(04/'08): Haha… "I tried to end this with a BANG…" A very, unlikely, out-of-character 'bang' that, looking back on it now, was the worst possible idea for this.
Part Three —
Jann Lee let the smile pass over his lips. The look on Lei-Fang's face was priceless. She looked almost...thoughtful. There was a feeling of hesitation tingling in the muscles in his lower back, and the feeling caused him to briefly think back to this morning's charade.
"Ready?" he asked, pushing the feeling aside. They both knew that despite his question, this meant the fight had already started.
Lei-Fang's thoughtful expression disappeared and was replaced with a toothy grin, lopsided—a somewhat imitation of the one Jann-Lee wore. He couldn't help but note that her eyes held a mischievous sparkle, and he began to feel an uncomfortable foreboding.
As she moved towards him, Lei-Fang allowed a quiet chuckle to escape her lips, even though she felt stiffer than ever.
"As cliché as this may sound," she started, "are you ready?" That mischievous glint appeared to increase at her words. Jann Lee pushed back the foreboding in his stomach and concentrated on the task at hand.
He chuckled slightly, "Such bold words for someone about to lose." He quickly stepped closer and cracked his neck.
Watching Lei-Fang approach, level-headed and intent, nearly made Jann-Lee shudder. What the hell was making him so uncomfortable? While he wasn't about to compare this morning's unusual incident to any awkwardness he'd developed in standing there only a few minutes, he still couldn't put his finger on it, exactly. She looked normal enough—white cheongsam, pigtails, low pumps—the same as she always had for every fight. So why did she seem so…different?
'Do you honestly want to do this again? To fight for something you'd rather not have?'
Taking a deep breath, he rolled his shoulders back, focusing his energy.
Lei-Fang smiled inwardly as the advantage she's already managed to obtain. Something was bothering him, she could tell. His focus was unsteady, and though he tried to hide it, it was still quite evident. This would prove valuable for her to win. She let herself be outwardly pleased, though, with the little expression that played across his face.
Jann Lee shook himself as he moved into a fighting stance, and carefully watched Lei-Fang do the same. Their movements caused the ripples in the water to crash into each other, creating brilliant flashes of color in the shallow pool. Breathing in, Lei-Fang balanced herself as she moved into her basic stance, undulating her arms in slow, rhythmic movements as she stared at the man before her. Jann-Lee returned her steady gaze, feeling a surge of excitement pulse through his veins as he balled his fists.
"This time I will win this." Lei-Fang could feel her muscles tighten.
The corner of his lip curled up sardonically as Jann-Lee coughed and readied himself. "Begin!"
Lei-Fang rushed in, a plan quickly demising in her head. She swung her left leg up, grazing Jann-Lee's head. As he ducked, he sidestepped and crouched low as he swept a leg behind and around him to knock her over. She dodged it swiftly, swinging her other leg into the air, and quickly spun parallel to the ground just a few feet below her, landing softly. Jann-Lee finished his unsuccessful attack and quickly readjusted himself back into his previous stance.
"… new," he scoffed. Lei-Fang let a tiny smirk play upon her lips as she moved into a different stance.
"I know."
A moment passed before either of them moved. Falling into the splits, Lei-Fang dodged Jann-Lee as he stepped to the side, and swiftly moved out of the way of his heavy fist, disregarding the cold of the water below her.
Knocking her heel in Jann Lee's toe, his knee bent slightly and Lei-Fang jumped at the chance to knock him off his feet.
After pushing away the slight stinging in his foot, he blinked and looked up to see Lei-Fang's leg swinging around from behind her toward his head. He ducked just in time but barely by an inch. Twisting around quickly, he slammed his heel into her foot and swung his other leg backwards to knock her backwards, his cry echoing against the terrain.
As she hastily regained herself, she only had a moments notice as Jann-Lee charged after her. Leaping into the air, she whirled around just as he reached her and pounded each of her outstretched legs into his back, one right after the other, watching blissfully as his face smashed into the water. However, he was up in seconds flat, and glaring at her.
That smirk that Lei-Fang struggled to hold back before had no chance to release itself as his right hook connected perfectly with her solar plexus. She felt him grab her wrist and pull her forward, laying two flawlessly placed kicks to her left side.
As she reeled backwards and coughed, she thought for a moment. She didn't like the idea forming in her head…but honestly, what else did she have to lose?
