Chapter Three
THE NEXT MORNING
Keomae had stayed up all night because she knew if anything happened she have to defend Kai just he did for her. She stood up and stretched, she looked down at the ground way below her. She didn't see anything but something made her worry. She didn't know what but she knew something did. She stepped back and went to the other side. She saw a pond not too far away; she decided to get some water for Kai. She slid down the rope and started walking towards the pond.
She reached it in no time. She knelt down and cupped her hands and put them in the water. She took a drink then looked around. Someone had been there before, there was littler all over the place. Keomae found a bucket so she filled it with water then headed back to Kai.
She tied the bucket to the vine then climbed the tree. She pulled the bucket up where they were and set it beside Kai. She tore another piece from her glove and dipped it in the water. She put the tip of it in Kai's mouth and let it drip into it. She wasn't sure if he had drunken it or not but either way she dipped it back in the water again then set if perfectly on Kai's forehead. She nodded at a job well done then sat down and leaned against the tree.
She closed her eyes and thought for a bit then she heard something in the branches above her. She stood up and looked up into the tree. There were two wide green eyes staring down at her. She wasn't sure if it was dangerous or not. She cooed softly to it and made little clicking noises hoping to make it her friend not her enemy. It didn't look so scared anymore so Keomae held out her hands and said, "Hey come on little fellow. I won't hurt you." The thing made a little sound then started jumping from branch to branch down to her.
It landed on the branch above her and Keomae gasped, it was so cute. He had large green eyes; it was covered in black fur. It had pointy ears and little white paws. It had a long bushy tail and made a little mewing sound. "You're so cute! You're adorable!" Keomae said at last. The thing mewed happily and jumped down onto her shoulder. Keomae smiled, "Well hello there. You are friendly aren't you? Hey I have an idea, why don't you spend some time with me? You see my friend down there is hurt and I have no one to talk to or help me. Would you like to stay with me?"
It mewed happily again and rubbed against Keomae's neck. Keomae laughed, "I'll take that as a yes. You're gonna need a name though, how bout Teeco?" It jumped up and down mewing again and again. Keomae smiled, "Alright. You're name is Teeco, I'm Keomae. I bet we're gonna be best friends."
She played with Teeco until dusk when she finally noticed that Kai was getting better. "Kai? His breathing is coming back to normal. Maybe he'll wake up soon! I hope so, oh Kai please wake up." She said softly as she knelt beside him with Teeco on her shoulder. She ruffled Kai's hair a little then lay down beside him and stroked his head. Teeco sat on his chest and mewed softly. She yawned and wanted to go to sleep but she vowed she'd stay up just in case something was to happen. Teeco slept on Kai while Keomae kept a watchful eye out for danger all though the night.
3 DAYS LATER
Keomae had played with Teeco and took care of Kai for three days when Kai finally started to move a bit more. Keomae was sitting next to Kai holding the wet cloth to his forehead. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and tied her hair back. He suddenly moaned a little and his eyelids twitched. Keomae gasped, "Kai?" Kai's eyes fluttered open, he looked around and once he saw Keomae he let his eyes stay there. "Keo…Keomae?" He muttered. Keomae smiled, she felt tears form in her eyes.
He tried to sit up but he was having trouble so Keomae helped him. "Oh Kai. I thought you were dead. I'm so thankful you're alive!" She cried hugging him. He sighed and let her hug him, as she hugged him her hair fell out of her pony tail and her hair tie fell to the ground. She pulled away and looked at him. "Thank you for saving me Kai. I'm not sure why you almost gave your life for me but I'm glad you're okay." She said sweetly.
He blushed a little and said, "I did it because I didn't want you to get hurt. I never want to see you in pain. That's why. I should be thanking you too. I probably would've died if you hadn't wrapped up my wounds and stopped the bleeding. So uh thanks." Keomae had to fight the tears back with all her might, she was so happy.
