Hot Water

Pathfinder

Chapter Two: Truth or Dare

(Cye)

My comrades and I sat in a circle to play the "game of doom" the world knows as truth or dare. It would be Sage's turn first; he eyed me making me rather nervous.

Is he going to start with me? I thought.

"Cye, truth or dare?" He asked answering my question.

Knowing he had something planed to make me turn at least three shades of red, I had to be careful. "Truth."

Sage grinned signifying that truth was what he had wanted me to pick. "What was the most embarrassing moment of your life?"

First shade of red, "well, when I was in Britain, for the exchange program, I attended a private boys and girls school, I had just gotten my armor and had had to put it on that morning, as some tin heads had come looking for me. I hadn't dress that morning and under my sub-armor it was a pair of black boxers with red lips on them," Second shade of red, "I was outside the school when I realized I was still wearing my sub-armor, so I dismissed it not noticing what I was wearing. I had walked up the stairs before I noticed a slight breeze and about a hundred and fifty of my class mates laughing at me." My friends all laughed at me as I felt my face turn the last indefinite shade of red.

"Okay Cye, it's your turn." Sage said now tearing from laughing so hard.

Hmm, should I seek my vengeance on him? I thought, What would be the truth or dare I should do, I could make Sage embarrass himself, but that would give him free range on me right after, and he was second best at this game... No, I had to pick some one who would be easy to embarrass and came up with both sucky truths and dares. Some one like…

"Ryo, truth or dare?"

My love looked up at me curiously as he thought over which one to pick. On the one hand truth could make him confess anything, on the other hand, dare could make him do something, or it could also bring about a confession pending on which way you played it. Eyeing me once more he made his choice. "Dare."

My friends make "ooh" sounds around me as they all knew I was the "master" of the game. I rubbed my hands together thinking of the wonderful things that I could do to him; the total control of it all was very intriguing. While I thought about the things I could make Ryo do, the others waited with the tension of a frat house pledge-boy waiting to find out who gets to sin first.

I thought a moment more, then, "it" hit me. I grinned. "You're done for." I said being rather cocky.

"Oh am I?" He said trying to not sound slightly nervous.

"Yep, I dare you to strip down to you're underwear, paint yourself bright pink, and run down the coast out front into Cleo's yard while singing "I'm a little tea pot" and like I said earlier, your done for."

He paled, taking in short half breaths while our friends began laughing around us, Kento running off to get what was left of the can of paint Mia had use to paint her bed room.

"Y, you… must be…" He started.

"Kidding? No, you know I play this game for keeps." I said.

He nodded faintly. "Okay then, I'll do it..." He said, sounding rather unsure of himself if you asked me.

After striping down to a white pair of briefs, and being painted the most flattering shade of pink, we all went out side and sat on the porch to watch him. The sun was setting and the paint made him blend in to the skies just perfectly.

Ryo gave one last desperate look to us, whimpered and started running down the beach singing; all of us, roaring with laughter.

Cleo stepped out on to her deck just in time to see the "pink blurr" streak by on his way back. She stood there a moment, in her light blue tang top and dark blue shorts, wondering what the hell it was she had just seen. I laughed as she threw her hands up in the air and went back inside.

I only wish I could have been closer to see the look on her face.

Ryo came back to the house, half out of breath from singing and running. "You," he said looking up at me, "are so dead!"

"Oh sh-" I didn't manage to finish that word. I jumped off the porch as I realized, the pink paint on him, was still wet, and nothing was I about to turn me pink! I booked it for the water and dove in clothing and all.

Under there was where I was safe. Ryo's element being fire, he could not follow very far. I remember all too clearly the last time him and I were in the water, it was right after I had been sent to the torrents where my armor had been powered. It was under that water, when I first realized I had fallen in love with him. I felt my sub armor fit me as I lost myself in the memories...

'I was sleeping, well, sort of sleeping, in a state of meditation... then I felt it, and my kanji lit up... he's in trouble... my leader... I thought... how can I save him?

