Thanks for all the constructive reviews everyone. It really affecting the
way I write this. It really inspires me, so thank you all!
---------------------------------Chapter 12 Stars, dreams, love---------------------------------

"So your father isn't home eh?" GuiZhang observed as he entered the complex.

"No, he should be in later, probably around 2:00 am maybe."

The room wasn't well lit, that changed when Joy hit the light. Revealing a
massive living room area. Which included a guest table, leather couch, large
television, among other luxuries. It looked like place where someone live
comfortably. GuiZhang looked at the rug, it was a satin color, and possessed
a rectangular as well as diamond design; strecthing the length of the large
space. The walls were painted a plain purple texture; nothing special about
it. Although, a number of paintings surrounded the wall, most of unimportant or
imaginary figures. Such as the one of an ordinary horse, sipping water from
a lake. The brass frame which it was in was the only thing interesting about
it.

"Sit" Joy instructed.

GuiZhang sat down on the couch and put his hands over his face in exhaustion.
Mostly from traveling, but a great deal from his sparring match with Xuiying
Hong. An amazing fighter in his opinion, he would check back with her when he
could; to see how well he had progressed, or how much she regressed.

I doubt that though...

"Guizhang do you want anything to drink?"

"No, I'd rather not."

It was the truth, he was more tired than anything. He just wanted to be left alone
so he could regain his energy through respiration.

"Ah, you're no fun."

Even though she said GuiZhang was her big bro. Joy was quite attracted to GuiZhang.
He was the strong silent type, carrying himself with a respectable demeanor. Joy
seem like the wild girl type, but truthfully she was a hopeless romantic. Most
women are like that, at least at heart.

"Joy, what did you think of Ryo?"

Her eyes lit up at the sound of his name.

"Oh Hazuki Ryo!?" She said excited

GuiZhang could see that she was very pleased about the subject.

"Yep"

"Well, he is very handsome and intelligent. Much like you GuiZhang."

She blushed a little when she said this.

"Is that so?"

GuiZhang replied some what flattered by the comments.

"Yes, but he does act to quickly on things. He so caught up in his agenda
he doesn't know when a girl is hitting on him."

"That's where we are different." GuiZhang nodded agreeing with her.

"Oh?"

Just as she said that, Joy sat on GuiZhang's lap, smiling as she did so.

"Joy..!?"

Obviously she had taken the comments the wrong way...

"What? You never had a girl sit on your lap?"

GuiZhang didn't know what to say, did he? Nope, not that he remembered. Being a Martial
Artist and personal bodyguard of his father. He had little time for distractions
such as this.

"Its not that..Its"

She cut him off.

"What!? You consider me a sister?"

That was partly true, but his sister didn't make him feel the way he felt now.
His pulse was beating faster than before... He hadn't felt this way before, it
was new to him. Fine, if she wanted him to open up, he would.

"Joy, I we knew each other for a long time. Since we were young. I use to protect
you from the little things and sometimes the big ones. As much as I try to mask
us with the 'sister, brother' thing, I can't deny.."

He stopped.
"GuiZhang..." She said softly.
They both looked each other in the eyes. Both not knowing what would happen next, the
unknown being the only torment of the occasion. Joy begin to move closer towards
his face, her eyes closed.

Closer..

The moon glanced through the window just as their lips touched; passionately they
kissed...

And the night went on...
-------------
Again night had befallen the Guilin region. The stars brilliantly lit the sky, showing they were
what really made the sky beautiful. Without them, the sky would be barren, dark, secluded. Only
the occasional moon showing to keep it company. Like its companions, the moon would be nothing
without the stars, they needed each other.

Like Shenhua and Ryo did...

They both were looking up at the stars, admiring their beauty. Ryo felt warm inside, like he was
complete when she was near. He felt he betrayed Nozomi, it ate at him day and night. But he
was fallen for Shenhua, though he didn't know anyway of showing it.

"No.." He thought.. "I can't be distracted..I have to"

Ryo ate those words, he didn't mean them. Could he find love? Even though the journey's main
mission was to find answers, and revenge. Wasn't it possible that this was suppose to be. It
felt so right, yet it felt so wrong.

Nozomi..

Nozomi, one of his closes friends. No, he considered her more than that. She was more than just
a friend. That day in the park, he found her sobbing uncontrollably. Right, then and there, Nozomi
poured her heart out, telling Ryo she had deep feelings for him. He felt terrible because he was
unable tell her how he really felt. Now, she had moved on, to Canada. Ryo would never see her
as much as he use too, when he went back to Japan.

"If I didn't go to China, perhaps she wouldn't have went to Canada.."

Sorry Nozomi..

Shenhua looked to Ryo and noticed a deep concern on his face.

"Ryo?"

"Uh, Shenhua yes?" He said responding somewhat off balance by the sudden startle.

"What is bothering you?" She said concerned.

"Its not important." Ryo said turning his head.

Shenhua smiled, because she knew he was dodging the question or hiding something. So she persisted
to ask again.

"Ryo, I know you are hiding something, please, we have to trust each other."

Those words hit Ryo hard, because she was right. If they were to do this together, there had to
be a high level up trust between the two. That meant he couldn't keep secrets like this from her.

"Fine, Shenhua.."

He paused for a moment. What would he say? She was so innocent, and naive. Finally, without
contemplating further, he spoke again.

"I was thinking about Nozomi, remember the girl from Japan I told you about?"

Shenhua smiled turned to a foreboding frown. She felt a shot to a heart..

"Why was he thinking of her?" She thought. "Maybe he really loves her.."

Ryo noticed the change in expression on her, and immediately tried to explain.

"No, Shenhua, not like that. I was thinking about how I felt about her. I deeply cared for her,
but it wasn't more than friendship. Fate split us apart, and now.."

Ryo stopped, and stared in space, was he really saying these words? It didn't sound like him..

Shenhua still was in a melancholy state..

"Now? What now Ryo?" She said hoping for some kind of warmth..

"I...I have you..and that is all that matters."

Silence..

Tears of joy begin streaming down Shenhua's cheeks. She couldn't believe what just was beckoned
from Ryo's lips. Did he really mean that...

Was she all that mattered...?"

Ryo wiped away the tears, smiling as he did so. He meant what he said, even though he had no idea
why he opened up so much. Maybe he was changing...

"Look at that star."

Ryo pointed to the one he thought was a good comparsion to Shenhua.

"It reminds me of the way you smile" He said, smiling as said those words.

Shenhua face lit up with joy and excitement.

"Like the stars?"

"Yeah, but you're the brightest of them all."

-----

Well, hoped you liked the chapter. I'm not that good at romantic type writing, so
bare with me, and give me a break. =)