Stepping towards him, she kicked twice, then brought her palms forward. As expected, he blocked them easily. Although instead of forcing a strike, she countered his blocks and shot her right hand forward, aiming for his right eye. As he dodged, there was no room to block with his own limbs, and instead shifted his head to the side, feeling the brush of wind from her movement.
The resulting occurrence of his dodge, however, brought forth some very uncomfortable consequences. Without a moment's notice, Jann-Lee felt his face enveloped in a cool, smooth cushion. He squeezed his eyes shut drawing an alarming blank, until a familiar voice squealed very near his ears.
As rationality quickly came back, his composure fumbled as the only thing he could think to do was get back as far away as possible. Grabbing blindly with his hands, he shoved as hard as she could. As light flashed across his pupils once more, he felt a warmth envelope his face as Lei-Fang's breasts moved farther from his contact. With one last shove, he watched her whole body stiffly land only a few feet away.
He'd done exactly was she'd thought he'd do. The blush that crawled across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose caused a satisfaction in Lei-Fang she didn't even know she could feel. Of course, she had no doubt her own face burned a few different shades of red.
That was far too easy.
Shock glittered in Jann-Lee's eyes as he glared at her. The red that stained his cheeks could match any cherry red on a sundae.
Jann-Lee struggled to breathe normally. His heart was pounding and he could feel his face burn with embarrassment. Yet in spite of the uncomfortable situation, her annoyed expression seemed put on and forced. He jumped back before barely noticing the unusually common glint in her eyes, as well as a light blush tinting her cheeks.
How…did that happen? The question vaguely ran through his mind.
"Pervert..." Lei-Fang mumbled.
Jann Lee twitched slightly at her comment. "What? No—wait!"
Before he could finish, she'd rushed him, double kicking and moving to shove her shoulder into him. She quietly buried the emotion that flooded her system. She suspected he knew what she was doing, so instead of shifting forwards to connect a punch, she pushed herself backwards, readying to swing her leg behind her.
She wasn't aware, though, that Jann-Lee had wrapped a hand around her wrist and tugged her forward, knocking her off balance as she attempted to make contact. As he grabbed her thigh just above her knee, she felt him lift her off the ground slightly.
"Wha-?" She squealed as felt herself heaving upwards, leaving her in an extremely difficult position to move, and causing a pitching pain in the muscles of her lower back. She felt a cramp begin to pulse in her hip as his rolled backwards.
"You jackass..." Lei-Fang spat.
"Oh no…. You didn't think I was going to just let you get away with anything after that first…stunt you pulled." His voice sounded strained.
Lei-Fang tried glared at him, but it was increasingly difficult as with him behind her. "You moved, I stumbled. If anything, it was your fault."
Jann Lee scoffed.
"Oh, don't you…," he began. "You did that on purpose so don't try to blame your cheating techniques on me!"
Lei-Fang tried to shift, and swung her free elbow backwards, but felt it connect with nothing as only his rough hair grazed her skin. "I was not cheating!"
There was a soft chuckle that she feared would turn into an all out laugh—an impossibility that would end the battle right there as she wouldn't be able to take it seriously. However, it was not a laugh that emanated from him, but words so chilling, she felt herself stiffen, and her heart pound painfully in her chest.
"Truly, Lei-Fang I thought you were better than that. Here I almost thought you were serious about this fight. But as always, you waste my time with these tantrums." The knot that he'd felt at the beginning of the battle returned with a vengeance and felt unlike anything he'd ever felt before. A sudden unfamiliar regret washed through him.
She felt the air leave her lungs when an uncomfortable burning began to sting her eyes as he lifted her even higher above him. For a moment, she felt him tense before throwing her some feet away from him with not so much as a sound. Lei-Fang gasped. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing would come out. She felt all sound disappear from her throat.
When Lei-Fang hit the watery ground with a loud splash, she didn't feel much except for the conspicuous pain that rumbled through her insides.
She hadn't fallen on her side. Out of unconscious reaction she'd maneuvered and landed on her feet but abruptly lost balance, falling to her knees. She slumped forward, ignoring the pain it caused her in her lower back, staring at the ripples her tears made in the water.
Tears. She was crying. She rarely cried.
'Different people open up in different ways. He just needs little 'push', is all.'
"Push," she sighed, laughing quietly to herself. "A push."