Faith... that was it, I must have faith, in myself and in my friends. I had felt a strong force near me as my eyes flashed open. I knew there was trouble instantly and called my powers forcing away the evil. Then I had seen him, Ryo laying unconscious on the sea floor.

"Ryo..." I had looked at him, "oh...hold on mate." I had carried him and jumped out of the water on to the bridge above. I had looked at him and then it hit me... I love you Ryo of the Wildfire.

"RYO!" Yuli was coming over to see what had happened.

During my fight with Sehkment I had the worst time trying to focus. I kept gazing backwards to see if Ryo was alright; that had cost me the fight. I was down for the moment and just as Sehkment was about to get me, Ryo had stepped in and then we fought together, as one.'

I looked around me, I was still under water and the sun was now down. I came up and took a deep breath. I was well far out in the sea and now I was...

"No, don't even think that..." I told myself nervously, "I don't get lost..."

Then again, there was that trip to America for a celebration called Mardi Gras, and we were about four hours late. Then there was the trip to... Hey! Why am I thinking about these things? That's Ryo's job! Then again, it was Kento who gave Ryo the map in the first place.

I looked up to the cloudy sky above me, it was starting to rain and I was getting worried. Well, it could be worse, it could be a- I stopped hearing thunder. My heart raced and I started swimming to ANY shore as long as I wasn't in the water during the larger part of the storm. My element being water, getting hit would be the worst thing that could happen to me.

I decided that it would be safer if I was in big armor. "Armor of the Torrent, Dao SHIN!" I felt my armor fit around me as and my mask come down so I could travel faster under water.

I was moving very fast through the water when it hit. I closed my eyes; my body tensing. I saw an explosion of blue and white in my mind as I touched the shore. My mind swam as every thing went black.

Images flashed around me. I saw what looked like a white shadow moving towards me. I tried to remember the face, Kazuo?

I saw the familiar face of my former lover smile at me. I could hear a voice calling me from what sounded like miles away. I felt tears run down my cheeks as Kazuo started vanishing.

"No... Kazuo... come back..."

"Cye?" I felt hands on my shoulders "Please, speak to me."

My eyes rolled open and I gazed around panicking; trying desperately to sit up; the arms on my shoulders trying to hold me down.

"Cye? Calm down." The voice said to me.

Things around me started making a little more sense. I looked at the hand on my shoulder, and followed the arm up to the face. "Ry, ry. . ."

"Shhh. save your strength." Ryo said to me.

I put my arms around him and he held me close. "wha," My voice felt like I hadn't spoken in a week, almost like I had forgotten to speak. I coughed and cleared my throat trying to get it back. "What 'appened?" I spoke in a broken voice.

"You were struck by lightning love." Ryo touched my face and looked into my eyes. "You should rest; I want you to get better."

"I'm fine." I said in my screwed up, sick sounding voice. I stared into his beautiful blue eyes; I lent into him and kissed his lips softly.

I stared at him, he was blushing lightly, and he shook his head. "You could kiss me a hundred times, and I still wouldn't let you get out of bed until you're healed." Ryo opened his eyes to stare into mine again.

Damn, I thought it would work . . .

Well, guys you wanted the next part and here it is!

Well, let's see what you guys said about the first part.

To mo, thank you for thinking its cute, can't do much about the echoing in your head though. I'm not sure if there is going to be a sequal to this yet, let me finish this story first, one step at a time.

To Robyin Gurl, Thank you for reading my story after your lack of reading fanfiction for a while. Hope you keep reading.

To Maria Stars, I'll be sure to keep up the good work.

To the LoverOfSilverHairedBishies, Thank you for thinking it was realistic and fitting to the characters. I tried to make it believible.

To Duran of Folsena, you wanted more and here it is. - Enjoy it.

And to Wildefyre, yes it is a shame that gay couples have to hide and sneak around. And I hope it does open some eyes, I'm sure the ending of the story will be a REAL eye opener-eh, if I ever get around to writing it. I'm a Sage/Rowen fan to, but I also like Sage/Kento thanks to Bender. Like I said before, I don't know if I'm writing a sequal, let me finish this one first.

To all of you, Thanks for reading!