Chapter 6

--

Lucrecia woke up a few hours later, but since in Traverse Town the sky always seemed as if it was night time, she didn't notice. She sat up right and looked around, yawning.

"I could not have slept a whole day," Lucrecia murmured. Even though at that moment she felt as if she could. She suddenly saw Aeris and Leon heading towards the First District, so she poked Nikko awake. "Sleepy head, wake up," She said laughing.

Nikko rubbed his eyes. "Whoa, when did I fall asleep?" He asked sitting up right. Lucrecia shrugged.

"I dunno. It's kinda odd really because we had just woken up when we came here and it was the middle of the day. But you can't really tell with the sky, can you?" Lucrecia replied.

Nikko nodded, then also noticed Leon and Aeris. "Hmm, I feel the trip can be scheduled ahead of time...what do you think?" Nikko asked mischievously. Lucrecia laughed and stood up.

"I guess so too. There's nothing left to do here anyway," She replied jumping down. Nikko came down seconds later and they followed Leon and Aeris into the First District.

--

"What? No! Nikko, you can't go changing everything!" Leon replied to Nikko's request.

"Oh c'mon Leon! There's nothing else left to do, everything is packed, the Gummi ship is ready...," Nikko said.

"YEAH, but there's more people going this time," He replied, giving a brief stern glance at Lucrecia's direction.

"Hehe," Lu chuckled nervously and hid behind Nikko.

"She's not the only one you know," Lola said noticing Leon's glance. "Aeris and I want to go as well, a nice vacation will do us all good."

"This isn't some vacation! It's a business trip!" Leon sputtered. Everyone laughed and he just started to grumble that he gave up.

"Oh c'mon Leon they've got a point. All right everyone, get your stuff and let's go!" Cid cried and everyone cheered.

--

In the Gummi ship, Lucrecia was sitting by the window, gazing outside it intently.

"This is so amazing!" She exclaimed turning to Nikko.

"Uh huh," Nikko replied, carving silently. Lucrecia looked around and noticed no one was as excited as her. Lola and Aeris were chatting, and Leon and Cid were managing the flight.

"So uh...how far until we get there?" Lucrecia asked in a more serious tone.

"Not far now," Leon's back replied.

"Oh, the weather should be lovely this time of year," Aeris spoke up softly. Then when she got engaged into another conversation with Lola, Lucrecia turned to Nikko again.

"This is going to be just like in your dream!" She said without thinking.

"Wouldn't you know," Nikko muttered in reply.

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean to say that," Lucrecia replied in a low voice. Nikko just shook his head. "Besides, I thought all was forgiven!" Lu said giving him a playful punch in the arm.

He rubbed the spot and replied, "Not anymore!" jokingly. Lucrecia laughed. "Does Lola know about your power?" Nikko asked Lucrecia suddenly.

"Yeah, but nobody else except you. Let's keep it that way, yeah?" Lucrecia asked holding out her hand.

"And vice versa," Nikko replied shaking it. Lucrecia smiled and looked out the window again, watching as the jungle island came closer and closer.

--

They walked to a clearing, and came upon an fully set up camp. Leon and Cid dropped off some stuff near a big yellow tent, and the others followed suit.

"Jane and the Prof shouldn't be back until later. Gorilla expedition or something. Let's set up," Leon ordered. They did start setting up, but Lucrecia soon got bored and was itching to explore. She moved next to Nikko and elbowed him.

"Hey," She hissed. "Let's go explore, huh?"

"What? We can't go off alone, Leon will never let us come back here again," Nikko whispered back.

"Oh there's nothing left to set up! They're just wandering around talking, waiting for those gorilla people. I wanna go see the lake!" Lucrecia exclaimed.

"The lake?" Nikko replied puzzled unpacking some cans.

"You know...from your dream?" Lucrecia said in a low voice following him as he dropped off a box in the tent.

"Oh. Hey, I don't remember what I was dreaming, but yeah I remember a lake...," Nikko replied wiping his hands on his pants then looking at her.

"Let's bring food! We can have a picnic! Oh please...?" Lucrecia begged jumping up and down. Nikko gave her a responsible, serious look but it was obvious he wanted to get away as much as she wanted too.

