"Oh my gods...what am I going to DO?? I can't go out with him!!"
"Why NOT?"
"Because he's so much BETTER than I am! He could have ANYONE other than me. Why DID he choose me??"
"Perhaps...because he WANTED to?"
That stopped Kimon dead in the middle of pacing in Mia's living room floor, but not for long. "STILL." Hands delved into her mane in agitation. The argument suddenly died as she kept pacing, unable to find anymore words to state her side.
"Maybe you're thinking a too little negative here Kimon-chan...have you ever wondered why Cye asked you out? Besides WANTING to."
Gray stopped and locked with blue. "I...well he...I mean...that is-"
"I'll take that as a 'NO'." Silence. "Since you asked me to pick you up and give you advice...let me tell you why I think Cye asked you out." Silence answered the statement, but rapt attention was given. "I've known Cye since before he graduated high school. In all that time I've known him...he's been kind, generous, funny, hardworking, and plenty of other things. He's a great cook and a help around the house. He keeps the peace at times when the others try to argue. He has a slow temper, but he does HAVE one. Cye's shy, though probably not as shy as YOU are. He's grown out of that a bit since high school. And even though you can't see him, he IS quite handsome. He has grown up into a wonderful young man and he's your friend. He's giving you a chance because he sees something in you and would like to give that something a try. How do you know it wouldn't work?"
Kimon absently licked her lower lip and slightly hung her head. She felt bad thinking so negatively about a person she KNEW such qualities already existed. Mia wasn't saying anything she didn't know...save for the looks and some things in high school. She was able to read all of them by hearing his voice.
"And would you like some advice about YOU tomadachi?" Silence prompted her to go on. "In the year-some I've known you, you haven't really told me much about yourself...and I respect your right of privacy. You're shy, yet you are firm in a lot of things. Your ideals; your schedule; your way of life; the goals you have for the future. I admire all the plans you hold...not many would be so clear with the rest of their lives. You've managed to open up to me and clear aside the pride you hold. You've even let in Cye as a friend. I know you like things clear-cut and definite, and that's probably one reason you're freaking out about this."
"I'm NOT-"
"Then why are you putting grooves in the floorboards?" A blush kept any other retort from coming. "My point exactly. You're worried about this sudden change when you knew exactly where everything was at before. You're a planner, but you don't need to plan EVERYTHING about your life. It's better NOT to. You should take a chance on this. Who knows? It might be the best thing you've ever done."
There was a distinctly long pause from such a thorough character search. Finally, a small, timid voice cut through the quiet. "But...I just...don't want to get...hurt again... In the past there was..." An abrupt pause. "I don't want to take the chance..."
"Don't worry Kimon-chan. Cye wouldn't do anything like that to you. In all the time you've known each other, has he ever been untrustworthy or lied to you?"
"...Iie..."
Mia knowingly smiled. "Then TRUST him. You have already and it hasn't hurt you. Cye is an easy person to trust. He's...he's got a knack for that. And I assure you what I say is true. Don't hide yourself away forever tomadachi. Let yourself go. If you let this pass you by...someday...you might kick yourself if you DON'T."
"I need your advice on something Mia."
"Oh man...not you TOO."
He blinked, but started pacing across the living room. "I don't know if you know...but I asked Kimon-san out a few days ago..."
Mia's lips twitched, trying to hide a smirk. "Hai. Wakaru." Cye stopped and blue met blue. "Kimon-chan is my friend. She asked me for advice. I know both of you probably better than you know yourselves sometimes, so I felt it was okay to give her some." Pause. "What did you want to ask me?"
Cye sighed and went back to his pacing. "If she asked your advice...do you know if she's made up her mind? It's been three days and I haven't heard a word from her. Is she ignoring me? Does she not want to...to go out with me? Is it something I said? Something I did? Was it the decision to have her tell my family she was blind after that incident a few-"
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA Cye!" Hands waved in defense at the onslaught of questions. "Calm down and take a few breaths. "Okay...first off...I haven't talked to Kimon-chan since she asked me to pick her up the night you asked her out. I haven't bothered to butt in anymore than I already have...that's not my business. If she's ignoring you...that'd be her problem. You know she's shy. You dumped quite a load on her. You need to give her a little more time. Just be patient. Don't think so negative so soon. Give her another day or two and then try approaching her. She's not very outgoing; you should know that."