How could I be so stupid? Falling for a jerk like him. Lei-Fang sulked to herself, breathing slowly, struggling to keep anymore tears from falling. This wasn't worth it, she told herself, and he wasn't worth her tears.
I'm so stupid.
Jann Lee stood there, staring at a fallen Lei-Fang. Since she's recovered herself only to slip in the water, she hadn't moved. It was odd and uncomfortable to watch her. In the forefront of his mind he'd expected her to get up immediately after landing and rush at him in a flare of temper. Yet a small thought in the back of his mind whispered otherwise…
And still—regardless of that thought, he heard the words leave his lips: "Well, I expected more, Lei-Fang. This was weak."
He felt pathetic. Something inside him burned and screamed and tore at his being. The feeling made him sick, made him feel foolish, and in feeling both of those, made him feel crazy.
Jann Lee grunted, once again fighting to encase that feeling that fought to erupt into pure emotion. There was no one on this world that could invoke such feelings—had invoked such feelings. He suddenly turned on his heel and began to walk away, battling the rage that coursed through him. Stop me, a small voice in his mind whispered. Stop me…
His brows furrowed and his fists clenched. This was not normal; not natural. There had to be something wrong with him.
"...You..." He heard the small voice behind him. Turning his head slightly, he looking at its originator, the girl that knelt in the water, shaking, trembling.
"You..." she began again. In an instant, she bolted upright and dashed towards him, screaming. "You bastard!"
Jann-Lee hastily moved into a defending position only to be stopped abruptly when Lei-Fang didn't attack. Instead, she rammed into him, directing her entire body at him and in effect, causing him to stumble. In his haste to balance, he reached out, only to feel the sharp pain shoot through his skin. Scratching him, she swung her balled fists up and pounded them savagely against the nearest flesh.
"How can you do this to me? To put me through this?" Her shrieks were nearly in incomprehensible but Jann-Lee could roughly make out her angry plea.
"Wha—?" He sputtered.
Lei-Fang pounded even harder, releasing all the power she had left. She felt two warm, sweaty hands wrap around her fretful wrists. Still, she wasn't about to let that stop her, and continued to beat at any body part in front of her. As the pressure around those wrists increased, she found it harder to move about. Screaming still, she pulled at her captive wrists, her throat already sore and the salt from her tears making her lips dry.
A faint voice barely reached her ears as the hands tightened and pulled slightly.
"Lei…—op this! What …wrong with you?" Came Jann Lee's husky voice. She felt her body finally give out and the last of the strength in her muscles disappear. Her struggling ceased and she stood still, trying and failing to not use Jann-Lee's body as support.
"Why...?" she asked, letting her head fall forward against his chest. She hiccupped, slumping, and breathed as the tears continued to trail down her skin.
Jann-Lee stared down at the woman in front of him. One moment she'd suddenly gone completely insane and angry and the next she was barely able to hold herself up. What the hell was wrong with everything today?
"Why…what?" he countered.
"Why do you do this…to me? This is hell…you drag me through hell.," she sobbed. Jann-Lee moved his head to the side to try and look at her, but he couldn't with her head hanging down. Instead, he watched as her shoulders trembled, on then noticing the wet warmth against his shirt.
She's…crying.
"Why do you do this? Why?" Her voice was barely above a whisper and Jann-Lee had to strain to hear her. "Why do you make it hurt so much...?"
Jann Lee blinked quizzically. "What? Oh, come on Lei-Fang. You're…you're stronger than that," he laughed nervously. Something about this whole situation made him increasingly uncomfortable…and feeling unusually stupid. "Whining over a little fall. That's not like y—"
"That's not it!" Lei-Fang shouted, pulling free of his hold. She stepped back and turned around, walking towards edge of the shallow pond. She stopped abruptly at the edge of the fall turning to the side a bit and glared at him.
"That's not... That's not what hurts..." she whispered, sniffling, and shifted clutched the fabric of her dress above the spot where her heart beat murderously inside her.
Jann-Lee stared at her, and all the uncomfortable feelings, the whispers of regrets, the knots and bowties in his stomach slammed him with a force he'd never felt before. He blinked as the realization of everything echoed through his mind's eye. Thoughts began to race through his head. Memories flashed through his mind, clashing with unknown, inexperienced emotions.
Oh…shit.
