Chapter VI
A twang on cupids bow
After spending an hour in the library, Kotori grew bored of the book she was reading and decided it was tie to leave. Now standing outside the library, she realised she was glad to be outdoors', and she released the bubbling sensation in the pit of her stomach, her childlike laughter echoing in the corridors, and streets causing many gummies to stop and smile at her, and they watched as she spun around in circles.
A breeze passing by, danced with Kotori's hair, and she revelled in the feeling the cool air had on her face, and ran her hand through her hair, glad to have the wind back in her hair. Opening her eyes she felt happy and excited for some unknown reason and she continued on her way to the training grounds, completely oblivious to set of eyes following her.
Stood outside the doors that led to the training grounds, Kotori stared at the closed doors, and knew that only a few knights were inside, that including the three high knights and Hitomi.
Looking for a way in, she knew she wouldn't be able to come in over the wall, as that would most likely result in a trip back to sickbay, and that was the last place she wanted to be. Seeing no other alternative than to knock, she marched up to the doors, and raising her fist, pounded on the doors, gaining the attention of her friends.
Walking over to the doors, they knew it was Kotori outside, so helped to open the doors, and let her inside, since they were worried that she may break down the door herself.
Opening it, they saw Kotori stood there, her arms folded and looking not in the least impressed.
"Hitomi, what are you doing?" asked Kotori seeing Hitomi inspection the door.
"Oh just checking for dents" she replied amused.
"Hey!" came Kotori's replied sounding offended while the knights sniggered.
Smiling warmly at the knights, Kotori scanned the training grounds, searching for a knight, who would unfortunately suffer at her hand, today. Finding a suitable knight to train with, she somersaulted over to him, and before long she and the knight were on the beams, training.
"Well, that was a long study session" muttered Hitomi watching her friend's progress.
For many hours this was all that Kotori did, though she did change the activity every now and again, starting with weaponry then moving on to hand combat etc, until the sun started going down, when she sheathed her sword, and wiped the sweat away from her brow with her sleeve. Panting slightly as to regain her breath, Kotori smiled at her success, and knew that she would be back to her normal standard in no time.
Looking round, she saw that many of the knights had disappeared, and guessed that they must have gone to attend their duties, and she saw her three friends, heading out the training grounds.
Letting them go ahead, she suddenly became very aware that she indeed was very sweaty, and probably smelled too and decided to herself that now was a good time to go in and get a shower, before joining them in the hall for the evening.
"Kotori, please wait" she heard a familiar voice call across from the yard.
Stopping short and turning her head she saw Ginni running to meet up with her. He smiled boyishly then turned serious, "Kotori, I think I spotted something strange from the battlements"
"What you tell' in me for?" asked Kotori clearly puzzled why he wasn't reporting to his superiors.
"I cannot find Captain Plucki or Sirs Blastus and Gumlittle and I know they would want you or Hitomi to be told next" he replied.
"Oh, alright lead the way" said Kotori completely serious.
Minutes later they stood atop the wall looking out towards the forest.
"Here" he said handing her a pair of what her and Hitomi called 'binoculars'.
Taking them from Ginni's hand she placed them firmly in front of her eyes the said "I don't see anything Ginni"
"Must of disappeared" he replied as Kotori lowered the contraption.
His lips turned upwards slightly at Kotori as they walked away. Now walking through the castle towards their rooms Kotori's face a bewildered look as gummi's she passed either laughed or looked oddly at her. She walked onwards not caring until Ginni grabbed her wrist "Lets go this way for a change" he said pointing to the gardens.
"I guess" she said shrugging her shoulders and strode off.
Behind Ginni's face broke into a mischievous smirk as he followed after her, they walked a little bit until nearing the exit back into the castle and their rooms. He held back a little letting Kotori carry on before he spoke up slowing Kotori down to stop and look at him he said, "By the way Kotori earlier about my boots……"
Kotori instantly started walking again faster than before trying to get away until CRACK! Looking down she muttered a quiet "Uh-oh!" before falling with a loud scream until PLOP!