"Yea yea, I know, I know. I just feel antsy about it. I...I like her Mia. She's so easy to get along with. Her shyness is nice actually; it's so much different than Kento and his jabber." A wistful smile appeared as Cye kept pacing. "I never thought I'd fall for one of my friends. And don't take that the wrong way either."
Another smirk was squelched when blue pinned to hers. "Not a word." She mused, leaning back to enjoy the entertainment. Kids these days...
"I know it's not the end of the world. But haven't you liked someone a lot, but didn't know how to convey what you were thinking to someone so shy?"
There was silence as she was expected to answer. Blue shot down to the tea in her hands. Sage...Ryo... "Yes. I know what you mean Cye...but I think I'm looking at it in a more mature light." She gave a small, comforting grin, trying to soothe his nerves. "No it's NOT the end of the world, and you can always soothe this over when all is said and done. If Kimon-chan DOESN'T want to go out with you, fine. Then you two remain friends. If she says yes, then you have yourself a girlfriend." She smiled at seeing the blush on Cye's face. Apparently he didn't think of Kimon and himself as 'boyfriend/girlfriend'. How adorable...
"Quid pro quo, ne?" Cye muttered, slowly going to the couch. He slumped in the far end and stared at the high ceiling. Silence pertained until a small smile tilted his lips. "Arigatou Mia. You always know what to say to make a person feel better."
She gave a wry grin. "Think I should be paid?" She queried, almost hypothetically.
Cye grinned and looked to her. "I think we pay you enough in OTHER ways..." He mused, getting up again.
"Hmm...true. So when ARE you five going to come up and stay the weekend again? Huh, huh?"
Cye snorted, but shrugged. "Probably during our once a month as always." He held a hand down and helped her up, giving her a small hug. "Arigatou. That helped clear my head."
"At least you listen to your 'elders'." She teased, getting a chuckle from him. "Come on, I'll walk you out."
"Gods...those two have the WORST case of beating around the bush..." She mused, pushing off on the porch swing. Only a few hours passed since Cye left, but it was on her mind still. The screen door slowly squeaked open and a massive body joined her on the porch. "Boy...you've known them a little longer than I have. Care to enlighten me on Cye's behavior?"
A pair of wise, ancient eyes just stared back. Either White Blaze wasn't going to tell her anything by emotions, or he wasn't going to bother getting into it.
She snorted and stared at the sunset. "What I wouldn't give to hear you talk. The stories you could probably tell. You could probably give ME advice..." She kicked off on the porch again, letting the night breeze bring smells of the forest to her. "Let's just hope those two get their act together. I know I'D like to see them together. What about you Blaze?" She looked over with a smile, getting a kitty nod from her furry companion. A smirk appeared. "Thought so."
~*~*~
"I think you know why I called you here..."
He smiled and leaned against the metal bridge. "Well it can't be for the night air. Though I have to say, I haven't been to a park for months."
A small smile tilted her lips. "I didn't want to talk about this in front of otou-san. It's not his business."
He quietly hummed and stared at the bridge they stood over, watching his element flow past the rocks. Spring melted what little snow they got this year and swelled the trickle. He didn't know what to say to that, and knew she wasn't finished talking, so stayed quiet.
Fingers idly twisted her cane, feeling more nervous than she had in her entire life. Her mind was made up...so why was this such a pain to SAY?? Mia was right in all her assumptions, but that didn't mean she could be so outgoing to get one word past her lips. Gods...PLEASE help give her the courage to get this done! "I'm sorry I haven't talked to you this past week. Gomen if you think I've been avoiding or ignoring you. I didn't mean to...I just, I just had to think things through. I've never...been asked on any kind of date before. I didn't know how...how to react." Her lips tilted. "You really surprised me...to say the least."
Another long pause stretched out as she looked for the courage to say the word. If her heart beat any faster, it was going to be added to the rocks down below! She inhaled, trying not to let her breath shake. "It's true...I've never gone on dates, or gone with a guy before. I have to say I'm......flattered. I've always been a solitary person...no one has ever bothered to take the time like you have on me. I don't know if I'll EVER really be any less shy than I am now... But...I...I'd like to...I'd like to......go out with you."
Finally...she finally said it. Now...all she hoped was that Cye HEARD her. That voice didn't come out any louder than the water gurgling below.
The smile that blossomed would've blinded her if she wasn't already. His heart fluttered and the adrenaline that started receding picked up pace. NOW what did they do?? She agreed to go out with him! How could one stuttered statement make him so happy?
