A few palace officials busied themselves with the task of preparing for
their journey. Aiko had just finished breakfast. She was watching a few of
the men running about.
"They look like ants, huh?"
Aiko turned around to see Tomo. "Yeah..."
"I asked mother if I could come with you guys. It took a little time but I'm going." He smiled.
"Tomo, if you don't mind me asking, what did you say to Keone last night?"
Tomo looked out the window. "Not much...Why?"
Some shouts were heard outside. Apparently a horse had gotten away.
"I don't know...She was really cheerful this morning..."
"Now can I ask you a question?" He threw his braid over his shoulder.
"You just did." She sat on the ground. "Shoot."
"Why are you and Keone...Are you two friends or enemies?" He cocked his head to the side.
Aiko sighed. "Keone is just...Keone."
He smiled. "Yeah..."
Aiko stretched. "I'm going downstairs...I still have to get my exercise before riding on that stupid horse."
"Kay. See you later." Yuan put his head in his hands. 'Keone is just...Keone...' He frowned. Why was she so depressed last night? 'Probably some kinda' girl stuff...'
A little pitter patter was all the warning Yuan got before a small creature grasped on to his legs crying.
"Big brother!!" It was his little brother. "I don't want you to go!!"
Yuan picked up the smaller boy easily. "Don't cry otouto...It's hard enough you know...I'll be back as soon as we find all the other seishi."
The little boy clung to his shirt. "No! No! No! You can't go!"
"Aren't you supposed to be a big boy now?" The little boy looked at his brother with tear-filled eyes and nodded.
"Well, big boys have to protect their mothers you know."
"B-but...I won't have to if you're here!"
Yuan shook his head. "I'm a big boy too, but I have to protect Aiko. That's why I'm leaving."
The little boy puted. "Yuan...I don't wanna'!"
Yuan sighed. "I guess our poor mother will just have to stay here without either of her sons to protect her then."
The little boy bowed his head in thought.
"I tell you what." He gently put the boy back on the ground. "I'll bring you back a big big toy."
"Wow! Really?!" The child's eyes brightened with enthusiasm.
"But...you have to take care of mother for me, okay?"
The little boy hugged his brother again. "Deal!"
Yuan smiled. "That's my monkey!"
"I'm not a monkey!" He said indignantly.
"Then why do you have a tail?" Yuan said pointing to his behind.
"What?! Where?!" The little boy turned around in circles looking for his said tail. "You're lying Yuan!" He looked up to see his brother running down the hallway laughing.
"See ya' monkey!" Yuan waved and ran.
"I'm gonna' get you Yuan!!" The little boy ran as fast as he could after his brother.
Little did the two boys know, their mother stood not too far away smiling to herself. "Goodbye Yuan," she whispered silently before heading back to her room.
Three horses trotted along the country road.
Suboshi was walking beside his brother's horse idly humming a tune. Keone was behind everyone on her red horse. Every so often her horse would take off with her screaming. Yuan found this funny.
"Ohhh...Shut up." She groaned and pulled some twigs from her hair.
"Are you sure your name isn't Grace my dear?"
"You idiot..." She rolled her eyes.
Yuan looked around the group. "The next village is coming into view guys!" He shouted at them.
Aiko yawned. "I hate horses..."
"Why?" Amiboshi asked. He was again sharing his horse with her.
"Cause they hurt your dang ass!"
Keone burst out laughing. "Nice to know."
"Shut up Mrs. Graceful!"
Keone rolled her eyes. "You look mighty happy where you're at right now you know."
Aiko raised her eyebrow. "What are talking about?"
Keone just ignored her and turned back to the road.
Slowly a small town came into view. "Is this supposed to be where the next constellation is?" Suboshi asked his brother.
Amiboshi shrugged. "Tomo said the clue was 'wolf'."
"And this applies to here how?" Aiko questioned.
Yuan cleared his throat. "The clues were 'wolf' and 'farm'. This is the largest farm village in the country."
"Oh...That makes since...I think..."
The five teenagers unpacked their things and headed toward the hotel.
Aiko groaned. "Why do I have to stay with HER?!" Keone snorted. "Excuse me for living!" She started for the door. "Brat."