"Ok, follow me," He whispered and took her hand. They hid for two seconds behind some crates and made their escape.

They trudged through grass and dirt, and parted vines away from their faces as Nikko led Lu to the famous lake.

"How long until we get there?" Lu asked looking around. A lemur with big brown eyes eyed her for a second and she eyed him back. Then he went his way.

"It's a hidden lake. Can't be easy to go to, right? Besides, I'm trying my best to remember exactly where it was. I know I dreamed it but I've also been there before," Nikko replied. Lu nodded and just followed silently after that. She wanted the mood to be as peaceful as possible. Suddenly, Nikko turned around facing her with a serious face.

"What?" Lucrecia asked alarmed. Nikko suddenly cracked up at her alarmed face.

"Nothing, we're just...here," He replied. Lucrecia jumped in front of him and over some bushes.

"Holy-!Wow..." She breathed. It was better than she had imagined, better than Nikko had dreamed. Lucrecia took a few steps forward, her eyes and mind trying to take it all in. She walked to the edge and saw her reflection on the clear water. She saw Nikko come up beside her. "Now you know why I often dream of this place. Ever since I first came here, it's always been burned in my mind," Nikko said in a solemn voice.

"I can see why. It's beautiful," Lucrecia breathed in reply. Nikko gave a little chuckle, she was so amazed at this place. Lucrecia shoved him. "Don't laugh! I'm serious!" She cried out. Nikko shoved her back.

"Yeah, well...yeah," He replied. Lucrecia laughed.

"Yeah? Yeah WHAT?" She said back. She pushed his shoulder.

"Think you're pretty brave huh? You know better than to mess with me," Nikko replied jokingly and pushed her back.

"Really? Tell me more, Mr. Tough Guy!" Lucrecia cried laughing and pushed him a little too hard. Nikko almost fell in the lake.

"Whoa!" He cried and stepped forward just in time to keep his balance. Lucrecia started cracking up with laughter, and she hugged her stomach.

"Pay back time!" Nikko exclaimed and pushed her. But Lucrecia had grabbed his arms and they both stumbled, falling in the water with a splash. Nikko came back up to surface the same time Lucrecia did.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so getting you back!" Lucrecia cried in a jokingly, threatening voice.

"You're the one that tripped and fell! But you were smart enough to pull me in with you," Nikko replied. Lucrecia laughed and then just kinda floated and looked around. Suddenly she got whacked by a wave of water. She gasped and turned around but Nikko had already dove under water and was swimming away. Lucrecia followed him and as soon as he came back up she splashed him.

"Hey!" He cried.

"Hey what? You splashed me first!" Lucrecia replied giggling. Nikko threw his hands up in surrender and climbed up the edge. He helped Lucrecia up and she sat next to him.

"Nice waterfall huh?" Nikko said.

"Yup," Lu agreed.

"Yeah...," Nikko repeated and leaned back on his elbows.

"You know what? I'm kinda hungry. Suppose we have that picnic now?" Lucrecia asked. Nikko wasn't hungry at all of course, but he nodded and got up. He took off his jacket and set it down with a plop, since it was wet.

"Argh. I'm freezing thanks to you, Ms. Wet n' Wild," Nikko complained and Lucrecia laughed. He took his wet shirt off too and began gathering berries and fruit, collecting it using the shirt. Lucrecia looked away and gazed at the hippo family that suddenly had shown up.

"There ya go, eat up," Nikko declared and swung the batch at her. She caught it and looked at the rainbow of fruit.

"You're not eating any?" She asked. He shook his head and just sat next to her again. Lu dumped all the fruit in her lap and tossed Nikko's shirt back at his head.

"Want me to put it back on already?" He joked pulling it over his head and straightening it.

"Wow, you think you're all that, don't you?" Lucrecia wondered sarcastically.

"That makes two of us," He replied snickering. With her mouth full Lucrecia just shoved him and started to peel a banana.

"You know what I haven't had in ages?" Lucrecia asked and Nikko shook his head. "Hotdogs. Gosh, they're like my favorite food," She explained. Nikko laughed and threw a stick in the water.

"I wonder why I'm not surprised," He replied.