A hand moved and gently rested on her shoulder. There was something he wanted to say, but couldn't get the words out. So he went for a small squeeze and hoped she understood enough.
A shaky, timid smile appeared as she looked his way. A slim hand slowly rose and shakily covered his. It rested over his for what seemed forever, warming against the cool night air. "So...what do we do NOW?"
He took hold of her hand and took it in his. "Your hands are cold... Do you want to go someplace warmer?"
A deep blush stained her cheeks and her head dropped with a shy smile. Did agreeing to his proposal change physical contact like this? Why did it feel so casual...yet so comforting? And his tone...it was so warm...if not a little timid. It was kind of cute actually... "Iie... The night smells too good to go inside yet. It's not THAT cold out here. I'd...I'd like to walk around...if you don't mind." Again, her face flamed as she took her hand away to extend her walking stick.
He smiled and reached out for her hands. He halted their movements, getting a shocked look from her. Why did he feel he had the sudden agreement to touch her like this when he never dared before? Probably because this held a more intimate gesture? "I agree. But...will you let me guide you?"
She harshly swallowed, but managed a meek nod. The walking stick went back to its normal, compact shape as she extended an arm in wait. His arm entwined with hers...fingers wrapping around hers. She startled immensely, but timidly finished combining their hands and was slowly lead across the land.
~*~*~
"Man I can't BELIEVE you left us out of the loop!"
"Will you calm down Kento? It had nothing to DO with you."
"Oh don't EVEN go there Sage! Cye's my best friend! Why SHOULDN'T I be told about him liking a girl?"
"Probably because you'd tease him to DEATH over it you baka!"
Kento stopped his retort and gave a sheepish grin. "...PROBABLY..."
"Alright...enough picking on Cye you four...get in here so we can have dinner."
"So...how long HAVE you two been 'going out'?"\
"We are TECHNICALLY going out Rowen, so don't bother making quotations as if the words didn't fully apply to us. Two weeks is your answer."
"Well I for one am HAPPY for you Cye. Kento get your hands out of that crock-pot! If you put your lips on that spoon, I'll thwak you with it!"
"Geez...where're your eyes behind that curtain of hair Mia??"
One hand swept her hair to the side quickly. "Right here. I know you well enough to know you try to steal food before dinner starts. Trust me, it hasn't gone bad and it WON'T go bad. Now behave and help me carry that to the table."
Soon dinner was up and under way. Mia looked around at the nostalgic feeling she gained. After a while, she couldn't stay quiet. "This is been the best start of the weekend. You five REALLY need to find more time off from your schedules and visit more often."
"Getting bored with just Blaze for company Mia?"
Mia grinned. "In your dreams Ryo. He keeps me on my toes about as much as you guys do."
"So buddy...tell me the details. I may have been kept ignorant about the whole thing, but you can enlighten your ol' buddy Hardrock now that it's underway, ne?"
"Kento..." He sighed and shook his head. "You're so persistent! What does it MATTER about details or not?"
"Because maybe some of us BESIDES Kento want to know why you went out with KIMON."
Blue narrowed. "What do you mean by THAT one Rowen?"
Hands swiftly went up in defense. "Whoa Cye...I'm just saying...I thought you two didn't get along that great? Sheesh, last time any of US knew, it was just you using her as a tutor to pass English!"
"Well that's all changed." He mumbled, looking to his plate.
"And we'd STILL like to know the details. And no offense to your new girlfriend." Kento grinned at seeing a tint to his best friend's cheeks. He eyed his partner in crime and noticed Rowen's evil look at Cye's embarrassment.
"Like what?" He finally asked, caving in. He'd be going against his kanji if he lied and said he didn't want to tell SOMEONE about his life right now with Kimon. It was going slow, but it was still really nice. She had a side to her he'd never seen before and it was highly becoming.
"Well apparently YOU made the first move, since the girl's so shy..." Ryo leaned in on the table, also wanting to know about his friend's love life. Besides Sage, Cye was the only one going out with anyone. He and the others had responsibilities and were too busy for relationships. "How did THAT go? And tell us how it's going so far."
Another blush tinted his face. This was more embarrassing than he THOUGHT. "It went...fine. She took a week to think about it and I met her at a park in Tokyo to talk. It was a little awkward, but she managed to tell me." An almost dreamy smile lit his face. "As for so far..." The smile widened as he looked away. "She's still really shy. But she does little things that she never did before. It's nice to know she's loosening up a little bit."
