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Finding my way to you

Chapter Twenty-one:

By: czee

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Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Those were the only three words running in Xiaoyu's head. And that's what she thinks she is. Stupid.

"Stupid…that's what I am. So stupid. I shouldn't have done it. I shouldn't have asked him that. Why did I open my big mouth? Now we're both on edge and… and… I might not even see him again once we get to Kyoto. He'll avoid me like I'm the plague." Xiaoyu stopped her pacing and stared at the pond outside of the inn.

"I… don't look bad right? I look… decent at the least." She bit her lip concentrating on her reflection, batting her eyes a bit. After a moment, she brightened.

"That can't be the reason!" She laughed,

"I'm the prettiest girl in Kyoto!" The expression fell once more though.

"Wait a minute. So if it's not the way I look then what is it? That means it's got to be my personality!" She thought about this for another few seconds then her eyes widened.

"He thinks I'm a kid!" Xiaoyu gave a grimace.

"Ooh, Kazama Jin, you are a dead man! I AM NOT A KID!" She flung one of her blades at a tree, astonished to see that the blade was imbedded deep into the bark. Her brooding mood returned when she realized that she couldn't pull them free. Xiaoyu paced for a few minutes before being stopped by a hand in front of her. She stared at the hand of Kazama Jin, her source of anger who happened to have pulled her blade out. She snatched the blade away from Jin, embarrassed, but sure as hell not going to show it.

"This should have been embedded in your forehead." She growled under her breath. Apparently, he hadn't heard it.

"Xiao, it's going to be an icy night. You should get inside." Xiaoyu grumbled and stowed away her precious blades.

"I am staying right where I am, thank you very much." She told him defiantly, more for the sake of telling him no than anything else.

"Xiao…" he began, but she turned her fiercest look on him.

"I am not a child! I can take care of myself!" Jin sighed.

"Fine. I'll be inside then." Xiaoyu watched him leave and smiled in a way that would have frightened more than one mad if he'd seen it. Her blade thudded into the fence satisfyingly, and she pulled them out easily since there wasn't much wood. The owner of the inn would probably shriek once she sees the condition of her fence, but then again, they'd paid more than enough for the room. The snow started soon, a remnant of the winter that has yet to pass. But, even though she shivered, the girl refused to go in. He could come out and ask if he wanted her in there.

He did, the logical part of her brain reminded her. Xiaoyu pointedly told it to shut up.

She continued to practice although her skills were far past anything that could be improved by hitting still targets. By the time night fell, the Chinese was in a blizzard, but was still stubbornly refusing to go in. When she stopped, the heat that came from her work evaporated and her teeth chattered.

"Ugh. Fine Jinny. You win this time, but only because I want to go in. It has nothing to do with you!" She blinked when she realized she couldn't see the inn. It wasn't a real inconvenience, since the fence was there, but a lot of helpless heroines would scream. She was definitely not going to do that.

Xiaoyu put out her hand to feel the fence to her right and slowly made her way along it. She winced as she realized that she could no longer feel her feet, for the snow had melted right into the loose undergarment that she wore with her open sandals. The girl gulped when her left arm too went numb. She felt for the fingers with her other hand, and sighed in relief as she realized it was still there. Another involuntary shiver wracked her body, but she continued walking by the fence. When her right hand went cold, she gripped the fence hard enough to feel a dull pain. It helped a little.

When she reached the door of the place, she nearly fell over, but caught herself. No one was left in the common room. It spoke much of how late it was. Xiaoyu felt a brief surge of panic. Was he worrying about her up there? It had obviously been a while. No… no, he probably was asleep already. Her eyesight blurred a bit as she reached the stairs and stumbled up them slowly. Which room was hers again?

"Xiao!" the voice reached her ears, and she was grateful to hear it although she most certainly wouldn't have been only a little while ago. Jin caught her as she stumbled again. She shivered and clung to the warmth he gave.

"You're freezing! I told you not to stay out there!" She blinked blearily and cracked a smile.

"No one tells me what to do Jinny. You should know that." He rubbed at her skin, trying to get it to warm, and pulled her inside the room. Xiaoyu was dimly aware of a heavy blanket on top of her that would probably have been nice normally, but seemed so lacking in this situation. Her body was wracked with a terrible shivering and she knew that it had been outside too, although less noticeable.

