Ashton slowly and carefully tried to squirm out from the grip that Chisato had on him. Even though at this point there was nothing he wanted more then to be totally connected to her, nature called, and he doubted that that would go over well if he didn't find a place to relieve it.
One arm was wrapped around his chest, clutching at him. Another was close to his shoulder, on the mat. One of her legs was bent over his. He began to think she planned it that way because she didn't want him to get up. Maybe that's true. But that's beyond the point; he HAD to get out, whether or not either of them wanted it.
He slowly and carefully moved her arm, and if slid slowly off of his chest. Then he carefully lifted her leg over his own and moved it to her side. Apon his touch, he heard a soft sigh in her sleep. He wondered what she was dreaming about as he slid on a pair of pants. He bent down and covered her with a blanket, then sped out of the tent flap.
After he relieved himself, he walked to the stream for a drink of water. He was surprised, though, to find Chris and Claude there already. They both were also shirtless, and that situation seemed a little uncomfortable to him. He almost turned to leave back to the tent, but just at that moment, Chris turned and saw Gyoro looked at him.
"Hey, Ashton! Spying on us?"
He sighed, annoyed. He didn't want Chisato to wake up while he wasn't there. Sadly, though, now that they'd seen him there wasn't much he could do. Darn you, Gyoro, why didn't you keep low?, he thought to himself as he walked slowly over to where the two men were sitting.
"Nah, just relieving nature. What're you two doing up?"
Chris moved a little bit to make room for Ashton. "Nothing, just talking, looking at the stars. There aren't many chances to do this, you know. After we get back, I'll have to go do princely things…you'll go back to Salva…Claude will go back to Arlia…things will go back to 'normal'. Will we all ever have a real chance to be back on this mountain again, looking at these same stars?"
Claude blinked. "I thought we were talking about women."
Chris smiled. "That too. Speaking of which, what's Chisato going to do after we all go back to our homes?"
Ashton blushed. "I-I'm not sure, why?"
Claude leaned over. "Well, well…what's with that, Ash?"
Try to get a hold of yourself, Ashton. "N…::cough:: nothing."
Chris smiled. "So, you two DID hit it off."
Ashton resisted with every fiber in his bone to keep from losing his composure. "What makes you think that?
Gyoro, getting bored with the conversation, leaned over Ashtons head and nipped at Urunun. He was still asleep, so Gyoro bit him harder. Urunun woke up and charged at Urunun, but he dodged just in time and he flew off to the side while Gyoro lunged back around at Urunun. He didn't dodge in time and Gyoro hit him head on, knocking them both off to the side.
Ashton obviously noticed all this and sighed. Thanks for diverting that subject, at least for a couple of seconds. "Guys, I need to get back to the tent. I'm really tired…"
Chris nodded. "No problem. But don't think this subject is dead. And tell Chisato we said hi."
Ashton nodded and walked back towards the tent, shaking his head. You two get me into more trouble then your worth, but eventually you always get me out of it again.
"Awwrk."
Ashton smiled and reached for the tent flap. Apon entering the tent, however, he noticed that…it was empty. He looked around, where could Chisato be? Had she woken up and noticed he wasn't there? Great, I bet she's mad at me…
Suddenly a force knocked into him, pushing him off balance and through the opposite tent wall. He almost fell down the hill again, but Urunun grabbed onto a nearby branch, and Ashton just barely had a handhold in the grass. He tried to lift himself back up, until he realized his attacker.
Standing in the now open tent wall was Chisato, who hadn't yet dressed. She held a hand o her mouth to keep from giggling. Ashton could only look on, wide-eyed. Half-afraid that someone would see her undressed…half-afraid of the fact she hadn't helped him up yet.
"Ashton…you left me. Did you really think you didn't wake me up? Aren't you forgetting I'm a black belt in Shingo-style Jujitsu?"
"…I can't…hold on much longer…"
"Tell you what, Ashton. I'll help you up…but you promise not to leave my side until morning. I can't stand feeling cold again…and even if I wasn't so in touch with martial awareness, I could feel you leave. So don't leave me, please."
"…I…won't, Chisato…I…promise."
She bent down a little bit and helped him back up and into the tent. After repairing the tent wall yet again, she settled down next to him in the same position as before, breathing softly. This time, Ashton had no intention of removing any part of her. They fell asleep quickly, dreaming silently of the new day that awaited.
~