"What things? Elaborate buddy."
His mouth scrunched up in thought. After a while, his head shook. "There's...not really a way to describe it. You'd have to be around Kimon to notice her little quirks."
"As much as you have?"
"That's more than what I can say for YOU Rowen. I don't see YOU with a girl." He shot back, brow raising. Getting picked on was DEFINITELY not fun. Maybe he should've kept his big mouth shut. But then...Mia might've brought it up and then he'd still be here. Maybe keeping it a secret until one of them found him and Kimon together, or found out in the future period, might be even worse. He almost shuddered at THAT thought!
Rowen snorted and looked to his food. "I'm too busy with school for a girl. If I want to graduate with a four point oh like I did in high school, I need that free time for studying."
"Oh don't be so melodramatic. You don't need to study as hard as Ryo or Cye do. You're just trying to find an excuse." Sage muttered, picking up his glass.
"And how's YOUR love life going Sagey-boy?"
Sage nearly choked on his tea, turning about five shades of red at the mention of Epiphany. After a small coughing fit, glaring at Rowen the whole time, he finally regained control of his wind pipe. "That's none of your business!"
"Aww come on Halo, I'm your best friend, member?"
"Don't POKE me with a fork Rowen! You've been EATING off that!"
"Then spill. Cye spilled HIS guts about Kimon...tell us what's up with Epiphany."
"Yea Sage, how IS she doing anyway? I haven't gotten a letter from her in months. I'm curious about her college so far." Mia innocently piped up.
The blush intensified as Sage wondered how the topic got switched from Cye to himself. Why couldn't they leave him alone? Talking about Epiphany wasn't as...delicate as it used to be, but it wasn't something he wanted to rave about. That wasn't his style. "She's still in college, still going for getting Japanese down. We've cleared a few things up from the past." Violet remained riveted to his plate, that curtain of hair purposely hiding him from half the table. "It's...fine."
"Fine? That's it? Come on...fine can mean so MANY things! Tell us what happened after that KISS!"
"Rowen uresai..." Sage warned, sending a pointed look to drop it.
"WHAT? What's so bad about telling about something like THAT? It's harmless-"
"If I didn't have the looming threat of you PICKING on me for the next MONTH."
"Will you two break it up before you give me a headache? Don't make me separate you two to different rooms." A hand rubbed over Mia's face. "Sheesh...I'd have thought you'd grow OUT of this when you graduated high school!"
Ryo smirked. "Once an immature, ALWAYS an immature Mia." He kidded, getting a quick jab from Kento next to him. He yelped and batted at the hand. "Oi! I didn't mean YOU Kento!"
"Yea...but I can be even WORSE than those two at times. So you were certainly talking about me." Kento pleasantly kidded, poking his old leader again.
Mia sighed as the five started talking at once. 'So much for a QUIET weekend...' Blue slowly swept over to the corner by a side door, finding White Blaze looking at the group almost in distain from his place on the floor. Her eyes turned pleading. 'Help me boy! Come on...break up your fellow warriors!'
After a bit of continuous, playful bickering and Mia's little mental plead, the large tiger got off the floor and quietly padded over to the table. He stopped at the end, near a free spot, and vaulted his upper body onto the table. The tiger didn't even pause and started eating off of his friends' plates.
"White Blaze!" Mia nearly screeched, looking in shock. Though the others effectively shut up for a few seconds, that wasn't what she wanted!
Near pandemonium erupted after that. Mia tried to order the tiger off the table, to no use. She then insisted Ryo get his 'nuisance' off the wood before the beast broke the boards. Kento started complaining about perfectly good food getting tainted with tiger spit and started moving the center dishes out of Blaze's reach. Rowen was trying to brush off the tea that got spilt all over his shirt when the tiger shifted the tablecloth and moved everything. Sage and Cye tried to collect the rest of the dishes to keep Blaze from eating off them. The night just got ten times more commotion than it deserved.
~*~*~
The noise level was the first thing that alerted her that Mia had company. She turned around to the noise of a car driving away and grimaced. Well...so much for the possibility of leaving without Mia knowing she was here. Since Mia hadn't said anything about a normal Saturday visit, she thought it would've been nice to surprise the woman. After all, Mia always picked her up; it was only fair that SHE find a way there for once. It might've been a little late, but she was trying to get as much homework done for today and tomorrow to keep the weekend free.
