Chapter Four
THE NEXT MORNING
Keomae woke up early; she sat up straight and yawned slightly. She looked over at the man next to her and smiled, she was kind of surprised that he hadn't made her move but then again he did like her. She noticed Teeco sleeping on his chest; she smiled then looked up at the sky. She stood up and tip toed away from the sleeping duo and stood on the very edge of the branch and looked out into the forest.
Kai woke up with a startled expression on his face. He looked over at his shoulder and saw nothing. He yawned and thought, 'I could've sworn Keomae was sleeping on my shoulder last night. Maybe she just got up before me.' He looked around and saw Keomae standing on the very last tip of the branch. He was a little worried but he was more concerned about the black furry thing sleeping on his chest. He poked it a few times before it finally woke up.
Teeco yawned then started making an angry barking sound at him. Keomae ran back to them only to find them staring each other down. She started laughing making Kai look up at her and Teeco run over to her and jump onto her shoulder, "What's so funny?" Kai demanded sitting up.
Keomae gained control then looked at him, "Sorry but seeing you two in a staring contest is one of the funniest things I've ever seen." Kai hmphed then Keomae yawned, "Well, at least we made it through the night without any interruptions." Kai blushed remembering that Keomae had been sleeping on his shoulder all night long.
Keomae giggled then noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She looked down at the floor and saw a black camera attached to a collar. She bent down and picked it up and looked at it. "What is it?" Kai asked. Keomae gasped, "It's a camera, I just went through the pictures and look what I found." She handed him the camera. He flipped through the pictures blushing every now and then seeing that they were all pictures of them sleeping together.
"Someone must have been spying on us." Keomae cried. Kai nodded, "You're probably right but then why is it here and not with whoever it was that was spying on us?" Teeco jumped up and down while growling at the camera. Keomae grabbed him and held him in front of her face, "What's wrong Teeco? Huh? What the-" She held him with one hand then used her other hand to gently open Teeco's mouth.
Although he struggled a lot she still managed to see the little black pieces around some of his teeth. "Teeco!" Keomae cried happily. She hugged him close and laughed. Kai looked confused then asked, "Why are you so happy?" Keomae stopped and looked down at him, "Because, whoever it was that was spying on us was stopped by Teeco. He chewed through the collar making it fall off. He really did come in handy." She smiled then hugged Teeco once more.
Kai was shocked, he just thought of Teeco as a little pest but now he wasn't so sure. "Well, I guess I owe you an apology." He said to Teeco who jumped out of Keomae's grasp and onto Kai's shoulder. Kai smirked, "I'm sorry. Thanks for your help." Keomae leaned back against the trunk of the tree and watched then while smiling, she was so happy that they finally liked each other.
Kai noticed her watching them so he set Teeco down on the ground and walked over to her, "Hey. Are you alright?" He asked. Keomae looked up and him and leaned forward just enough so her head was next to his ear, "Thank you." She whispered then she kissed his cheek and walked over to the other side of the tree and started to climb down it. He stood there in shock; he wasn't expecting her to kiss him again. He turned around and watched her disappear from view. He smiled then followed her down the tree with Teeco at his side.
Keomae looked around, she had no idea where to go from here. Kai jumped down beside her and put an arm around her shoulders and said, "You are the strangest girl I have ever met. I never know what is gonna happen with you." Keomae smiled then looked up at him. He looked ahead of them and pointed with his other hand, "That's the way. But I have to say, it should only take one more day and one more night sleeping in the woods so…" "So let's go." Keomae finished for him.
She pulled away from him then he gasped, "Uh wait." He said. Keomae turned to face him, "Yeah, what?" Kai bit his lip, he wasn't sure if he could betray his friends or not. The question was, his friends or Keomae. "I uh…never mind. It's nothing." He said finally. Keomae nodded then started walking forward. Kai scowled and growled, 'Ugh! How could I have hesitated like that? I'm so stupid, now she's going to be killed all because I can't betray my friends. This is just perfect!' His mind screamed.
They walked in silence until a huge explosion made them both jump. "What? What was that?" Keomae asked. Kai pointed to a light above the trees, "Someone has set the forest on fire! We have to hurry and get to some water or we're toast" Keomae nodded then he grabbed her hand in his and started running as fast as he could.
Teeco ran in the lead, he could smell water from anywhere with his keen nose. He spun around then started mewing and jumping up and down. "I think he's found some water. Follow him." Keomae ordered. Kai nodded then sprinted after the fur ball into the depths of the woods.
Smack the general holding the flamethrower looked stunned. Tyson growled loudly at him holding his hand in the air ready to hit him again. "What…what was that for?" The general demanded. "Listen here Lee. I make the rules around here and they should never be broken. But you had the nerve to break them. What were you thinking, setting the woods on fire when Keomae could be in there? You could kill her by doing this then we'd never get her back!" Tyson replied angrily.
Lee turned away from him and said, "I was just following orders from his majesty. He told me I could do anything as long as I brought his daughter back to him. So I thought that maybe if we set the forest on fire that she'd run out of the woods so we could catch her and bring her back." "Or she could just be waiting for the flames to reach her so she can die! You are so dumb! Wait until the king hears that you killed his daughter, he'll have your head!" Tyson yelled.