"What was that?! I KNOW you didn't Keone!" Aiko called after Keone but she had already gone down the stairs.
Suboshi cautiously peaked through the door. "There are other people in this place than us you know."
"Gee. I never woulda' guessed."
Suboshi rolled his eyes. "Whatever...This may be too much to ask but try not to make so much damned noise!" He slammed the door.
Aiko huffed. 'First Keone now yo yo boy? Great...' She silently unpacked her cds and turned on the machine.
'Aw man...it's almost out of batteries...I guess I'll just have to do without for a while...'
She fell back on her bed listening to her favorite slow song. Slowly but surely she started singing along with it as memories played through her mind. Some that she could do with out...
"I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone..."
A little girl sat in the kitchen reading a book. She was about seven. Her mother sat in front of her holding the girl's report card.
"Honey, this is horrible! How can you do this Aiko?"
Aiko looked up from her book. "Sorry. I'm not as smart as you, MOM."
Her mother stood up and harshly banged a fist on the table. "Aiko, why are you acting so horrible? Your grades have slipped, you're bad mouthing both your father and me, and now your skipping school?!" Her mother paced back and forth.
Her father stepped up. "Aiko, I think you should go to your room."
Aiko turned red with anger. "So I'm an idiot! Sue me!" She twirled around and headed out of the kitchen.
Her father grabbed her arm. "Aiko, stop this! Why can't you—"
"Why, why, why!? I'll tell you! Why can't you just leave me alone?!" The young girl ran out of the kitchen...
"These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase..."
A ten year old sat locked up in her room. A solid black dress clung to her weeping form.
"Aiko, I'm so sorry...your parents...aren't coming back."
A choke came from the girl and she hugged tighter to herself.
"M-mom...I'm so sorry...D-dad...Doushite?! Doushite?!" The girl fell into her pillow crying. As she turned over she saw a picture. A mother, father, and one little girl sat in the frame smiling at her. Rage rose in her and she swatted the frame to the ground and it shattered causing the girl to choke more tears back.
Suboshi closed the door of his room and turned to his brother. "They're at it again."
The elder had been playing his flute to pass the time. A few odds and ends were scattered over his bed. "Who? Keone and Aiko?"
Shun rolled his eyes.
"I take that as a yes." He smirked.
"Why are girls so moody?!" He fell on the bed deep in thought.
"Who are you thinking about?"
"Nothing..."
Amiboshi sighed and stood up. "I think I'm gonna' go for a walk."
Suboshi stared at the ceiling. "See ya later aniki."
The elder exited the room quickly and quietly. He was walking past the girls' room when he heard someone singing. 'I wonder if she wants to come with me....Worth a shot.'
He shrugged to himself and opened the door. "Hey, Aiko, do you want to..." He looked at the form on the bed crying. Her back was turned to him but he saw her shoulders jerk every few seconds.
A soft whimper escaped her mouth. Amiboshi reached down and cautiously tapped her on the shoulder. Aiko flinched and got up immediately. "Wh-when did you come in here?!"
"Just a second ago. You okay?" He sat down beside her.
She whipped the corner of her eyes for any remaining tears. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. "What did you come in here for?"
"I just wanted to know if you wanted to go for a walk...."
"No. I don't feel like it." She turned off the CD player and the music stopped.
"I didn't think so...Do you want to talk about it?"
Aiko looked up at him for a moment then at the door. "Could you...umm...shut the door?"
The young seishi complied and closed the door.
"I was thinking about my parents..."
Aiko sighed. "Can you remember what your parents looked like?"
He hung his head a little in thought. "N-no...Not really..."
"I wonder if you got your good looks from your mom or your dad." She smirked.
He raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing! Just speculating."
"Uh huh..."
Ambisohi looked up at her again. "What were you thinking about."
She gave him "the look". "I already told you, my parents."
"That's not what I meant. I mean why were you thinking about them?"
Aiko looked at the floor. "Well...It's just...kinda' hard to not remember it..."
Amiboshi watched her. "He put his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." He offered her a small smile.
