A/N I know, I'm getting behind on te chapters. I've been getting so stressed out with graduating and everyone's tearing my hide about what I'm majoring in (music education, but i want to write before long).

A favor, please? If anyone notices any plot holes or things of that sort, please point it out to me.

As always, I appreciate your reviews so much!. Thanks to Karigilmore, SunRise19, Pichooi, and Em. You guys rock!

xxx

"Ow..." Hadiya's head was aching terribly. She wriggled around a bit to find that she was laid out on a pile of soft leaves. She groaned again when she saw Flinchy sitting next to her, his face turned away from her.

"You need to be quiet." he said, his head turning minutely so he could glance at her. "You're not supposed to be awake."

"What's going on?" she asked. Reaching out, she touched his shoulder lightly and he turned to face her. He smiled weakly and gingerly touched a finger to his bruised eye. "What happened to you?" she asked.

"I didn't want to do it, Hadiya. I really didn't." he sadly shook his head, hoping that she wouldn't go into a panic or anything.

"Do what?"

"Sneak up on you like that...I didn't hurt you too much, did I?" she rubbed her eyes wearily and offered a smile.

"No, I'm okay. But, Flinchy why did you do it?"

He turned away from her again. "You're not going to be happy about it."

"I've got enough to be angry about, I think the least you can do is tell me why I've been kidnapped. Please?"

"It was my grandfather...Pazu." Hadiya's surprise made itself evident in the way she cried out and backed away from him.

"That-that THING is related to you?"

"Be quiet Hadiya!"

"I don't think so!" she leaped to her feet and paced around him, peering into the dark jungle and trying to find her bearings in the unfamiliar place. He wrapped his arms around her to keep her from runnning away.

"Please be quiet! I don't know how close he is!" she struggled against him, eventually becoming still and sniffling.

"Why is he doing this to me?" she muttered out loud. Flinchy released her and sat her down on a stone.

"It's a long story..."

"I want it short." he shrugged with a sigh.

"If you say so..." He sighed and glanced around them, making sure that they were really alone. "Okay, don't say you're sorry, because I've been hearing it my whole life and it gets old...my parents both died when I was little, back when we were in the old tunnels. I've lived mostly with my grandfather, since I don't really have other family." Hadiya already felt bad for him. He noticed and frowned at her.

"Don't Hadiya. I didn't know them, so it's not that bad."

"But you've gone you're entire life without them!"

"I know...are you going to let me finish?" she nodded silently and he paused before continuing. "I didn't always stay with Grandpa...at first I lived with an aunt and uncle. They were pretty young so they weren't exactly experts on child care, my aunt loved me, my uncle took after Pazu. But we were happy..." he trailed off, unsure of whether he should go on. Hadiya squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"If it's too much..."

He shook his head, pushing her away and moving to pace around the small clearing. "Not long after I went to live with them my aunt found out that she was expecting. Naturally I was a little worried about that, and that's when Grandpa came to me. I remember him saying that they'd be too busy to take care of me, that I wouldn't matter so much anymore." He growled, an angry scowl crossing his features." I should have known better, but I was afraid that he would be right. So I went to live with him. I don't remember how long it was, but my aunt's pups came soon after. Only one made it..." he stopped and turned to look at her seriously.

"What?" he sat next to her, taking her hands into his own.

"Hadiya, that was you." He grinned as she sat gaping at him. "You're my cousin!"

"Y-you're kidding."

"What?" he cried, insulted. "Why on earth would I kid about something like this? I'd have told you sooner, but I didn't realize it until I heard the rumors!"

"Rumors? You mean this morning?"

"Yes! I recognized your mother's name." She was glared at him, and his smile faded in his confusion. "What, you're not happy about it?"

"Oh yes, I'm happy about it...but I'm not happy that you pretty much turned on me today!" she threw his hands fom hers, standing to head back into the jungle.

Flinchy gave a cry and grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Would you let me explain?" she hunched her shoulders and crossed her arms huffily. "The truth is...I was kind of upset when I realized who you were. You see, Hadiya, I...uh...I really...liked you."

She straightened and looked at him in surprise. "You did?"

"Yeah, but since we're related that's so wrong." They both made a face at the thought. "That was a little awkward, wasn't?"

"Very. Let's never speak of it again."

"Agreed"

They fell silent, both becoming dimly aware of the sound of movement nearby and Hadiya drew closer to Flinchy. After a moment Pazu seemed to materialize from the darkness. He paused to sneer at them.

"You're not supposed to be awake yet." Hadiya tensed, yearning to pounce on him. "I told Max to watch out for you. Pity he wasn't going to listen. On your feet." He gestured to them. Flinchy stood, pulling his reluctant cousin up with him.

"What are you doing?" he asked, Pazu merely smiled.

"We're going on a trip."