Chapter 16: The Forbidden
Everyone was shocked into silence. The Huntsmaster got up quickly, half-shocked and half-impressed. He struggled to regain his composure.
"You see, boys and girls, that if you allow your guard to be down for even a nanosecond, it can end in your downfall. Of course, I was just demonstrating…advanced," he mumbled. Jake rolled his eyes, though he himself was catching his breath.
"Now, let me introduce your partner, Thorn." A girl in a ninja uniform, with brilliant blue eyes and a long blonde braid, entered the room. She surveyed the new-comers with indifference, until she saw Jake. Her eyes widened a bit in shock, but she kept her silence.
"Parents, I assure you that you may leave. I will send the trainees home at dusk." All the adults left the room, including Scott and Aunt Patchouli. "Young Hunters, your first official training will be tomorrow at 6:00 sharp. I will let you get acquainted." The Huntsmaster turned and walked out of the room. Everyone was dead quiet until his footsteps faded completely. Then Rose walked over to Jake and pulled him aside. The other Hunters conversed shyly in the center of the room.
"What the hell are you doing here!" Rose whispered with alarm.
"Lucky me, the Huntsmaster wants me to be a Huntsboy!" Jake exclaimed quietly.
"Well…what did your Grampa say?" Rose concluded.
"He wants me to be here!" Jake burst, then added in a voice barely audible, "as a spy." Rose glanced at the others, who were staring at them.
"Let's go somewhere else," she declared, opening one of the numerous side doors in the room. It revealed a small room that held several Huntssticks and uniforms. Rose turned to look at him.
"Jake, this is not a good idea. The Huntsmaster will discover you, and then what will you do? The only thing he hates more than dragons are traitors, believe me…" Rose urged as she pulled her mask off.
"Don't worry Rose, I can handle them. All I have to do is remember not to go dragon." Jake feigned confidence.
"Please, Jake, once you enter this there is no turning back. Get yourself out of this before it's too late," Rose said in a pleading tone. Worry was etched across her face, her cerulean eyes filled with remorse. Jake felt a sudden stab of pain in his stomach for her. She was as trapped as he was.
"You don't really want to do this, do you?" Jake replied softly. She averted her gaze to the crude cement floor, giving a half-hearted shrug.
"Honestly, I never have…" Rose admitted. Jake took a step towards her, and lifted her chin gently. It had been a two months since the Grand Equinox Hunt, and Jake was now one inch taller than Rose. They stared at each other for a moment, the silence closing in around them. They both closed their eyes and leant in, excited and nervous. Finally they met, in one perfect kiss. It was the kiss that was never meant to be, the forbidden love that should have remained forbidden. They were enemies, opposites, Dragon and Dragon Slayer, but they were something else. They were in love.
They broke apart after a few minutes, breathless and blushing.
"Well, um, we should get back out there…" Rose said, scarlet-faced.
"Yeah," Jake agreed, as pink as her. Rose walked over to the entrance and opened the door. They walked out to find the Huntsmaster talking to the boy and girl in the corner. He turned when he heard them and, noticing their faces, kept in a secret smile.
"Huntsgirl, Huntsboy, come here," he demanded authoritatively. Still blissful from their kiss, Jake complied. They walked across the room silently, and as they did so, Rose remembered to dawn her mask once more.
"It's near sun-down, and I will let you go early, but remember; 6:00 sharp." He declared dismissively. Taking this as a hint, the four teenagers walked out of the room.
"Bye," Jake whispered as he hurried out of the building. Thorn managed a small wave as the boy scurried down the street. Once he was out of sight, she grinned. Tonight had been the best night of her life.
A/N: Okay all you Jake/Rose shippers, did I do a good job? It was my first kiss scene, so go easy on me. I just couldn't help but add some fluff…REVIEW or I'll stop writing! No I won't, but plz review.