She smiled back. "Thanks."
There was a long period of silence before Aiko stood up and looked her seishi in the eye. "I have another question." She proclaimed.
"I have an answer."
"Why do you always have that headband on?"
"The answer is ten."
She stared at him confused. "Huh?"
He laughed. "I told you I had an answer."
She lightly hit him over the head. "Don't be a smart ass!"
He put his hands over his head. "Owww! Fine!" She raised an eyebrow. "It was a present from our parents...me and Shun. I just don't take it off for anyone."
"Anyone?"
"Anyone."
"Annnyyyone?"
"Anyone..."
"Any-"
"Stop that!!" He screamed standing up to her level.
She giggled 'Gee...Temper temper...' "Why don't you take it off?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "I just don't okay?"
Aiko frowned. "Not even for me?"
"N-no! And that stuff doesn't work on me!"
She suddenly reached for it and he jumped back. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
She tilted her head. "I just wanna' see what you look like without it." She said innocently. She reached for it again.
He placed his hands over his headband protectively. "No! I don't take it off for anyone!! Not even you!"
Aiko pouted and turned around. "N-not even me?" she sounded hurt.
'Give me a break...' He went to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Suddenly, she turned around and jumped on him. He screamed and tried to push her away but when he finally got her off, she was holding his headband in her right hand. "Heh...Finders keepers!" She put the band on her own head.
"Give that back!" His face was hidden.
"Nuh uh! You're not ever getting it back!"
He stuck out his hand. "Please...Give it back?"
She shook her head. "Sorry!"
In one fluid movement Amiboshi tackled her. She screamed but they both fell on the floor in a mixed up pile of arms and legs.
Aiko turned crimson. "What the heck are you thinking?!"
Amiboshi furrowed his brow. "I was TRYING to get my headband back!
Aiko's arms shot up to it immediately. "No! It's mine now!" She smirked but it didn't last long. Amiboshi placed his lips on hers and kissed her. She turned scarlet. "Amiboshi!"
He just smiled. "It's your fault you know."
"B-but that's not fair! You're cheating!"
He gave her another quick kiss and noticed that her grip on the headband was slowly loosening.
Aiko couldn't help but gasp when she felt him trail a string of kisses down her neck. A little voice in her mind kept yelling at her to stop that she should push him off and yell at him but...she couldn't.
He stopped and looked down at her. "Can I have it back now?"
She looked at him in disbelief. "What?"
He reached out and grabbed his headband then stood up smiling. "Finders keepers you know."
Aiko turned beet red. "That was...You....You're so....Ugggh!" With that she stood up and walked out of the room huffing and murmuring incoherent phrases under her breath.
Amiboshi stood in her doorway slightly startled but then smiled as he watched her leave.
Keone stretched as she walked across the road to a small fountain. The sky was constantly getting darker. She sat down on the edge and looked in. "Thank God we finally quit walking. Ugh..." She rubbed her ankle.
"Not the athletic person I see," a mocking voice met her ears.
"Oi veh...Do you like stalking me or something?" She said standing up again.
Yuan smirked. "I told you, you're fun to annoy." He sat down on the fountain. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine and dandy now why don't you leave so I can have a peaceful five minutes alone?"
Yuan dramatically held his hand over his heart. "You wound me my lady!"
Keone cocked an eyebrow. "What's with the theatrics? And don't call me a lady. I'm not that old." She scrunched her nose up disgusted with the thought.
"As you command my kind sir."
Keone rolled her eyes but couldn't seem to hold back a few giggles. "I don't know what you're playing at but two can play at this game."
"You were asking for that one you know."
The sun was fully set. The stars were popping up in the dark sky above the town. Keone sat up and looked at the sky.
"Whatever you say, your hein-ass."
"Well that's a new one..." he mummbled.
"What? You were asking for it." She stifled a laugh at Yuan's pouting face.
"That's not very nice you know..."
Keone snorted. "Sure...you're majesty." She faked a bow.
Yuan rolled his eyes indignantly. "With an attitude like that..." He put his hand in the water. "...you need to cool off!" He grinned and splashed her hard.
