible depression in the water.
"Natsuki? Did you call me?" Shizuru came from around a bend on the shore, holding a towel.
"Wait, if you're over there…?" Natsuki's eyes went wide, and she screamed as she went running out of the water.
"Geez. You ask me to join the game, but then freak out when I show up," Nao smirked as her head became visible, "Make up your mind, Pup."