Lee stepped back then looked towards the fire and sighed, "I doubt she's dead. She's smarter than that. She wouldn't just sit and wait for the flames to reach here, she probably is just trying to outrun them. Look, how bout we make everyone get water and pour it over the flames that way your precious girlfriend won't be harmed." Tyson stopped growling then muttered to himself, "She's not my girlfriend." Lee didn't hear it but he went and made everyone put the flames out.
Kai ran straight into the water with Keomae in hand. He swam out into the middle of the small pond and held Keomae against him tightly so they both wouldn't get hypothermia. Keomae huddled closer to him and shivered slightly. "Don't worry. As soon as the fire dies down we'll get out of this freezing pond." Kai reassured her. Keomae nodded then closed her eyes and laid her head on his chest causing him to blush and hold her even tighter.
He rubbed his head against the top of hers then Teeco started mewing from the branches above them. "What…what is it Teeco?" Keomae asked. Teeco started jumping around and running back and forth through the trees around the pond. "I think he's trying to tell us something." Kai said. Teeco jumped up and down happily while mewing and whistling. Suddenly there was a huge splash of water causing a great amount of the flames to disappear and turn into smoke.
"What?" Kai asked out loud. More and more water was thrown on the flames that were still pretty far away from them. Almost all of the fire was gone and now only a smoke cloud hung over the forest. Keomae bit her lip and thought, 'Oh no. The only people who could've put out a fire that big would be my father and his military. That means they're really close now. Tyson is probably with them too, this day couldn't get any worse.'
Kai growled then started swimming for the other end of the pond with Keomae against him. "Kai…" Keomae started to say. "Shhh. We're gonna get through this and that's a promise. Those military dogs started the fire to force you out of the forest but I won't let them get you. I swear to that." He interrupted. Keomae was shocked to hear this from him. She smiled then rubbed her head under his chin then started helping him swim.
Ray stared out of the stone window and yawned, he was so bored. Suddenly something caught his eye. He turned to the light instantly and saw it was coming from the forest near the mountains Ancient City lied in. He gasped suddenly realizing it was a fire. 'Oh no, Kai could be in there, I'd better tell someone.' He thought running down the hall and into a large room where everyone was sitting and doing their own things. "Guys emergency!" He shouted.
Everyone looked up then Kenny asked, "What's wrong Ray?" "Well 1st off there's a fire in the forest below the mountains. 2nd, Kai could be in there and so could the princess!" He replied calmly. "What! That's terrible, if they both die then we'll never get to kill the princess." Daichi shouted in outrage.
Slap Hilary slapped him across the face and yelled, "How dare you say such a thing! Kai isn't the kind of guy who would die to a fire! You should have more faith in him, he'll bring the princess here safely, just you wait." 'And then Tyson will be all mine for the taking.' She quickly added in her mind. Max started laughing at Daichi whom started chasing him around the room yelling at him. Mystel nodded, "You're probably right Hilary. Kai isn't that kind of guy, he'll get here in one piece that's for sure." Hilary sighed, 'Well at least one person around here agrees with me.'
Kai pulled himself out of the water then helped Keomae out. He lay in the grass breathing heavily for he was really worn out. Keomae panted softly while holding herself tightly hoping the coldness would pass. "Keomae, we…we need to make shelter for the night. We really need to sleep and regain our strength." Kai said softly. Keomae nodded then he stood up and helped Keomae up on her feet.
Her knees buckled and she started falling. Kai quickly grabbed her around the waist and held her up. "Are you alright?" He asked in concern. "I'm really cold. I'm not sure I can walk, I can barely even talk right now." She answered through clenched teeth. Kai smirked then picked her up bridal style and started walking deeper into the forest.
Keomae wrapped her arms around his neck and thought, 'This is getting to be a daily thing for me. I kind of like it too, being so close to him. I hope he enjoys it as much as I do.' Kai blushed slightly and held onto her tighter and thought, 'I could really get used to this.' Keomae stopped shivering and rubbing her head against his chest and sighed. Kai smiled and blushed even more; he really wouldn't ever figure her out.
Teeco was sleeping in the crook of a tree trunk when then finally make it into the small clearing. Kai set Keomae on her feet then helped her over to the tree trunk and laid her against it. "Thank you Kai." She muttered slowly. Kai sat next to her and asked, "What for?" She smiled and leaned against him and laid her head on his shoulder and replied, "For helping me get here. I could not have made it this far without you." He blushed at the compliment, he wasn't used to getting them.
"Well you must still be cold, is there anything I can get you or do for you to get you warmer?" He asked finally. She smiled again and nuzzled his neck and said, "You're helping me get warm just by being this close to me." She stopped and closed her eyes while Kai blushed bright red. She soon fell asleep but Kai stayed up. He looked down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
He rested his head on her's and thought, 'Oh what I wouldn't give to keep you with me like this. I never want this night to end. I wish that we could be together forever and never have anyone or anything bother us ever again. My heart is torn and I'm not sure what to do but I know that all I want right now is you beside me Keomae.' He pet her head softly then whispered, "Good night princess." He closed his eyes and fell asleep soon after.