Keone shrieked and fell backwards into the pond. "Ohh! You asked for it you ass hole!" She narrowed her eyes and pulled him in as well. Yuan's eyes widened as fell face first into the pond. Keone laughed so hard, she thought her lungs would explode.
"You weren't supposed to pull me in!" He growled pouncing on her.
She laughed harder and pushed him back. "All's fair in love and war Yuan!"
Yuan finally pinned her hands behind her head and laughed triumphantly. "Ha! Now you're not getting away." He grinned evily at her.
Keone turned crimson. 'Oh shit...I can't move...' She thought struggling under him. Yuan noticed her fear and leaned closer so he could whisper in her ear, "All's fair in love and war Keone."
She sighed. "Fine...Now can you get off?"
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Keone, you have to apologize for pulling me in."
Keone looked away and snorted. "Fat chance bub..."
Yuan faked a pout. "If you don't, I'll..." He trailed off.
Keone looked up at him. He had an evil glint in his eyes and...something else...She rolled her eyes. "I'm not apologizing so you can just forget that."
"Just so you know, you brought this on yourself."
"I brought what--!!" Her eyes widened as she felt his lips press hard against hers, but she didn't move. It was like time had stopped. He tilted her head so that he could deepen the kiss.
'She's not pulling away...'
'Wh-what's he doing?!'
A memory sudenly surface in her mind. She nervously tried to push him off. "No! Get off me!" She screamed finally freeing herself from him.
Yuan grabbed her wrist. "Wait, Keone, I'm sorry!" Keone could feel tears in her eyes. She struggled to get out of his grip.
"I'm not letting this happen again!" She said finally freeing her hand and turning on her heels.
Yuan blinked confused. 'Again...?' His eyes widened. 'Is that why she was crying at the palace?!' He snapped his head in the direction she had headed. "Keone! Keone come back!" He said running after her as fast as he could.
Oh my God guys! I'm soooooo incredibly sorry! Good news is that for the long wait you guys suffered through I made honors on my grades! 0p I wouldn't have ever a' made that without the long hiatus...
I'm back now though, so don't worry. 6 I'm back for the summer!
Til' next time,
Amanda
"They look like ants, huh?"
Aiko turned around to see Tomo. "Yeah..."
"I asked mother if I could come with you guys. It took a little time but I'm going." He smiled.
"Tomo, if you don't mind me asking, what did you say to Keone last night?"
Tomo looked out the window. "Not much...Why?"
Some shouts were heard outside. Apparently a horse had gotten away.
"I don't know...She was really cheerful this morning..."
"Now can I ask you a question?" He threw his braid over his shoulder.
"You just did." She sat on the ground. "Shoot."
"Why are you and Keone...Are you two friends or enemies?" He cocked his head to the side.
Aiko sighed. "Keone is just...Keone."
He smiled. "Yeah..."
Aiko stretched. "I'm going downstairs...I still have to get my exercise before riding on that stupid horse."
"Kay. See you later." Yuan put his head in his hands. 'Keone is just...Keone...' He frowned. Why was she so depressed last night? 'Probably some kinda' girl stuff...'
A little pitter patter was all the warning Yuan got before a small creature grasped on to his legs crying.
"Big brother!!" It was his little brother. "I don't want you to go!!"
Yuan picked up the smaller boy easily. "Don't cry otouto...It's hard enough you know...I'll be back as soon as we find all the other seishi."
The little boy clung to his shirt. "No! No! No! You can't go!"
"Aren't you supposed to be a big boy now?" The little boy looked at his brother with tear-filled eyes and nodded.
"Well, big boys have to protect their mothers you know."
"B-but...I won't have to if you're here!"
Yuan shook his head. "I'm a big boy too, but I have to protect Aiko. That's why I'm leaving."
The little boy puted. "Yuan...I don't wanna'!"
Yuan sighed. "I guess our poor mother will just have to stay here without either of her sons to protect her then."
The little boy bowed his head in thought.
"I tell you what." He gently put the boy back on the ground. "I'll bring you back a big big toy."
"Wow! Really?!" The child's eyes brightened with enthusiasm.
"But...you have to take care of mother for me, okay?"
