Chapter Five: Two Hearts Reunited

The next thing Tiger could remember was being outside the Wind Fish's shell. He looked around, and stood up. The sword was gone, the shield, which he never even used, was missing as well. All that was left was the crystal ball. He looked deep within it, hoping to find some sort of special spell that could help him cure Marin, or even his future. Alas, it was the old croan again, but this time she wasn't as pissy, plus she had one more thing for Tiger to do.

"Well," the witch said, "it seems like you've proven yourself worthy of the girl you care for. I figured as much, lousy teenage hormones...Anyways, all you need to do is go to the Dream Shrine and administer the waking solution to her. It is in a bottle beside her bed."

"Well, that sounds easy enough." Tiger replied.

"One more thing, it can't be given directly. Only by another can it be taken from. That means, pour it in your hand and pour it into her mouth, somehting sanitary like that. By I already know what you're going to do, so why am I still talking? GO GET HER, BOY!"

And with that, the crystal ball shattered, and teleported Tiger right outside the Dream Shrine.

"Strange old woman..."

He walked inside, and saw Marin laying there, still as peaceful as ever. Tiger sat down beside her, and brushed the hair from her face. He grabbed the bottle from the intable nearby, and read the instructions, with here what the croan talked about in a nutshell. He opened the bottle, and thought of how to administer. He looked at the sleeping beauty infront of him, and smiled a little.

"Dammit, I wish I hadn't have been read those friggin' fairy tales in elementary..." He said to himself as he applied to solution to his lips. He leaned over to her and closed his eyes. 'God, please don't fail me now...' He thought to himself as his gently pressed his lips to hers. He only held the kiss for a second or two before breaking it, looking down at the young woman, praying this stuff worked, because if it didn't, the old croan will be picking broomstick out of her teeth for a few weeks.

To Tiger's surprise, Marin began to stir a little. Pretty soon, she opened her eyes and woke up. She looked around, wondering where she was. She then turned and saw Tiger there, and completely burst into tears without saying one word. Tiger leaned over and wrapped his arm around her, holding her close.

"Tiger...Please forgive me..." Marin cried into his sleeve.

Tiger just smiled and held onto her tighter. "Don't worry Marin, I'm not mad at you...a little beat up, but otherwise not mad at you."

With that, they both walked into the night, to the cottage, and both fell to sleep. However, for the first time since he arrived, Tiger fell to sleep without struggle...

Marin awoke to find Tiger had gone already. It didn't surprise her, seeing as it was almost noon as it was. She got out of bed, got dressed, and went out to look for the young man. However, it proved to be a more difficult task than previously expected. She asked everyone, they had no idea where he went. She began to worry, before a child said that he saw Tiger walk down to the beach. Marin froze in her tracks, thinking, 'This can not be...can it?' She walked down the path to the beach, just in case her theory was right.

Making her was through the path and the sand, she came to the crash site. No raft, no Tiger. She sighed and closed her eyes, a tear streaming down. As she opened them again, she found a note from Tiger written in the sand. It read:

"Marin,

I am not here at the crash site. Go farther east to meet me.

...Yeah."

Marin took the advice and began to walk east, soon finding herself at her personal Secret place. She looked around and finally saw Tiger, his back turned to her, facing the ocean. He made not a move, made not a sound, made not a sense of acknowledgement for her existance. Marin became concerned, and began to walk forward. Before she could saw something, Tiger cut her off, almost exactly like he did in the dream.

"Marin, I though you'd still be asleep. Go back to the village, I'll be there shortly. He said to her.

Marin had other plans. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close to her. Tiger then put his arms around her waist, and they both just held each other as the waves crashed onto the shore. They didn't move, didn't make a sound, just listened to nature and the sounds of each others' heart beats. It was like Heaven for the two, they never wanted to let go, it seemed like this was all that was to happen, anyways.

Never underestimate destiny though...

Marin let go slightly and looked deep into Tiger's eyes, and Tiger into hers. They gazed into the enigma of each other, becoming lost. Before they knew it, they were leaning closer and closer towards each other, their eyes closing slowly. Hearts racing, brains over-loading, time seemingly standing still for the two as they leaned into each other. It was like a scene from a move or fairy tale, except the knight in shining armor was just a jackass-in-a-tin-can. Their hands found each other's cheeks, their bodies pressing each other, until finally it happens...

...Their lips meet in a moment of true love igniting.

They stay there all day just holding each other talking, and the occasional kiss...just like Marin's dream. It was paradise, except for the part of it not being night, but hey, nothing works out perfectly. Anywho, as the sun began to set over the horizon, Tiger and Marin both stood as the shore, holding hands as the sun faded from view. They turned to each other, their lips soon finding each other oncemore. Afterwards, they barely moved away from one another.

"I love you..." Marin whispered into Tiger's ear.

"I love you too." Tiger replied.

They turned around, and went to the cottage, but instead of being in two seperate areas, they both slept in the same bed. Naturally, no hankie-pankie happened, they just threw off their shoes, cuddled in bed, and fell asleep in each others' arms...