This was not possible. This was not happening. This was…unbelievable.
This can't be true, he thought.
"Lei-Fang?" He asked, his voice a bit unsteady. He gulped, took a breath and a step, then stopped. His feet felt as tremulous as the water he stood in. The words leaving his lips felt like strangers passing on a street. "Are… are you… in-love with me?"
Lei-Fang's breath caught and her body tensed. Oh, God, she thought frantically. Oh, God, don't make me do this. Please, don't make me do this! She shifted her weight; if she didn't, she felt like she might collapse. The heart pounding beneath her flesh pounded to a point of almost unbearable pain. This seemed so easy when it was just a thought in the back of her mind, an unconscious conversation with her psyche. But standing here, staring out at the landscape and nearly shaking in reaction to the simple words Jann-Lee asked her made everything feel unreal.
And it made her feel awkward in her own skin.
"Are you?" His voice brought her back to attention.
"I…I—" She started, but felt her tongue shrink back as she tried to form the answer.
"Look at me, Lei-Fang."
Her body felt stiff, and frozen. She had no resolve as it was, and turning to face him might cause her to collapse altogether. Still, she knew if she didn't do it herself, he would do it for her. Forcing down the lump in her throat she slowly turned, not entirely toward him, but enough to give him a better view. Staring at the wet ground, she folded her arms tighter across her chest and gripped her arms.
"Don't…make me do this…please." Her words were breathy and strained. She could taste the tears as they fell slowly from the corners of her eyes.
Jann-Lee's voice was commanding, as always, yet for the first time she heard a hint of agitation, and nervousness. "You started this."
Anger and embarrassment flooded through her, and she clenched the skin of her arms as she attempted to settle her reactions. This was exactly what she thought was going to happen… "How dare you try to blame this all on me—"
"I didn't force you to fall in-love with me."
His stomach churned in ways he'd never felt before. Actually saying the words brought a whole new set of feelings into the mix. Lei-Fangs mouth snapped shut and her brows furrowed. He didn't want to hurt her really, but what he said was true. Up until now, he'd had no idea about her feelings. As far as he was concerned, this was just a fight. Nothing more. Yet somewhere, deep down, an unfamiliar glimmer of hope sparked his curiosity and propelled him forward. Now, he wanted to know her answer, more than—he realized now—his next opponent.
She continued to stand there, and he forced her to hold his gaze. He wanted to see what was going on in those tumultuous coffee colored eyes of her, to watch every thought, every emotion that passed through them. The water around her feet rippled in tiny waves, and Jann-Lee watched as her shoulders began to visibly tremble. A strange yearning pushed through him, and though his first desire was to examine it and determine its importance, he felt compelled to simply go with it.
Taking a step forward, he noticed Lei-Fang stiffen to a point of obvious discomfort. Still, he moved onward slowly closing the short distance between them. He watched peripherally as her chest rose and fell faster with each step. As he came to stand before her, he heard her breathing turn raspy and saw her eyes glaze over. Her trembling increased to outright shaking.
As he stared down at her, he felt his mouth go dry. "I didn't force you…to do anything."
Somehow, he felt himself reach for her, grazing his fingers across her shoulder up her neck to rest at base of her skull. Barely aware of anything anymore, he was sure he was losing his mind. Vaguely, he remembered something of the conversation he'd had this morning, but disregarded it as he felt himself draw her closer.
"I…" Her faint word mingled their breaths, and the scent of lotus blossoms filled Jann-Lee's nostrils. He felt himself shiver and his eyes close slightly as he bridged the remaining space between them.
He'd kissed girls before. He was a man, after all. But he'd never kissed someone with intent. There was always desire, always a bodily lust, always a simple carnal hunger that needed to be satiated. But never with intent, never a want to convey anything. Never anything like this.
It was awkward—timid—like a dare made in dark closet. Neither one moved; just stood there with their lips touching, too afraid to do anything. Jann-Lee's fingers tingled against her skin, and only then did he realize that his breath had caught in his chest.
It was also then that he felt like his lungs were about to explode. Tightening his grip on her neck, he stopped any movement between them. And any other bold move Lei-Fang chose to do.
Frozen, Lei-Fang had never been more terrified in her life. And what had possessed her to gently brush the tip of her tongue through her teeth, she couldn't say. Jann-Lee's grip on her neck proved it was a stupid decision.