"Ewww, gross" moaned Kotori trying to brush the mud she was now coated in off herself.
Hearing laughter she looked up and glared at Ginni, who was knelt down clutching one of his sides watching her. A couple of minutes later he seemed to have calmed down enough not to burst out laughing at the picture Kotori presented and extended his hand to help her out.
"Here, let me help you"
Looking like she was really thinking hard, Kotori looked down at the pre-offered hand, her eyes twinkling madly a smirk playing on her lips and she lifted her hand and clasped Ginni's hand.
"No, let me help you!" she stated firmly before pulling Ginni into the mud pit with her.
Not expecting that response from Kotori, Ginni gave a surprised yelp as he too was pulled into mud with Kotori and he began to wipe the mud off his knight uniform now caked in mud, before looking down at Kotori and realising again how close they were.
Her hair was complete disarray, sticking out in all directions, and he looked down into her face, surprised to see her eyes had softened almost showing concern and he looked further down at her lips.
'Could this be the moment at long last' thought Ginni.
Swallowing nervously at the way Kotori lips stuck out pouting like a little five year old giving the overall look that she did look genuinely sorry without words, he slowly inched closer to her, his eyes sliding shut when…smack something wet and slimy met his face.
"Here Ginni, I thought you could have you're dinner, early" stated Kotori clearly amused.
Not impressed, he raised his hand and slowly, deliberately he wiped the mud from his face, and opened his eyes to look at Kotori who looking rather smug at what she had just done, and raised his eyebrow and said, "This…means war!"
Not giving her chance to react he threw himself at Kotori, and together the two rolled in the mud pit, not caring that they now had mud all over themselves, only laughing and enjoying themselves, as they threw mud here, there and everywhere. Needless to say by the time the two had finished, the garden was no longer a pretty site, and two left the gardens and entered the one of the tower their intent on going to their rooms and clearing up after themselves, when they were stopped by Hitomi and the knights.
"What…the!" Hitomi had stated when she first saw the sight of Kotori and Ginni covered in mud.
"What! Have you guys been doing" stated Hitomi, clearly not believing what she was seeing.
"Playing in the mud" Kotori stated the obvious, trying to make Hitomi sound like a idiot.
"Honestly guys, you're worse than cubs. I mean look at you" Hitomi pointed at them, and the two looked sheepishly at her.
"And Kotori why do you have raccoon eyes?" said Hitomi "On second thought, don't answer that".
Hearing that statement from Hitomi, Kotori realised now why the other gummies had been laughing at her and she turned to give Ginni the death glare who looked sheepishly at Kotori and gave her a little wave, before she turned her attention away from him and looked at Hitomi.
"He started it"
"Hey, I did not" he stated trying to sound offended.
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Really mature" Hitomi muttered to the knights, who silently agreed.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"QUIET!" shouted Hitomi loud enough to get their attention. "Do I have to start cub training, you guys?"
"You" she said pointing at Ginni "Go to your room"
"And you" she stated pointing at Kotori "Go and get a bath!"
Folding her arms, Hitomi looked at them expectedly as the two looked at her dumbfound at what she had just said.
"Who died and made you in charge?" joked Kotori, walking off.
"Do you really want me to answer that, Kotori?" replied Hitomi, as her friend disappeared out the room, she turned to face Ginni, who was looking after Kotori surprised..
"Well?"
"Oops, sorry I just be on my way" Ginni said and he walked off towards his room.
"Honestly, what are they, Adults or cubs?" Hitomi said to herself, and she left the room, intent on helping Kotori get ready for dinner.
Walking out the building and across the courtyard, she climbed a few flight of stairs before appearing before Kotori's room, where she could currently hear her friend, Kotori singing in the bathroom, she shook her head sideways, a smile on her face, glad to have her friend back to normal.