"Hey, you got a problem?" Lucrecia asked turning to him. "Because you don't wanna mess with a girl, who likes to eat a lot ok?" Lucrecia joked.

"Yeah," Nikko agreed, "She might do a sumo wrestler body slam on me." Lucrecia laughed so hard fruit sputtered out of her mouth and she covered it with her hand, still laughing.

"Don't hurt yourself," Nikko replied trying not to laugh as he watched her worriedly. She had laughed harder and rolled to her side. "Yeah, I think it's time for us to go," Nikko announced getting to his feet.

"No! I'll stop," Lucrecia promised with a final giggle and pulled on his pant leg. Nikko sighed and lay on his stomach, leaning up on his elbows.

"Where are we going to sleep tonight?" Lucrecia suddenly asked.

"...Why?" Nikko asked back.

"'Cause," She insisted.

"The camp I guess...," Nikko replied circling his finger on the dirt.

"Poo, can't we sleep out here? The sky will be wonderful. Imagine seeing a shooting star!" Lu exclaimed.

"You saying you wanna sneak off?" Nikko suggested.

"Yeah! We'll be wild and free. Just the two of us, without lame Leon or commanding Lola," Lucrecia replied laughing evilly.

"Whatever floats your boat," Nikko shrugged.

"Well, you're no fun. I think I'll have to...vote you off!" Lucrecia declared. Nikko did a pretend loud gasp.

"Don't vote me off! Oh please, I'll give you a million hotdogs if you don't!" He begged.

Lucrecia laughed, then muttered seriously, "You better." Nikko looked up after chuckling, and noticed the sky had darkened.

"I think it's time for the Nikko Troupe to head on to camp," He said getting up.

"Nikko Troupe? Could you be any more lame? It's the Lucrecia and Followers," Lucrecia declared promptly, standing up also. Nikko laughed then stopped abruptly, replying "No." Lucrecia hooked her arm with his anyway and saluted the lake.

"Off we go!" She said and they headed back to the camp.

--

Lola practically spit her soup out. "What happened to you?!" She cried when Nikko and Lucrecia reamerged. She had noticed their soaking wet clothes.

"Probably started wrestling underwater at the lake," Leon snickered.

"No! Shut-up Leon!" Nikko cried angrily. Lucrecia laughed.

"Something like that...," She said and let Lola put a towel around her. Aeris giggled and Leon pointed a menacing finger at Nikko.

"Just admit it, will ya?" He said, twirling a toothpick between his teeth.

"Yeah, I'll admit, that you're a complete loser!" Nikko snapped and Leon just gave a sarcastic "Haha." Nikko pounced on him and they rolled around playfully wrestling and Lucrecia laughed while Lola clicked her tongue.

"Anyway, you two shouldn't be sneaking off like that, ok? Way too dangerous," Lola said a moment later.

"Ok Lola," Lucrecia replied and sat down with the others.

"Nikko! Leon! Stop it already," Lola ordered and they got off each other.

"He started it! The weirdo pouncing freak," Leon complained wiping off his shirt. Nikko snickered. Suddenly they hear some steps behind them and a "Oh my, hello there!" by an English female voice. Lucrecia soon got acquainted with Jane Porter and her father, along also with Jane's husband Tarzan.

"They're nice aren't they?" Lucrecia said to Nikko sitting back next to him on the crate while Leon started a bonfire and everyone else started talking excitedly with their grown-up boring talk.

"Yeah, Tarzan's pretty awesome. The first time I came here he showed me all the ropes. Sometimes, literally," Nikko laughed. Lucrecia laughed too and scooted over closer.

"So um, we're still sleeping out by the lake right?" She whispered. Nikko looked around. "Um...sure, I guess. Lola's right you know, we could get attacked by animals while we sleep or something-," Nikko replied. Lucrecia laughed and shushed him before he could continue. "Then what's the fun, huh?" She whispered and smiled.

--

"Ready?"
"Yeah-ow! That was my eye."
"Er, sorry."
Nikko and Lu walked to the front of the tent and peeked out.

"Damn, Leon's still talking to Cid! What is it, like one in the morning?" Nikko hissed. They waited anxiously in the tent to finally sneak off and have their real jungle adventure.