What she couldn't decide, however, was whether or not his arm wrapping around her back was a mistake. Or the way he tilted her head back and turned to fit better against her.
Or the way she couldn't stop crying as he attempted to deepen the kiss.
It was so unusual. He didn't have particularly full lips, but they weren't paper thin. And they weren't soft, but still a kind of marble smooth. Somehow, she managed to uncross her arms and finger the fabric of his satin vest. It was awe-inspiring and frightening all at the same time.
And deep down in the pit of his stomach, Jann-Lee began to feel more and more like he couldn't get enough.
He muscles wound so tightly they nearly pinched under his skin. His spine tingled from the discomfort and at the same time tingled from the unfamiliar excitement that rushed through him. Something about the way Lei-Fang trembled in his arms thrilled him; that despite her obvious shaking, she clung to him.
All was silent, and the kiss was slow, scrutinizing, every bit as detailed and conscious as their battles. The relations sparked something inside Jann-Lee's mind and he pulled back. Staring down at her face, her eyes had drifted shut, and the tears had left barely visible trails along her olive skin. He gradually released his grip on her neck, and drew his arm from around her to settle both of them on either side of her shoulder. As he did so, Lei-Fang's eyes fluttered open slowly and stared into his with confusion. And fear.
Her lips moved silently, and Jann-Lee stared at them. Then looked back at her eyes.
She didn't know what to say. All of it was slow and sudden, and caused so much to run through Lei-Fang's mind. She blinked slowly and swallowed, still staring in the ever-familiar russet of his eyes. Her mouth felt pulpy, and her tongue moved lazily in her mouth. In spite of the thoughts that raced through her brain, common sense only seemed to voice a single one.
"Why?" Her voice came out in a tiny squeak.
Jann-Lee stared at her, he—himself—trying to deliberate the question. As simple as a question it was, Jann-Lee couldn't find an answer. There was no logical answer to 'why' he just suddenly did that. Something inside him told him to and for some reason, he didn't stop it. He felt Lei-Fang attempt to push away from him, but he held fast to her shoulders.
"Don't…toy with me. Why did you do that…?" Lei-Fang chewed on the inside of her cheek, her breathing coming slow, but erratic.
Jann-Lee looked thoughtful. His hands unconsciously massaged the bare skin of her upper arms. Licking his lips, he could faintly taste the sweet mint from their kiss, and swallowed the lump that had sometime formed in his throat.
"Tell me…are you in-love with me."
Lei-Fang stiffened. Fear, anxiousness, embarrassment—all coursed through her. She wanted to rip herself from his gentle grip and tear through the trees back towards her house. Her desire must have been obvious for she felt his grasp tighten only somewhat.
"Tell me why you kissed me," she blurted.
"Tell me if you love me," he countered.
She pulled on his grip, but he pulled her harshly against him and wrapped a single arm around her to hold her there. Staring into his eyes, her brows knit closely and breathed deeply. She pushed a hand up slowly and clutched the collar of his shirt. She felt the stinging of warm tears gathering against her eyes. Her mouth gaping she struggled to find the words she wanted to say.
"I…I can't tell you."
His hold on her tightened, "Then I'll kiss you again."
"Why—" This time it was harsher. It wasn't painful, but it was commanding. Lei-Fang pushed against him, but he only pushed harder, deepening the kiss. She whimpered in protest, but that only reinforced Jann-Lee to kiss her harder.
What was this girl playing? Why couldn't she just get it out already? Yet somehow he felt this wasn't the first time she had lead him on a wild goose chase—albeit a different scenario. However, whatever she was playing wasn't entirely painful, or obnoxious. And a crude little piece of him rather enjoyed pushing her like so.
Pulling back, he stared at her as she gasped for breath. His own breathing had grown ragged, but he held fast. "Tell me you love me."
"No!" She snapped.
"Why not?!" His heart hammered against his ribcage. Never had any opponent caused such a rise out of him. Never had anyone made him so inwardly frustrated. Squeezing her even tighter, he felt his jaw clench and he glared down at her.
To his chagrin, the little minx returned a glare just as annoyed.
By now, Lei-Fang could barely feel her toes graze the top of the water. Jann-Lee had squeezed her so tightly, she was now nearly eye level with him.
"Put me down," she said between gritted teeth. Much to her dismay, his reply was as level-headed and cool as ever, in effect, making her feel a little foolish.