She had left her mate for the time being, to catch up with Kotori, and help her pick something decent for this evening and she sat on Kotori's bed waiting and she listened to what resembled cat's chorus, when a knock sounded at the door. Going to answer it, she had just opened the door, when a loud banging noise came from upstairs, Hitomi wondered what her friend was doing in that shower, and she invited Ginni, Kotori's escort for this evening into the room, and allowed him to be seated.
Meanwhile upstairs, Kotori was having a battle of her own, and she clung to the wall, and slowly helped herself up but was unsuccessful and she felt herself slips once again she lashed out, knocking the bottles of shampoo to the fall with a 'thud'.
Frustrated she lashed out again trying to gain her balance, when she heard Hitomi coming up the stairs calling "Kotori, you all right in there".
"Yeah, fine…Wah!" and she slipped on the bar of soap again, which originally caused her to lose her balance in the first place.
"Are you sure?" asked Hitomi concerned at the amount of noise Kotori was making, and turned to see Ginni waiting at the bottom of the stairs, also looking concerned.
"Kotori, I'm coming in" said Hitomi, and turned to open the door.
"Hitomi…n-ah!" replied Kotori slipping again, but instead of falling backward like before she lunged forward and caught the shower curtain, causing it to rip from the hangers, and she fell out the shower, wrapped in the curtain, when she heard the door open, she felt her heart freeze and she skidded along the floor, and out the door. Wincing as she came into impact with the railing of the stairs then falling down the steps, she finally landed on the floor at the bottom of the stairs, in a heap in front of Ginni's feet.
"Gee, Ginni, I never knew you're fur was red" said Hitomi chuckling, and took pleasure in his mortified expression, his cheeks turning a shade redder, and he turned his back on her.
"Hey, someone give me a hand here" came a muffled voice from the heap on the floor.
"Kotori" came Ginni reply, and he calmed himself down enough to help his friend, and he helped her stand "You okay".
"Yeah, fine..ouch!" whimpered Kotori.
"No, your not okay, what's wrong Kotori?" he asked, and he put a finger under her chin and lifted it up, so she could look him in the eye.
"Nothing, just a few bruises, is all" she replied agitated, pulling away from him, and she grasped the railing and started to slowly ascend the stairs again.
"Are you sure you don't need to see the med-?" he asked but was cut off by Kotori.
"No!" bellowed Kotori "I'm fine, really" and she climbed the rest of the stairs and disappeared into her room.
"Well that was interesting" remarked Hitomi from the top of the stairs, receiving a death glare from Ginni, and he sat down on one of the nearby chairs, embarrassed and he waited for Kotori to show up, again.
A few minutes passed, when he heard someone clear their throat behind him, he turned and nearly fell out his chair, when he saw Kotori. She's even more beautiful than last night thought Ginni, and he took in what he saw. She was wearing an emerald green dress, laced with golden designs, her feet bare, and her hair hung loosely, cascading down her back, and around her shoulder, and he took in her flushed cheeks.
"You look beautiful" he complimented, pleased that she out done herself for him.
"Thank You" she replied shyly, not used to someone complimenting her.
Placing her hand in his, he noticed how small and fragile her hand was in his, but knew better that she was much stronger, than other's may think, and he lead her out of her room, and down to the Great Hall where the evening meal was being served.
Entering the great hall he could see a few gummies seated at their tables with their friends and family chatting and eating, and enjoying their fill.
Kotori however drooled and eyed the food on the table like a half starved animal, and she dropped Ginni's hand, and marched towards the table intending to help herself, leaving a bemused Ginni, and being completely unaware of the jealous looks some of the other girls were shooting her way.
In their opinion Kotori was not good enough for the likes of Sir Ginni, as she had no table manners, as proven as she picked up a chicken wing and began tearing strips of meat of it with her teeth. Appalling bad behaviour, no dress sense, and continuously hung round the training ground, which in there opinion was not at all ladylike, but then as Ginni looked at Kotori admiring her, he realised that what he liked about Kotori. She was different from the other girls.