Her mouth pursed in indecision as her hand hovered mere inches from the door. Should she knock? Even if Mia didn't hear with what was going on inside, White Blaze should be able to pick it up...if he was even inside. Should she?... Now it seemed like a rather stupid idea to just show up like this without calling. If she wasn't sure Mia was home by the noise, it was a possibility the woman could've been out for gods knew how long and she was stranded here.
But that meant that Mia had company as well. The continuing noise level was easy to pick out, if not some of the voices. Biting her lip and steeling herself for a quick hello/goodbye and a call for her father...she loudly knocked, hoping to get through the annoyance.
Seconds ticked by, but no one seemed to've heard. The noise, however, almost shifted and she nearly pressed an ear to the door to listen in curiosity. What was going ON in there??
"Get BACK here! If you think I'm done with you for THAT little stunt, you're out of your MIND White Blaze!"
"It's a TIGER Mia! You know he doesn't speak back to you!"
"Uresai Ryo! That doesn't mean he can't HEAR me!"
"Run boy, run for all you're worth! She's gone mad!"
"That's not FUNNY Rowen! And you shut up too! Blaze get BACK here! Where are you HEADED??"
She fought the urge to smile at Mia's put out voice. Apparently something got her pretty mad and that was one very heavy tiger! She didn't remember any Rowen, so disregarded the name. Soon, her thoughts were cast aside by a low thump against the door. Not even given time to wonder about the sound, the door was quickly thrown open.
"KIMON-CHAN?? What're YOU doing here??" Mia breathed. At least that explained Blaze's sudden departure. He must've heard Kimon knocking.
She gave a weak grin. "Konban wa... Just thought I'd...stop by to say hello and chat. I see you have company though, so I'll-" She stopped and blinked. The ocean rolled to her nose and an instant blush stained her face. "Cye-chan... Konban wa..."
He gave a small smile, feeling eyes from the others on his back. "Konban wa Kimon-chan... Nice of you to stop by at least. I'm sure Mia doesn't mind it."
"And I bet YOU don't either buddy."
"Don't POKE me Kento." He lowly growled, face flaming worse than his hair.
A brow rose at the new voice, though sort of familiar. Kimon wracked her brain as she knew she heard these voices, if not the names, somewhere before. She didn't bother to memorize voices and names of people she rarely met, but couldn't forget them. Still...the two new voices sounded familiar...
"Konban wa Kimon-san."
She blinked again. That third voice was familiar too. She knew that soft, polite voice from somewhere!
"Well come IN Kimon-chan. You five out of my doorway before we ALL catch a cold! Kimon-chan just got over one not too long ago and she doesn't need to get sick again. Blaze, out of my way but don't go too far...I'm not done lecturing you yet."
She was nearly yanked inside as the hustle shuffled into the living room. Blinking at Mia's almost stressed tone, she tried to pick her feet up to keep from tripping.
"Oh lay off Blaze, Mia. He didn't mean any harm."
"Don't defend him Ryo. I don't care if he IS your tiger, he ruined dinner!"
"Yea! All that food gone to waste!"
"Oh be quiet Kento." Ryo retorted, rolling his eyes.
She quickly placed voices and names together again, seeing as how these four were Mia's friends. At the mention of dinner, she felt bad. She gently tugged out of Mia's embrace and stopped. "Ano...gomen nasai... I didn't know you were all eating. I didn't mean to interrupt-"
A familiar hand rested on her shoulder and she blushed at such a public display. "Daijoubu Kimon-chan. As Mia said...the 'beast' ruined dinner."
"He's NOT a beast Cye. He's as intelligent as YOU are!"
"Then why did he get up on my TABLE Ryo?" Mia insisted, sending a small glare.
"Can we just take this in another room please? If we have to continue, I'm going to sit down and watch the entertainment." Sage insisted, giving the whole group an amused look.
"True, dinner theater." Rowen quietly agreed, siding up next to his good friend.
His head shook and he edged away from the bunch. "Since I didn't cause any of it, I'm going to bow out right now. If you're going to yell, I'm sure Kimon-chan doesn't need to hear it. I'll occupy her while you finish."
Sudden snickering met her ears, even though she felt like her face was on fire. Teeth bit her lip. These friends of Mia's must've been friends of Cye's as well...
"Occupy, ne? Okay Cye..."
He sent a harsh glare over at the insinuation. "URESAI. I have more morals than THAT you baka!" He hissed, gently grabbing Kimon's arm. "Iko." He quietly ordered, steering her back toward the front door.