The little boy hugged his brother again. "Deal!"
Yuan smiled. "That's my monkey!"
"I'm not a monkey!" He said indignantly.
"Then why do you have a tail?" Yuan said pointing to his behind.
"What?! Where?!" The little boy turned around in circles looking for his said tail. "You're lying Yuan!" He looked up to see his brother running down the hallway laughing.
"See ya' monkey!" Yuan waved and ran.
"I'm gonna' get you Yuan!!" The little boy ran as fast as he could after his brother.
Little did the two boys know, their mother stood not too far away smiling to herself. "Goodbye Yuan," she whispered silently before heading back to her room.
Three horses trotted along the country road.
Suboshi was walking beside his brother's horse idly humming a tune. Keone was behind everyone on her red horse. Every so often her horse would take off with her screaming. Yuan found this funny.
"Ohhh...Shut up." She groaned and pulled some twigs from her hair.
"Are you sure your name isn't Grace my dear?"
"You idiot..." She rolled her eyes.
Yuan looked around the group. "The next village is coming into view guys!" He shouted at them.
Aiko yawned. "I hate horses..."
"Why?" Amiboshi asked. He was again sharing his horse with her.
"Cause they hurt your dang ass!"
Keone burst out laughing. "Nice to know."
"Shut up Mrs. Graceful!"
Keone rolled her eyes. "You look mighty happy where you're at right now you know."
Aiko raised her eyebrow. "What are talking about?"
Keone just ignored her and turned back to the road.
Slowly a small town came into view. "Is this supposed to be where the next constellation is?" Suboshi asked his brother.
Amiboshi shrugged. "Tomo said the clue was 'wolf'."
"And this applies to here how?" Aiko questioned.
Yuan cleared his throat. "The clues were 'wolf' and 'farm'. This is the largest farm village in the country."
"Oh...That makes since...I think..."
The five teenagers unpacked their things and headed toward the hotel.
Aiko groaned. "Why do I have to stay with HER?!" Keone snorted. "Excuse me for living!" She started for the door. "Brat."
"What was that?! I KNOW you didn't Keone!" Aiko called after Keone but she had already gone down the stairs.
Suboshi cautiously peaked through the door. "There are other people in this place than us you know."
"Gee. I never woulda' guessed."
Suboshi rolled his eyes. "Whatever...This may be too much to ask but try not to make so much damned noise!" He slammed the door.
Aiko huffed. 'First Keone now yo yo boy? Great...' She silently unpacked her cds and turned on the machine.
'Aw man...it's almost out of batteries...I guess I'll just have to do without for a while...'
She fell back on her bed listening to her favorite slow song. Slowly but surely she started singing along with it as memories played through her mind. Some that she could do with out...
"I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone..."
A little girl sat in the kitchen reading a book. She was about seven. Her mother sat in front of her holding the girl's report card.
"Honey, this is horrible! How can you do this Aiko?"
Aiko looked up from her book. "Sorry. I'm not as smart as you, MOM."
Her mother stood up and harshly banged a fist on the table. "Aiko, why are you acting so horrible? Your grades have slipped, you're bad mouthing both your father and me, and now your skipping school?!" Her mother paced back and forth.
Her father stepped up. "Aiko, I think you should go to your room."
Aiko turned red with anger. "So I'm an idiot! Sue me!" She twirled around and headed out of the kitchen.
Her father grabbed her arm. "Aiko, stop this! Why can't you—"
"Why, why, why!? I'll tell you! Why can't you just leave me alone?!" The young girl ran out of the kitchen...
"These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase..."
A ten year old sat locked up in her room. A solid black dress clung to her weeping form.
"Aiko, I'm so sorry...your parents...aren't coming back."
A choke came from the girl and she hugged tighter to herself.
"M-mom...I'm so sorry...D-dad...Doushite?! Doushite?!" The girl fell into her pillow crying. As she turned over she saw a picture. A mother, father, and one little girl sat in the frame smiling at her. Rage rose in her and she swatted the frame to the ground and it shattered causing the girl to choke more tears back.
Suboshi closed the door of his room and turned to his brother. "They're at it again."