Walking over to where Kotori sat, he seated himself beside her and watched as she dug into her meal, ripping meat off the bones, and eating like she'd never been fed before, and while he may be forgotten for the time being, he was content to watch her, that was until Hitomi and the others arrived.
"Kotori! Where are you're manners" Hitomi addressed Kotori clearly appalled at her friends behaviour.
"And what about you're date?" Hitomi stated to Kotori and pointed at Ginni, causing Kotori to swallow hard whatever she was eating and looked sheepishly in his direction, causing him to bust out laughing.
"You're forgiven, Kotori" said Ginni, once he gained control of himself.
Now as everyone seated and began to dig into their evening meal, Kotori tried to avoid talking to Ginni, still embarrassed instead, chose to occasionally chat with Hitomi, Plucki, Blastus or Gumlittle.
Their meal finished, they stayed for the remainder of the evening to chat and catch up on the news, when halfway through, the soft flow of music drifted through the hall, many couples got up to dance, including Hitomi and Plucki.
"May I have this dance" asked Ginni to Kotori.
"I would be glad to" she replied taking his hand, and allowing him to guide her to the dance floor.
Reaching the dance floor, she was surprised when he pulled her into a light embrace instead of linking hand, and following what other couples did. His hands resting on her waist, her hands snaked their way up his chest, until they rested round his neck, and she noticed he was grinning at her like an idiot. Matching his grin, she let him lead, and the couple very slowly moved to the music, oblivious to everyone else, the only thing that mattered was that they had each other.
After a few minutes, the song ended and another replaced it. Kotori laid her head against his shoulder, her arms going around his waist, and she smiled in content, moving again to another slow song.
It seemed like an eternity they danced for, when she pulled back slightly, she found herself frozen in place, just staring into his eyes, their faces only inches apart, and heard the song come to an end. Suddenly feeling very hot, and trapped, she quickly averted her eye and turned her head sideways just as he was about to kiss her.
"I need some fresh air" she stated, pulling away from him, and disappearing through the crowd, leaving a hurt and disappointed Ginni, and he followed after her.
Closing the door behind her, Kotori stepped into the gardens, and she tried to reason with her mind that she didn't like Ginni that way, despite her mind and body was thinking the exact opposite, and she plopped herself down on one of the nearby benches.
Deep in thought she shivered slightly from the cold air, when she heard light footsteps behind her, she froze.
Surely he wouldn't follow her out here…would he, and she felt two hands, on either side of her shoulders. He had.
"Your cold" he whispered, rubbing her arms slightly so she would become warm again.
She shivered under his touch, before allowing herself to be pulled closer into his arms, when she realised for the first time that they were alone in the gardens, away from the crowds, and that she was staring at him again.
Blushing, she ducked her head when she felt his index finger under her chin, gently easing her to look up at him, and she felt him softly caress her cheek. She felt her cheek tingle slightly where he touched her, and she stared up at him uncertain, debating whether she wanted this or not, when a loud cough beside them, brought them out of the stupor.
"Geez, you know just how to ruin a moment" huffed Kotori, glaring at Sir Ramsei.
"Hmph, there are other gummies here, beside just you, Kotori who come for fresh air" Sir Ramsei stated coolly, clearly annoyed at Kotori's outburst, before departing to go elsewhere.
Pulling out of his embrace, she stepped back from him, feeling increasingly warm again, when she said "I best go" not noticing the pained look on Ginni's face.
"I understand" he replied, then as if a sudden idea struck him, he smiled somewhat innocently "Goodnight then milady" he said then kissed her on the cheek, before high tailing outta there, leaving a stunned Kotori in the process.
Her hand reaching up to where he had just kissed her, she stared in shock after him, before a smile broke out on her face, and bounced around excited almost feeling like a teenaged schoolgirl again. "He kissed me, he kissed me" she squealed then ran off into the night, back to her rooms.
TBC…