"Don't do anything any of US wouldn't do!"
"Kento URESAI YO!" He shouted, forgetting about the more hearing-sensitive party. When they made it off the front porch and down the steps, an arm mechanically entwined to keep her from tripping as they headed around the house and to the woods. "Gomen nasai... I hope I didn't bust your eardrums."
"No...no I'll be...okay." A small, smirk sprouted in the dusk. "You just dimmed the hearing a little. I'll live."
He snorted in amusement and steered them around a few trees to the main path. "Gomen about that whole bit. It's always like that when we all get together again."
"What were you doing there? I take it those four are good friends of yours as well for you to speak to them like that."
He grinned and snuck a sideways glance. "Well I don't know about me needing to be GOOD friends with them to speak like that...but I am friends with them nonetheless."
She gave a quiet chuckle. "Don't sound so enthusiastic about it." She kidded, giving him a gentle nudge with her elbow.
He chose not to take the bait and instead let silence encompass them. It was a heavenly change of pace after being around Kento and Rowen's questions all night. THIS was why he liked being with Kimon; she knew the value of SILENCE. Though he liked his fellow ex-Ronins for their own personality traits, Kimon was the more serene side of his 'friend spectrum'.
"What're you...thinking?"
His gaze shot down to the raven girl, gaze softening a little. "How nice it is that you're quiet." He confided, getting a quiet giggle. He smiled and looked forward. "It's nice that you're so quiet. I think I'd go crazy if you were as loud as Kento."
"The one with the booming, playful voice? There were at least two like that."
He snorted again. "They can ALL be like that...except for Sage. Real loudmouths, those guys."
"Yet your voice gives you away for how much you care for them." She quietly mused, looking in his direction. A soft smile tilted her mouth.
He returned with a lopsided smile. "Hai...I do. We've been through a lot and though they drive me crazy sometimes, they're still my friends. Good, best friends at that."
She almost thoughtfully nodded and turned her head straight to catch the smells of the forest. She let Cye keep the rest of his thoughts and listened to their feet crunching over old, dead fall leaves and scuffing against dirt. After feeling they went quite a ways away, as the utter silence around them stated, a shiver stole up her back. She hadn't thought to bring a jacket with, as it wasn't this bad earlier, and she wasn't expecting a walk in the forest.
"Samusa?" He suddenly queried. Cold?
"How...how did you-"
He smiled. "You're hugging my arm a little more. Plus I felt you shaking for a minute there."
"I...I didn't think I'd be outside for so long." A small grin sprouted. "I suppose that outa teach me..."
He had no jacket either to put around her to help keep her warm. All he had was a long-sleeved shirt, and only one. There was really one thing he COULD do, and he was too nervous to try it. But...it was either let her freeze, or do it. So he took a deep breath for courage and hoped she couldn't hear his heart beat practically out of his chest. "Here." He stopped them and gently untangled her arm. "I don't want you to get sick again."
She was slowly and tentatively maneuvered against his side, an arm wrapping around her back. She tensed at this new twist, doing nothing more than holding his hand since the decision to go out. She felt a little uncomfortable, but after she felt a twinge of heat from him, she relaxed a little more and shifted to get more of it. She WAS getting pretty cold, and he was rather warm for some reason... "Arigatou." She murmured, absently resting her head against his shoulder.
With a harsh swallow, they stood like that for a few seconds before he felt a VERY timid touch across his back. As if in slow motion, and totally unsure, a hand snaked around his waist and loosely gripped his shirt. The adrenaline in his system hit an all-time high, as did his heart rate. He NEVER though Kimon would do that! But she surprised him yet again. Still...it wasn't a BAD thing...
"I...I'm not...not doing anything...wrong...am I?"
"Iie..." He softly breathed, giving a gentle smile. Though she couldn't see it, she would be able to hear it and he wanted her to know everything was fine. "Daijoubu."
She exhaled a pent up breath, feeling a little relieved. This whole dating thing was as odd...as it was nice. She was getting used to it the more time they spent together. "Yokatta..." She whispered, gently biting her lip.
The two stood there for minutes before he decided to head back. He was starting to feel cold, so he could only understand she was as well. "We should head back. The madness should be calmed down some by now."
She gave a tiny nod, and a wry grin. "Yea...Mia-chan should be finished yelling at Blaze by now."
He turned them around with a quiet laugh, hoping that as well.