"So how long was I out?" He asked. "About four or five days." Keomae replied. Kai looked at her closely then said, "You never went to sleep at all while I was out did you?" Keomae sweat dropped then smiled, "You caught me. No I never did. If anything would've happened while we were asleep it would've been my fault so I stayed up."
Kai suddenly leaned forward and embraced her. "Ka…Kai?" She asked blushing bright red. "I'm so glad that bird didn't get you Keomae." He said softly. Keomae closed her eyes and laid her head on his shoulder, "Oh Kai. You're so sweet. I'm so glad you're back." He sighed and pulled back but kept a hold of her hand, "You know. I'd do that again and again if it meant keeping you alive." Keomae smiled and looked flushed, "Kai…"
They both started moving closer to each other but right when they were only about an inch away a black furry ball fell between them making them back up. "What the?" Kai asked. Keomae didn't look happy either; she was so close to getting the kiss she's always wanted from him. Kai glared at the little guy making it jump onto Keomae's head. "What is that thing?" He asked then he added under his breath, "And why did it have to fall right then?"
Keomae smiled, "He's name is Teeco. He's been helping me while you we out." She replied. Kai looked at her and thought, 'we were so close. I almost got to kiss her. Wait, I shouldn't want to. I…I can't. It would ruin everything, but I like her. Oh what am I supposed to do?' Teeco mewed happily hearing his name then jumped onto a branch started jumping higher and higher. Keomae sighed then stood up. "You think you can stand?" Keomae asked. He nodded, "I think so."
She held out her hand and he grabbed it. She helped him up then she led him over to the tree trunk so he could lean up against it. "Can I get you anything?" Keomae asked while Kai kept a strong hold of her hand. "You're doing everything for me right now. Just by being near me." He replied weakly. Keomae blushed and said, "Kai…you know. We should start on our journey again, we're so close." Kai nodded, "You're right. Let's go."
Kai held onto Keomae tightly as they slid down the vine with Teeco on Keomae's head. They landed gracefully then Keomae let go of the vine and Kai let go of Keomae. "We'd better try a different way to the mountains." He said. Keomae nodded, "We could go around it?" She suggested. He smiled, "Yeah, that might just work. It'll take a little longer but we should be safer that way." Keomae laughed, "Yes. I don't think I want to meet up with that phoenix again."
Kai smiled at her and laughed too. They started walking around the field when Teeco jumped from Keomae's head to Kai's. "What is he doing here?" He asked. Keomae took him off his head and replied, "He was alone, and he needs someone to be with. Plus he likes us. He may come in use for us later." Kai grunted then crossed his arms over his chest and continued on.
Keomae smiled at his back then frowned realizing why he didn't like Teeco, 'He doesn't like Teeco because he ruined his chance at kissing me. I wanted to too Kai. If only Teeco would've falling in on us later. Oh well.' Keomae thought. She smiled then walked next to him and leaned over then kissed his cheek. He blushed bright red and looked over at her in surprise. She smiled and winked at him then walked faster so she was in the led. He shook his head and smiled at her back and followed her.
After awhile Keomae laughed, "You know what Kai?" "Hm?" He said. "When you first woke up and said my name, that was the first time you've ever said it." Kai thought about it and realized she was right. He smiled and chuckled, "You're right. Hey don't take it as if I don't like your name or anything, I really do like it. I just never really got used to saying it. Your name is really pretty and it perfectly suites you. I sorry if you took it the wrong way." Keomae turned to him and smiled, "No its nothing like that I just think its funny that you've never said it until now." He nodded and smiled at her. She turned back around and started walking again. Kai shook his head and followed her once again.
AT ANCIENT CITY
Hilary paced back and forth in the large living room. Ray and Mystel sat on a couch, Daichi and Kenny were eating, and Max was reading a newspaper. "Huh! Where could he be? He about a week late! Something's wrong, Kai's never late!" Hilary muttered. Max chuckled, "Hey listen up, it says here, 'Princess Keomae has been missing for about two weeks now and there is no sign of where she might be. Sir Tyson is conducting a huge search in hopes of bringing his beloved back. If anyone has any clues on where she might be or if they've seen her please contact either the King himself or Sir Tyson. That is all.' How cheesy is that?"
