11th June, Wednesday- Chapter has been combed through to remove errors. :)

5th June, Thursday- Story ending (the stuff under the ---***--- divider) has

been edited. The original chapter 8 will become chapter 9. I've got an idea! ;)

~~~

Love and Lust

Part 7- Saying Goodbye

~~~

Ikki slowly blinked his eyes half open. For a while he lay there staring at the

roof of a green tent contemplating what had happened.

He sat up and found himself looking at a familiar face.

"Sleep well?" Belmont was smiling at him as if nothing had happened.

"Er.." Ikki blinked again and noticed he was shirtless. Belmont didn't have his

red shirt on either. "Where am I...What happened? And where are your- my

clothes?"

"Well...Erika had knocked you out. After you fell into the river, Erika and I

swam in and helped you out. Now we're in my tent, at the camp and our clothes

are hanging out to dry. With this weather they'll be okay to wear in a few

minutes."

"oh...thanks."

There was a moment of silence and both of them felt nervous and slightly

uncomfortable. Belmont looked away, thoughts of what just happened was starting

to make him blush. He turned away to leave.

"Wait."

Belmont wavered for a moment at the entrance and then turned round.

"Anything...you need?"

"I- I just want to say...sorry..."

Ikki had more to say. The unspoken question wavered in his mind.

Belmont and Ikki's gaze met and they held eye contact. Even before the words

were about to tumble from Ikki's mouth, Belmont read the expression on the other

boy's face and took action.

Ikki was slightly startled when Belmont came towards him and softly placed a

finger on his lips, silencing him. He looked up at the handsome boy crouching

down before him. Both eyes held a sad or painful emotion.

"Please...don't say it." Belmont began, shaking his head slowly. They both knew

what Ikki would ask. "I'm sorry Ikki. But no. Nothing between us could happen."

Then Belmont said three words that made Ikki understand.

"I love Erika."

Ikki nodded gravely. He got the message. Belmont lowered his hand but his eyes

were fixed on the badly masked hurt expression on Ikki's face. He tried to hide

it by turning away.

Then, as if some force were acting on him, Belmont moved closer and Ikki turned

until their noses almost touched.

"I'm sorry..."

Ikki didn't reply but half closed his eyes. His hands slid up to Belmont's

shoulders.

...They were about to kiss...

...but there came a hiatus as Ikki's heart beat faster and a bead of sweat

trickled down the side of his face.

They were fully conscious of the significance of a kiss between them.

Then Belmont did something Ikki didn't expect.

He took Ikki by the shoulders and pressed a small kiss to his forehead. When he

was done, Ikki opened his eyes and was smiling.

"Don't be sorry." He said, "But...what was that-?"

"A goodbye kiss... Ikki, you'll find someone special for you some day. You just

have to wait."

Ikki nodded. Suddenly they smiled at each other and were friends again. Every

strand of tension between them faded away.

Now Ikki was smiling the way he always used to. The old Ikki was coming back and

Belmont preferred it that way. He got up to get out the tent and fetch Ikki's

clothes.

---***---

The tent door flapped open and outside, Koji, Metabee, Erika and the Screws

turned round to face Belmont. They were all reluctant to let him go alone in the

tent with Ikki but he had insisted.

"So, how is he?" Koji asked.

"He's going to be fine. I can tell." The tone in Belmont's voice was so positive

and genuine, it reassured them all. The group smiled a little, feeling relieved.

From then on, it was decided that the Screws and Metabee would take Ikki home

and spend the rest of the day with him to keep a close eye on how he was going.

Karin and everybody else would go on the trip. The rest of the day promised to

be a little more normal.

However, as Belmont took down Ikki's clothes from the washing line, he noticed a

small, darkened figure sitting on the rocks some distance away from everyone

else.

[Erika.]

With her back facing Belmont, she looked over at him over her shoulder. Her head

was down and she was tightly hugging her knees to her chest. From the look of

her eyes, she was clearly upset.

For a moment their gazes locked before Erika got up and half ran into the woods

almost crying.

"Erika." Belmont nearly exclaimed. He was about to run after her but stopped and

looked down at Ikki's clothes in his hands.

"Go after her." Koji said, taking the fabric from his arms. Belmont blinked at

him but Koji urged him on. "Go on. She needs you now. I'll give these to Ikki."

With that, Belmont nodded and ran into the forest to where Erika would be.

~~~

End...but STILL not the end of the story.

There's another 2 chapters more at least.

The new chapter 8 (that I've just decided to write on the 5th June) is for

Erika+Belmont fans.

Chapter 9 is kinda for both Ikki+Erika and Belmont+Erika fans. No hints of

yaoi in both of them parts!

I just need 5 more reviews from you wonderful people ;)

(plus about 3 days, I'll try to get this chapter out in the weekend. Either the

7th or 8th of June (heh...^___^) ).

Evil Ikki: You're so demanding...