The elder had been playing his flute to pass the time. A few odds and ends were scattered over his bed. "Who? Keone and Aiko?"
Shun rolled his eyes.
"I take that as a yes." He smirked.
"Why are girls so moody?!" He fell on the bed deep in thought.
"Who are you thinking about?"
"Nothing..."
Amiboshi sighed and stood up. "I think I'm gonna' go for a walk."
Suboshi stared at the ceiling. "See ya later aniki."
The elder exited the room quickly and quietly. He was walking past the girls' room when he heard someone singing. 'I wonder if she wants to come with me....Worth a shot.'
He shrugged to himself and opened the door. "Hey, Aiko, do you want to..." He looked at the form on the bed crying. Her back was turned to him but he saw her shoulders jerk every few seconds.
A soft whimper escaped her mouth. Amiboshi reached down and cautiously tapped her on the shoulder. Aiko flinched and got up immediately. "Wh-when did you come in here?!"
"Just a second ago. You okay?" He sat down beside her.
She whipped the corner of her eyes for any remaining tears. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded. "What did you come in here for?"
"I just wanted to know if you wanted to go for a walk...."
"No. I don't feel like it." She turned off the CD player and the music stopped.
"I didn't think so...Do you want to talk about it?"
Aiko looked up at him for a moment then at the door. "Could you...umm...shut the door?"
The young seishi complied and closed the door.
"I was thinking about my parents..."
Aiko sighed. "Can you remember what your parents looked like?"
He hung his head a little in thought. "N-no...Not really..."
"I wonder if you got your good looks from your mom or your dad." She smirked.
He raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing! Just speculating."
"Uh huh..."
Ambisohi looked up at her again. "What were you thinking about."
She gave him "the look". "I already told you, my parents."
"That's not what I meant. I mean why were you thinking about them?"
Aiko looked at the floor. "Well...It's just...kinda' hard to not remember it..."
Amiboshi watched her. "He put his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." He offered her a small smile.
She smiled back. "Thanks."
There was a long period of silence before Aiko stood up and looked her seishi in the eye. "I have another question." She proclaimed.
"I have an answer."
"Why do you always have that headband on?"
"The answer is ten."
She stared at him confused. "Huh?"
He laughed. "I told you I had an answer."
She lightly hit him over the head. "Don't be a smart ass!"
He put his hands over his head. "Owww! Fine!" She raised an eyebrow. "It was a present from our parents...me and Shun. I just don't take it off for anyone."
"Anyone?"
"Anyone."
"Annnyyyone?"
"Anyone..."
"Any-"
"Stop that!!" He screamed standing up to her level.
She giggled 'Gee...Temper temper...' "Why don't you take it off?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "I just don't okay?"
Aiko frowned. "Not even for me?"
"N-no! And that stuff doesn't work on me!"
She suddenly reached for it and he jumped back. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
She tilted her head. "I just wanna' see what you look like without it." She said innocently. She reached for it again.
He placed his hands over his headband protectively. "No! I don't take it off for anyone!! Not even you!"
Aiko pouted and turned around. "N-not even me?" she sounded hurt.
'Give me a break...' He went to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Suddenly, she turned around and jumped on him. He screamed and tried to push her away but when he finally got her off, she was holding his headband in her right hand. "Heh...Finders keepers!" She put the band on her own head.
"Give that back!" His face was hidden.
"Nuh uh! You're not ever getting it back!"
He stuck out his hand. "Please...Give it back?"
She shook her head. "Sorry!"
In one fluid movement Amiboshi tackled her. She screamed but they both fell on the floor in a mixed up pile of arms and legs.
Aiko turned crimson. "What the heck are you thinking?!"
Amiboshi furrowed his brow. "I was TRYING to get my headband back!
Aiko's arms shot up to it immediately. "No! It's mine now!" She smirked but it didn't last long. Amiboshi placed his lips on hers and kissed her. She turned scarlet. "Amiboshi!"
He just smiled. "It's your fault you know."
"B-but that's not fair! You're cheating!"
He gave her another quick kiss and noticed that her grip on the headband was slowly loosening.