"We can sneak by them, can't we?" Lucrecia whispered back. Nikko crouched down and rolled behind some crates. Lucrecia tried her best not to laugh and followed him.

There was only once though when Nikko jumped into the bushes that Lucrecia had to lay flat on the ground when Leon said, "Whose there?" but then he turned his back again and Lucrecia slapped her hand to her mouth to not laugh and give them away as she tip toed to the bushes. When they were out of earshot from anyone at the camp, they laughed and ran as they celebrated their escape.

Nikko jumped up on a log and said, "Now, little lady, we need to have some rules...and they must be followed by the Nikko Clan or else!"

Lucrecia laughed and stood straight up. "Yes sir!" She cried saluting.

"First of all," He started pacing on the log, "You must follow me at all times. If you run away, the rest of the clan will not go back for you." Nikko gave her a sly grin.

"As much as I don't believe that...Yes sir!" Lucrecia replied.

"What? Are you questioning the authority of your leader?" Nikko cried jumping down and standing in front of her.

"Oh no! Please, leader, don't banish me from the clan!" Lucrecia pleaded sarcastically. They broke out in laughter and began heading their way towards the lake.

"Nikko...what if we, um...stay here forever?" Lucrecia asked suddenly.

"Forever? Yeah right. It would be interesting though, but I don't think we should treat Lola that way, after all that she's done for us," Nikko replied.

"Oh yeah, she did do us a big favor, taking us in and all. Well, sorry, I'm just in such an adventurous mood I just said that without meaning too," Lucrecia laughed nervously. Nikko smiled and cut some branches away as they walked more. Finally, they walked upon the lake and Lucrecia felt its beauty once more. This time, the full moon shone on the surface and it was like something out of this world.

"Wow! Look at this! Oh I'm not tired at all, I'm going to stay up the whole night...watching the moon," Lucrecia said and sat on the edge of the lake. Nikko sat next to her. "Doubt it," He replied simply.

"I will! I'll prove to you that I too can stay up all night like you do sometimes," She said. Without meaning too a yawn escaped and she blushed. "Oops. Right on cue, huh?" She added and Nikko laughed. Lucrecia lay down and stared up.

"We're starting. So far I'm winning," She announced.

Nikko lay down too and replied, "Bring it on." He couldn't help having the cocky grin on his face that he did now, for he knew he was going to win easily. Nikko pretended to yawn.

"Getting tired?" Lucrecia asked giggling.

"Nah...you?" He asked back.

"No! I'll win, you'll see...how about, winner is the leader of the clan?" She replied.

"Fine! Just don't cry like a girl when you lose," Nikko said.

"Don't you either," Lucrecia replied.

"Haha," Nikko laughed sarcastically and Lucrecia rolled on her side. "What are you doing? You're making it easier for me to be the leader," Nikko wondered bewildered.

"Who said I had to watch the moon?" She replied and Nikko noticed she was looking at him.

"Uh, you did?" He puzzled.

"Change of rules," She replied.

Nikko rolled on his side too. "Fine," He said and stared at her eyes. Though, while doing so, he wasn't just staring at her eyes. He was looking into her. Nikko blinked quickly, remembering when he had first met her...how pretty he thought she was...and that now under the moonlight she was still even more beautiful than he remembered her being that fateful first day, even when she had been covered in dirt and wounds. Nikko had always liked Lucrecia, her outgoing personality, and everything else about her. He just distanced himself at times because he didn't want to like her, he didn't want to get close...but obviously it was too late for that, inevitably they became friends. He just wished he didn't have such feelings for her because he knew for sure she wouldn't like him back...

Suddenly, Lucrecia yawned and closed her eyes.

"Ha! I win," Nikko announced and rolled back on his back, watching the moon once again.

"You win," Lu replied in a sleepy voice.

"How about a re-match?" Nikko suggested. Lucrecia looked at him puzzled as he rolled back on his side.

"Ok...this isn't like you, when you win you wanna keep it that way," She laughed softly. But Lucrecia agreed for the re-match and once again watched Nikko as he watched her. After awhile Nikko yawned and fluttered his eyes. Lucrecia giggled.

"I win," She announced, smiling.

Nikko smiled back, looked into her eyes once more, and then slowly leaned in and kissed her.

"Yup, you win."