Author's Note: Meh, this chapter was done a little quickly… I must be hyper about re-submitting to FF.Net. GO MEH! O.o Yup. Definitely hyper. If you see any problems, don't hesitate to tell me! Oh, and one final thing. R/R! ^_^
The fair Gerudo was rudely awakened sometime later. She felt her body falling – and got a mouthful of hair.
"Mmpgh!" Yume instantly shot up, and groaned. Toranpu had jumped down from the horse, causing her (whom had been sleeping on his shoulder.) to fall, face first, into the ebony horse's mane. She glanced around to find her less-then-cheerful companion. He happened to have just jumped down from the animal, and was standing a few feet away. He had his hands behind his head, evidently working with his hair.
"Where are we?" The Gerudo princess asked, suppressing a yawn.
"Just before Kakario." He pointed out.
"Oh. Must be around noon, then?" She let herself down from the horse. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Gonna chop of my hair."
She blinked, starting at him in disbelief. "What? Why? I like your hair!"
"It gets in the way. Like, in battles and stuff and what not."
"Oh, honestly!" Yume reached into her bag and pulled out a small tube. "You're being stubborn." With that, she crossed the plains, grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head back.
"OW!" he cursed. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Be quiet." She stuck her tongue out. Uncapping the tube, she squeezed a large amount of a jelly-like substance over her palm. Gripping his hair with one hand, she wrapped her gel-covered hand around his hair, just above her other hand. She slowly slid both her hands down, one to steady and one to gel, before letting go near the bottom of his long locks.
"There." Yume stood up, walking away to clean her hands in the small river near them. "It's a special kind of hair product. It will keep your hair in this 'cylinder' shape, while still allowing it to flow freely."
"Hmph." Toranpu regarded his reflection in the shimmering water below. "Not bad." And without even a simple thank you, he turned and headed for the stairs leading to the village.
Yume watched him walk up the stairs for a moment, almost admiring how his body slanted as he climbed the stone steps. She was caught up in her daydream, however, as she did not notice the advancing monster from behind.
Toranpu sighed, now standing within the village limits. What was wrong with him? Why didn't he shrug her off just now? It was so… unlike him. Although, he did like the feeling of her hands in his hair… Growling, he instantly yanked off his black glove and harshly grasped the blade of his sheathed sword. He hissed as he felt the blade slit his palm, something he had done before. It was sort of a type of self-punishment; Toranpu was determined not to let anyone get close to him.
He wasn't stupid. Really, just when he thought about it, people die. Everyone dies, it's inevitable. When someone dies, someone close, then you feel pain, worse then this self-inflicted slitting. Toranpu heard of it from elders, and he was determined not to feel that pain. He lifted his hand from where it clenched his weapon, watching amusedly as he crimson blood traced a trial down his hand, to drip upon the green grass.
Toranpu sighed outwards. He harshly hauled his glove back on, ignoring the slight, stressed pain. "Well, this is Kakario." He spoke to the half-Gerudo, half Sheikah. When he received no immediate answer, he turned around. "Yume?" he blinked, for she was not there. "Oh, goddesses." Tora rolled his eyes as he decided the stairs near the entrance, rounding the corner. "Can't you at least keep up-" he was cut off as he spied the girl running in circles, a small skeleton chasing her.
"Great." Unsheathing his blade, he jumped the remaining stairs and impaled the monster just as he passed under him. "Stupid little bastard." He cursed, spiting on its remains. He turned, addressing the girl whom was now panting, pressing her hand to her chest, over her heart. "Can't you even defend yourself?" he half-heartedly scolded her. "Can't you… cast magic or something?!" he waved his arms for emphasis.
"But I…" she paused to catch her breath. "I don't know anything…" She gulped as he rolled his eyes. "I have the talent!" she quickly followed up, "Just… no spells yet. In Kakario, I can find out… how to attain my magic."
"Good lord." He sighed. "You had better learn, fast. I can't be the only offensive person in this little story."
"I know." She bowed her head.
"Well, come on." He hauled his sword from the ground, sheathing it properly. "Let's GO." He shouted, starting up the stairs. This time, Yume was not far behind. But still, something bothered him… (Stallchildren? In the daylight hours? That doesn't seem right…)
---
Toranpu kicked the dirt around an old house in Kakario. This was SO stupid. Yume went into this house after speaking with the chief of the village. That was shortly after lunch. Now, it was well into the evening, and she still wasn't out. "Hurry up, damnit!" he sharply kicked the door for the umpteenth time that day. Sighing, he crossed his arms and paced.
A few moments later, Yume exited the house. "I'm sorry it was so long, Tora-kun…" she began softly. "The chief had to read my ma-"
"Tora." He sharply corrected her. "Well?"
"…" Yume pulled out a small, clear orb. "I'm suppose to go to the temples around the world. Apparently, there are spirits inside the temples that will grant me the magic."
"I see." He sighed, not really caring that much. "What's first, then?"
"Well…" she paused. "I suppose… the temple of shadows is closest… In the graveyard." She pointed.
"Alright, let's go." He turned and walked towards the gravesite.
"N-now?!" Yume gasped. "It's night time!"
"So…?"
"Not even the high priests of the castle approach the Shadow Temple by night…" she shuddered. "It is rumored to be crawling with demons at night…"
"Really?" he perked up. "Awesome. Let's go!" and with a sly grin, he dashed off.
"Wait…! Tora!" Yume gasped as she watched him run. "But… Not now… Please…"
"Lady Yume?"
"Ahh!" she gasped, whirling around, sighing when she revealed it was only the chief. "Sorry." She bowed lightly. "You startled me…"
"My apologies." He also bowed. "Now, you mentioned that you knew no magic…?" Yume nodded. "Well, I have a little present. It may help within the Shadow Temple." He offered her a small, white orb.
"What is it…?" she asked, taking the orb into her hands.
"It is the Strike of Healing. Someone I knew started to train with it. But they gave up." A shrug. "You should find it effective."
"Thank you very much!" she bowed once more, pocketing the glowing object.
"It is I who should be thanking you." The old man smiled warmly. "We are like a dying race, the Sheikah… It is an honor you wish to learn our magic, like…" he paused. "Your father."
"Why… yes." She smiled, understanding. "I shall be off now. Thank you for everything." Yet one more bow, and she broke out in a run towards the graveyard.
---
Toranpu was already standing upon the stone slab before the temple stairs. He looked at the odd marking on it, illuminated by the graveyard lanterns. "Cool…"
"Tora!" Yume cried, approaching the Royal graves (Which were directly below him.).
"Up here." He looked down.
"What…? How'd you get up there?" she gasped.
"I jumped." He said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "C'mon, then." He extended his hand. "I won't wait forever."
Pausing one more time, she reached up and took his hand. Truth be told, she liked how firm his grip was. It made her feel… secure, almost. In no time, she was standing next to him, staring down into the darkness of the stairs.
"Well…" a sly grin. "Let's go get us some demons!" and he took off down the stairs, until Yume could not see him anymore.
"Come on…!" she groaned, slowly descending the stairs. "Can't you wait for me… Can't you protect me properly…? (…Can't you hold me secure?)" Her final wish was but a whisper.