Aiko couldn't help but gasp when she felt him trail a string of kisses down her neck. A little voice in her mind kept yelling at her to stop that she should push him off and yell at him but...she couldn't.
He stopped and looked down at her. "Can I have it back now?"
She looked at him in disbelief. "What?"
He reached out and grabbed his headband then stood up smiling. "Finders keepers you know."
Aiko turned beet red. "That was...You....You're so....Ugggh!" With that she stood up and walked out of the room huffing and murmuring incoherent phrases under her breath.
Amiboshi stood in her doorway slightly startled but then smiled as he watched her leave.
Keone stretched as she walked across the road to a small fountain. The sky was constantly getting darker. She sat down on the edge and looked in. "Thank God we finally quit walking. Ugh..." She rubbed her ankle.
"Not the athletic person I see," a mocking voice met her ears.
"Oi veh...Do you like stalking me or something?" She said standing up again.
Yuan smirked. "I told you, you're fun to annoy." He sat down on the fountain. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine and dandy now why don't you leave so I can have a peaceful five minutes alone?"
Yuan dramatically held his hand over his heart. "You wound me my lady!"
Keone cocked an eyebrow. "What's with the theatrics? And don't call me a lady. I'm not that old." She scrunched her nose up disgusted with the thought.
"As you command my kind sir."
Keone rolled her eyes but couldn't seem to hold back a few giggles. "I don't know what you're playing at but two can play at this game."
"You were asking for that one you know."
The sun was fully set. The stars were popping up in the dark sky above the town. Keone sat up and looked at the sky.
"Whatever you say, your hein-ass."
"Well that's a new one..." he mummbled.
"What? You were asking for it." She stifled a laugh at Yuan's pouting face.
"That's not very nice you know..."
Keone snorted. "Sure...you're majesty." She faked a bow.
Yuan rolled his eyes indignantly. "With an attitude like that..." He put his hand in the water. "...you need to cool off!" He grinned and splashed her hard.
Keone shrieked and fell backwards into the pond. "Ohh! You asked for it you ass hole!" She narrowed her eyes and pulled him in as well. Yuan's eyes widened as fell face first into the pond. Keone laughed so hard, she thought her lungs would explode.
"You weren't supposed to pull me in!" He growled pouncing on her.
She laughed harder and pushed him back. "All's fair in love and war Yuan!"
Yuan finally pinned her hands behind her head and laughed triumphantly. "Ha! Now you're not getting away." He grinned evily at her.
Keone turned crimson. 'Oh shit...I can't move...' She thought struggling under him. Yuan noticed her fear and leaned closer so he could whisper in her ear, "All's fair in love and war Keone."
She sighed. "Fine...Now can you get off?"
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Keone, you have to apologize for pulling me in."
Keone looked away and snorted. "Fat chance bub..."
Yuan faked a pout. "If you don't, I'll..." He trailed off.
Keone looked up at him. He had an evil glint in his eyes and...something else...She rolled her eyes. "I'm not apologizing so you can just forget that."
"Just so you know, you brought this on yourself."
"I brought what--!!" Her eyes widened as she felt his lips press hard against hers, but she didn't move. It was like time had stopped. He tilted her head so that he could deepen the kiss.
'She's not pulling away...'
'Wh-what's he doing?!'
A memory sudenly surface in her mind. She nervously tried to push him off. "No! Get off me!" She screamed finally freeing herself from him.
Yuan grabbed her wrist. "Wait, Keone, I'm sorry!" Keone could feel tears in her eyes. She struggled to get out of his grip.
"I'm not letting this happen again!" She said finally freeing her hand and turning on her heels.
Yuan blinked confused. 'Again...?' His eyes widened. 'Is that why she was crying at the palace?!' He snapped his head in the direction she had headed. "Keone! Keone come back!" He said running after her as fast as he could.
Oh my God guys! I'm soooooo incredibly sorry! Good news is that for the long wait you guys suffered through I made honors on my grades! 0p I wouldn't have ever a' made that without the long hiatus...
I'm back now though, so don't worry. 6 I'm back for the summer!
Til' next time,
Amanda