"Not until you say it."
She huffed, exasperated, and closed her eyes. Forcing herself to calm down, she could still feel tears burning the corners of her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she felt her muscles relax some. "I will not sa—Ahh!!"
Her eyes snapped open as Jann-Lee tightened his grasp on her so fast she felt her back snap in several different places.
"Just say it and I'll let you go."
Heaving, she felt her body gasp for air. Reaching for his neck she couldn't quite get a good grasp and instead nearly tore at his collar. "Why do you want me to say it so much?" she yelled.
"Why can't you say?" He stared at her, unabashed and undeniably open. There was no way he could understand how things had gotten this way. He simply knew they had. And he simply knew that having her crushed against him like so only served to give a bizarre explanation0 to every perplexing feeling he'd felt throughout this entire day. Having her here, so close, so frail, answered every curious question today's earlier incident had brought forth. He liked this feeling and he would damned if he was going to let her stubbornness get in the way of him having it.
And had he not been so intent on rendering her immobile, he would have laughed at the irony of it all.
But really, what irony had there been, come to think of it. He was never the one who pursued the fight. He saved her life, in fact. It was her unusually ungrateful behavior that brought them to where they were today. This really wasn't his fault.
"You wanted this in the first place. Let's not forget that this was all brought about by your vendetta against my interference—as you put it—six years ago. God forbid it ever occurs to you that I was trying to help." He stopped for a moment to think before continuing. "So…you can't say it's my fault that you…fell in-love with me."
Anger, panic, shame, regret—she couldn't quite figure out which one to feel. And yet, he was right. She could only blame herself. Hadn't she acknowledged that it was easier to fight him over and over than admit what she truly felt? And now, here he was demanding that she tell him she love him. This was what she wanted…wasn't it?
"Don't give me that."
Lei-Fang looked up, confused. "What?"
Jann-Lee stared at her and frowned. "That. That defeated puppy look."
Lei-Fang mimicked his expression with a frown of her own. "I do not look like a—"
"Then tell me you love me."
"Will you stop interrupting me?" She shouted. Huffing angrily, she dropped her head to rest against his collarbone. Still clutching her above the edge of the water, there wasn't a whole lot she could do besides that. This was really as far she was going to get. If he'd held her this long, she doubted he was going to let her go anytime soon. Hell, he would probably carry her home if he had too.
The thought caused a little blush to creep across her cheeks. Besides, this really wasn't so bad. And hadn't this been what she wanted, albeit admitted under forceful circumstances, but admitted nonetheless.
"So…so what if I do," she mumbled into his shirt.
"That doesn't cut it. You have to say it." He heard her groan and burrow deeper into his neck. There was something comforting about the gesture and he slacked his grip, using his free arm to more or less support her.
They stood in silence for some time, Lei-Fang's breathing finally coming down to normal consciousness. Pulling her head up, she felt a little groggy, and she knew her arms were soar from being restricted for so long. Still, she toyed with the fabric ties that held his shirt-vest together.
"I guess… I guess I do. Love you, that is," she muttered quietly. Glancing up at Jann-Lee through her lashes, she watching him, curiously. He stared out beyond her head for a moment before setting her down and letting go of her.
"I guess that will do," he said as he turned and started for the opening to the trail.
Lei-Fang gaped at him, open-mouthed. Her arms dropped to her sides before she hurried after him, splashing through the water. Reaching for him, she grasped his pinky with her whole hand and tugged, attempting to stop him.
"Wait, that's it? That's all you have to say?" she asked, incredulously.
Jann-Lee thought for a second before looking at her and answering, "Yeah, that's about it." He pulled to walk again, but she stopped him.
"What about my question?" She knew she sounded a bit shrill, but she didn't care. This was ridiculous.
And he had the audacity to look at her like he didn't know what she was talking about!
"About why you kissed me!" She howled. However, her frustration quickly to turned to confusion when she felt an arm wrap around her waist and pull her up beside him.
She really was cute, and Jann-Lee wondered intriguingly why it hadn't come to his attention until now. Looking up him with those big mocha brown eyes, he really couldn't help it. He had to do it. Pulling her beside him, he started once again for the trail.
"That's a battle best left for next time."
A/N #2: I think I'm pleased with this… Possibly until another seven years passes and I decided this was crap as well.