"That was so stupid of you…" he was murmuring. She noticed a severe frown on his face and wondered at it, as one does notice the small things when in a lurid state. She blinked.

"You're not smiling…" She told him.

"Of course I'm not. You look terrible Xiao!" She was feeling more tired by the moment, but before she drifted off the sleep, she heard him say clearly in a panic stricken voice,

"You can't sleep yet Xiao! I can't… I'm not taking your wet clothes off myself!" she managed a small laugh before sleep claimed her.

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She woke up feeling very warm, very happy and very… constricted. Xiaoyu tried to wriggle free but the seemingly abundant energy she felt he had before was used up very quickly trying to do something simply impossible while she was still very weak. She opened her eyes and would have jumped if she could have. Jin's face was very close to hers and she was wrapped in his arms so tightly that she could barely even twitch an arm.

Suddenly remembering his last comment in panic, she looked down.

And sighed in relief as she saw that she was wearing one of the inn's yukatas. Tied sloppily, mind you. But that only indicates that he had not been looking when he did it. Xiaoyu chuckled and moved closer feeling content with the world and the turn it had taken. She moved her head into the niche of his chest and sighed happily. He woke with a start and she nearly swore at him. Jin's stuttering could be heard but she stubbornly stayed where she was wanting to be there as long as she could before he thought to get up.

"It-it's not what it looks like Xiao. I can explain!" She poked him in the chest, irritated, and pulled the covers back up.

"I'm tired Jinny. Shut up." He gulped, for once caught without his mask up, and obliged for once. It felt food to get the better of him.

"For some reason, I don't want to move just yet." She whispered. Apparently, that made him decide that he should get up.

"Jinny!" she complained. The extra warmth left. He tucked the blanket around her, his smile back on.

"You should at least stay, seeing as it's your fault." Did she just say it's his fault!

"My fault?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You're the one who decided that Chinese can take on a storm with a blade." She frowned crossly at him, wishing she had the strength to throttle him.

"Yes! Your damn fault! I stayed because you told me not to!" In fact, she was feeling more and more like she had the energy to kill him. Yes, that was it. She pulled herself up, getting to her feet. The surprised look on his face was almost worth it. Xiaoyu made it to standing by herself before giving a squeak and slipping backwards. Once again, he caught her.

"I swear you almost defeated the blizzard too." He chuckled.

"We'll be out of here in another day at this rate. Are you sure you're not related to Hwoarang-san in some way?" Xiaoyu made a face.

"I don't have hair that sticks up right? I'm just a tough lady." For a moment, the closeness existed between them again before he cut it off by getting back up and running a hand through his hair.

"You were looking pretty bad Xiaoyu. Don't do that again for kami's sake." The said girl felt terribly guilty at his expression but then she remembered why she'd been out there again.

"Why do you care?" she snapped. He turned to look at her with a sad smile.

"Whatever else happens Xiao, we'll always be friends." She narrowed her eyes. He didn't notice it quickly enough. Xiaoyu put her arms around his shoulders with a predatory smile.

"No one tells me what to do!" she told him briskly.

And the next thing he knew was her lips fiercely pressed against his. As she pulled away, she told him in a no-nonsense tone,

"That, Jinny, is over a week late!"

Tsuzukeru…

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Authors Nonsense: ducks flying items Wahahahaha. You're going to have to forgive me for not having updated earlier. School started sometime last June and it's eaten my life. It just… spit it out for today. Lol. But fairly, okay chapter. Yes? Yes? I want to see how you all react to this. Hahaha. Ending next chapter. Wooooot :D Or maybe not? We'll see what school would allow me to make. :3 I'll try to write the next chapter as soon as I can. :)

Shout outs to:Thee Slushee, Poke His Bloomers, Lil' TommygirlTheWishOfNightskipster-chicstella, SakurAsAsamiyAxjmasterpotty, starnightdreams, and InfinitiveEvil101. Thanks a lot you guys. You keep me writing. :D You guys rock my socks and rule my shoes! :D

Till the next chapter. :)

-bows-

-czee-