Ray nodded, "That is pretty lame. I bet Tyson thought of all that himself. He's so dumb; if he were so good he would have come here and found her already. Maybe it isn't such a bad thing that she's gone missing if Tyson is this worried about her." Hilary stomped loudly making everyone look at her, "How can you guys talk about her when Kai is late, he's the one missing. You all should be worried for him, I am."
Mystel shook his head, "We are worried about him it's just there's probably something that stopped him or something is probably keeping him away for so long. There is a bunch of predators out there. He's probably on his way here now, we don't want to think that something bad has happened to him so we just don't talk about him, that's why we keep talking about other things, not because we're not worried but because we are worried." Hilary sighed, "You're right Mystel, I guess I was just letting this get to my head, you're probably right on the mark, he's probably fine." 'I hope, he'd better had kept the princess safe too or he will be in danger.' She thought.
BACK TO KAI AND KEOMAE
The sun was beginning to set so Keomae had decided they'd make camp up in a tall pine tree. Keomae leaned back against the tree trunk and looked up at the sky, "Tonight is beautiful." She muttered. Kai sat across from her and smiled while looking at her, "True but it's not as beautiful as you though." Keomae looked at him then turned away blushing a dark red. Kai also blushed slightly then closed his eyes remembering when she had kissed his cheek earlier that day; he blushed even redder remembering that.
Keomae noticed and asked, "What?" Kai opened his eyes and saw her looking at him, "Uh nothing just remembering something." He said turning away from her. Keomae shook her head and crawled over next to him in the darkness. She scooted up close to him and laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Kai blushed madly and looked down at her, he smirked then closed his eyes and let his head droop low. They soon fell asleep to Teeco's soothing mewing high above them in the tree.
Hilary pet the crow's head and said, "Now Darkness I need you to go now. Find Kai, if he's in danger I'll go and get him. As soon as you find him hit the red button and snap a shot at him then hurry back. Go." The crow beat his wings and flew off into the night. Hilary sighed, she didn't like Kai, and she had a crush on Tyson not him.
But she was still worried about him even if he was really okay. She wasn't really the jealous type but she didn't want her friend to lose his loyalty to a princess that was much prettier than her and has Tyson's heart. She scowled then sat down and waited for her pet to return.
Darkness flew long and fast searching high and low for Kai. He was flying over the field when he saw a flash of red. He stopped and fluttered in the air. The red flashed by again but this time it turned and fly next to him. It was a phoenix, not the great phoenix but a baby one. Darkness cawed to it asking if he had seen someone dressed in gray and traveled with a girl dressed in white. The phoenix made a low cooing sound saying he hadn't seen anyone like that but his mom had.
Darkness nodded and flew away searching once again for Kai. He soon found him, with the help of the phoenix, up in a tall pine tree. He landed in a branch right above and across from them and snapped the picture. He lifted his wings ready to fly off when suddenly a black furry thing landed on his head. He cawed out in alarm and started spinning trying to throw the attacker off of him.
It bit him in the neck detaching the collar holding onto the camera. It fell on the branch next to the sleeping couple. Darkness was furious now; he started beating his wings making him rise in the air. The black fur ball jumped off just in time as the crow took off in a hurry towards his home. Teeco mewed happily then jumped down and laid down on Kai's lap and slept there.
Darkness landed on the windowsill and cawed. Hilary hurried over to him and asked, "Did you get it?" She tilted his head back and gasped, her camera was gone. "What! Where did it go? Did you loose it? What happened?" She questioned. Darkness let his head droop, he knew she couldn't understand him so he didn't even try.
Hilary started pacing, "All that for nothing, something happened and I must know what." She muttered. Darkness turned around and spread out his wings. Hilary nodded to him then went and sat down on her bed thinking while Darkness flew off into the night.